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3 Takeaways from Chief Partnerships Officer Andy Morgan on the Future of Digital Learning
For years, the question in higher education was whether institutions should invest in online learning.
Today, that debate is largely settled.
In a recent episode of The Higher Ed Geek podcast, Andy Morgan, Chief Partnerships Officer at 2U, joined host Dustin Ramsdell to discuss how universities are rethinking digital strategy—from breaking down institutional silos to using artificial intelligence (AI) to better support learners.
One theme resurfaced throughout the conversation: the next era of digital learning won’t be defined by modality alone, but by how well institutions integrate learning experiences across programs, formats, and pathways.
Here are three takeaways from the discussion.
1. Online learning has matured—and institutional strategy must evolve with it.
Higher education has reached an inflection point in the evolution of online learning.
“What we’re seeing now is the maturation of the idea of online education,” Morgan says. “It’s not a sidecar. It’s becoming deeply embedded and integrated.”
As online learning becomes mainstream, universities must consider how their strategies are structured.
“It’s no longer about an online strategy and an on-ground strategy. It’s no longer about an ‘alt cred’ strategy and one degree strategy,” Morgan explains. “That will fail, particularly in today’s fierce competition for eyeballs online. You need to present a coherent view.”
Instead, digital learning must be woven into the broader institutional approach—one that reflects how people actually discover, evaluate, and experience education today.
2. AI is rapidly reshaping enrollment marketing.
AI is quickly transforming how universities reach and engage prospective students online.
“The digital marketing space has changed more in the last 12 months than in the prior 10 years,” Morgan notes. “The Google search-based world is completely changing in front of our eyes.”
For institutions competing for visibility online, this shift carries major implications. As search behavior and discovery channels change, universities need to rethink how they connect with audiences—and how they differentiate their offerings in an increasingly competitive environment.
3. The institutions that succeed will design around the learner.
Reaching prospective students is only part of the challenge. The next step is ensuring the learning experience itself is clear and easy to navigate.
“Taking an existing degree program and moving it online is not innovation in 2026,” he says. “It’s not even necessarily an automatic way of growing enrollments.”
According to Morgan, institutions must be intentional about how they structure their programs for prospective students.
“How do you present learners with a set of options that make sense versus a fragmented set of journeys that are just frankly confusing?” Morgan asks.
Institutions that simplify those choices and create clearer learning pathways will be best positioned to meet the expectations of today’s learners.
A pivotal moment for higher education
Together, these shifts—the maturation of online learning, rise of AI, and emphasis on learner-centered design—define the current higher education landscape.
Morgan sees this as an opportunity for universities to rethink how education is designed and delivered.
“We are in a really important moment for higher ed,” he says. “The partnership between academia and companies like 2U has never been more important.”
Listen to the episode
Don’t miss the full conversation between Morgan and Ramsdell. Listen to the episode here:
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