Higher Education in the Era of Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0

Education models are strongly influenced by the evolution of society, adapting to its needs and technological developments. Given the importance of advanced education, higher education is becoming more relevant in the context of Industry 5.0, and Society 5.0. This article analyses the changes needed in higher education institutions to meet the complex and interdisciplinary challenges that characterise both scenarios, discussing structural aspects of school management, training and assessment models, student profiles and interaction with society. The integration of technologies like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and big data enhances operational efficiency, reduces costs, and promotes sustainability. However, this shift also places pressure on institutions to maintain rankings, develop flexible e-learning strategies, and balance technological growth with environmental responsibility. Higher educational institutions (HEI) must address these challenges by adopting sustainable practices like electronic waste management and virtualization. At the same time, research centers play a crucial role in developing green technologies and designing future industrial systems that seamlessly integrate human factors, driving sustainable innovation and resilience. While public HEI’s may benefit from state support, private institutions can thrive by targeting niche markets with agile, sustainability-driven strategies. The rise of automation may polarize the job market, but HEI’s can mitigate this by promoting flexible, interdisciplinary education, fostering collaboration with industry and government, and enabling continuous skill development. Ultimately, the future of higher education lies in creating adaptable, globally connected learners ready to tackle the complex challenges of Society 5.0.