Amid Uncertainty, Human Connection at the Center of Educause Top 10 Issues for 2026

• By Rhea Kelly
• 10/30/25

Educause has released its annual Top 10 report for 2026, highlighting the most important issues for technology leaders in the coming year. The report begins on a somber note, referencing the political turmoil impacting higher education in recent times:

"Writing about where higher education is headed in the coming year is difficult when so much of our world is being torn apart," the authors acknowledged. "Political violence is erupting on campuses. Tensions around free speech and ideological differences in the classroom are leaving leaders and faculty uncertain (or, sadly, very certain) about their future in academia. And the financial stability of many institutions, and of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in particular, is increasingly strained by reductions in federal support."

Despite the challenges, however, the report suggests that higher education can find hope in human connection. "If there is a north star to guide all of us in the higher education technology community through this turbulent time — one that always seems profoundly bright even in moments like this — it's this: We must find ways to cultivate human connection, both within ourselves and with one another," the authors asserted, adding that "The Top 10 panel intends for this report to serve as a guide to help you and your institution create the connections you need to move forward in a tumultuous world, together."

The human-centered top 10 issues for 2026 are:

• Collaborative Cybersecurity: Building a cybersecurity culture of shared responsibility, end-user awareness and training, and improved access to security services and supports.
• The Human Edge of AI: Empowering students, faculty, and staff to engage with artificial intelligence tools critically, creatively, and safely.
• Data Analytics for Operational and Financial Insights: Leveraging data analytics to provide insights into spending patterns, enrollment trends, and areas for cost savings and operational efficiencies.
• Building a Data-Centric Culture Across the Institution: Expanding and improving data access and unlocking the full potential of data as a strategic asset.
• Knowledge Management for a Safer AI: Mitigating the risks of artificial intelligence by integrating knowledge management into data governance, privacy, and ethics programs.
• Measured Approaches to New Technologies: Making better technology investment decisions (or choosing not to invest) through clear cost, ROI, and legacy systems assessments.
• Technology Literacy for the Future Workforce: Supporting discipline-specific technology training and education to enhance student success with in-demand technology skills.
• From Reactive to Proactive: Using data for scenario modeling, forecasting, and prediction to strengthen institutional agility and planning.
• AI-Enabled Efficiencies and Growth: Using artificial intelligence, robotic process automation, and other analytics capabilities to reduce operational costs, streamline processes, and improve strategic and business decision-making.
• Decision-Maker Data Skills and Literacy: Enhancing the value of institutional data by training and equipping decision-makers to use and interpret it properly.

"Perhaps the greatest resource we have is one another," the report offered in conclusion. "The higher education technology community is a deep and vibrant wellspring of wisdom. The lessons and challenges we share with one another and the personal connections we make will serve as our greatest sources of strength on the journey ahead."

For the full report and additional resources, visit the Educause site here.