Engineering Growth: Why IT Agility Is Critical to Higher Education’s Future

In 2025, America’s colleges and universities face a new kind of crisis, not just one of relevance or cost, but of resilience.

As government policies shift overnight and federal and state funding becomes more uncertain, higher education institutions are being forced to rethink everything from course offerings to campus infrastructure. International student enrolments, once a reliable source of income for many research institutions, have become increasingly volatile. From travel bans and visa restrictions, to targeting specific universities with an all-international ban, institutions can no longer predict or plan their income, programs or even survival chances.

Some may even argue that the meaning of “college”, as Americans know it is up for grabs. Based on the cornerstone research model, heavily funded by the government, this system seems less likely to continue as it is, at least not under the current administration.

As they navigate this current period of uncertainty, universities are trying to “Keep calm and carry on”, focusing their efforts on responding to the needs of their current students, supporting them to succeed, as well as ramping up their efforts to recruit new ones.

Engineering and IT: high demand, high complexity

And while most courses are seeing declining enrollment rates, demand for certain programs has skyrocketed, especially in degrees related to engineering, computer science and technology. To capitalize on this increased demand, and counter-balance revenue loss from other areas, universities are under pressure to grow these programs fast. In past decades, they may have had years to plan and roll out new programs. Today, the timelines are compressed, the stakes are higher, and the pressure is mounting.

The fastest-growing demand today is for technical skills, particularly in artificial intelligence, IT and data science. But expanding these programs is not as simple as adding more seats. Engineering and computing courses often require dozens of high-performance applications, strict licensing compliance, and flexible delivery models to meet the needs of modern learners, particularly the need for hybrid and online learning.

A familiar landscape for Engineering and Polytechnic Colleges

Even without the demands of rapid expansion, technology colleges face some of the most complex IT challenges in higher education:

• Inconsistent software and hardware environments, leading to inconsistent student experience, timetabling challenges, pressure on high performing devices and impact on students’ ability to complete their work
• Teaching and learning disruptions: Troubleshooting software or hardware issues in class can waste valuable teaching time, leading to frustration from faculty and students
• Diverse student devices: As more students prefer to bring their own devices (BYOD), IT support is spread thin trying to cater for a wide range of performing power and operating systems. As the need for hybrid and flexible learning grows, so will the need for effective (including cost-effective) remote software delivery.
• Complex and demanding software: engineering and technology courses deploy some of the most complex and resource intensive applications, that require powerful GPUs, that not many devices have. Running them on a limited number of computers, in specific locations or asking students to invest in expensive machines can be limiting for everyone, not to mention the effort and human resources they take to install and maintain.
• Shrinking budgets and resources: in the current VUCA (Volatile, Unpredictable, Complex and Ambiguous) environment, even the most well resourced universities are being cautious with their spending, and trying to achieve efficiency where possible. Software delivery is one of the areas where many savings can be made, including right-sizing VDI consumption, reducing repetitive tasks such as packaging, updating and patching, licensing and more.

When innovation is in your DNA

It’s not a coincidence that the STEM programs at Purdue University, University of Iowa and University of Michigan are ranked among the best in the US and are among the fastest growing. Innovation is part of their DNA, not only in their courses and research, but also in how they run IT infrastructure and enable faculty and students to achieve their full potential.

Part of the innovation DNA is being open to explore the path less taken and give new things a try: fail small and fail fast as the lean start-up mantra says. And this is what they did when adopting AppsAnywhere. Starting with a small pilot, and expanding at the rate they felt comfortable, these institutions solved many of the challenges outlined above – all with one simple solution.

Using IT as a strategic enabler

AppsAnywhere has not only enabled them to improve the experience they provide for existing students but also to increase course capacity to welcome new ones. Expanding these high demand programs may not yet be as simple as adding new seats but it sure is much faster and easier than it was before AppsAnywhere.

The adaptability and agility to enable hybrid delivery, cross-campus consistency, and BYOD flexibility are no longer “nice to have”, they are strategic imperatives.

AppsAnywhere enables universities like Iowa, Purdue, and Michigan, to virtualize access to software without the cost and complexity of traditional VDI solutions. Whether students are using personal laptops, university-owned desktops, or remote access tools, they get seamless delivery of the applications they need, from AutoCAD and MATLAB to TensorFlow and RStudio.

This flexibility also supports faster expansion into new delivery models, including micro-credentials, short-form courses, and remote STEM offerings, helping institutions quickly tap into emerging markets, even as core enrollments fluctuate.

The bottom line: survive and thrive by adapting fast

The institutions that will thrive in this climate are those that act decisively, targeting in-demand disciplines, streamlining internal operations, and ensuring IT infrastructure is not a bottleneck but a launchpad.

The demand for AI, engineering, and tech talent is not slowing down. What’s slowing down many universities is their ability to respond with the speed and agility today’s environment demands.

In this moment of contraction and opportunity, one thing is clear: higher education needs to behave more like a tech company: responsive, adaptive, and built for change.

And behind every agile university will be an agile IT strategy, powered by platforms like AppsAnywhere. Because in a time of instability, flexibility isn’t just helpful. It’s survival.