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What’s Next for US Higher Education in 2026?
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14 September 2026
Insights
Capabilities
Conferences
What trends are shaping the future of US higher education, skills and the workforce?
The QS Back to School Summit 2026 Insights Pack brings together key data and trends on the forces transforming the sector – from the impact of AI on learning and work to evolving skills needs and the emergence of new centres of global talent.
The data provides important context for many of the challenges and opportunities explored at the QS Back to School Summit 2026 in New York City, where university leaders, industry experts and policymakers came together to consider what comes next for higher education.
Explore the trends shaping the conversation and what they could mean for the future of US higher education.
Download the QS Back to School Summit 2026 Insights Pack.
Human Skills Have a New Advantage
As AI becomes more embedded in the workplace, the skills that make us human are becoming even more valuable.
According to the QS Global Employer Survey 2026, teamwork is the most important graduate skill globally, followed by problem solving and communication. As AI transforms the workplace, graduates who can combine technological confidence with collaboration, critical thinking and communication will be well placed to succeed.
Students are recognising this shift too. The survey found that 64% of prospective international students believe employers value problem solving, followed by communication at 62% and teamwork at 58%.
For universities, this creates an opportunity to rethink graduate preparation for an AI-shaped world – by developing both technical and human capabilities.
Build on the Conversations from the Back to School Summit 2026
The conversations in New York may have concluded, but the questions they raised will continue to shape higher education.
The QS Back to School Summit 2026 Insights Pack brings together data and analysis exploring the themes discussed at the Summit, from AI and the future of work to global talent, student mobility, Gen Z leadership and the changing skills landscape.
Download the Insights Pack to explore the data behind the conversations and discover what the next era of higher education could look like.
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