The document discusses several key themes and forces of change impacting higher education in the 21st century, including:
1. The exponential growth of new knowledge and how knowledge is doubling every 12-13 months due to advances in technology.
2. Globalization and how it has increased collaboration and competition across borders in the knowledge economy.
3. Changes in the workplace toward more collaborative, non-routine jobs requiring skills like problem-solving, communication, and lifelong learning.
4. Forces of change on universities include changing societal needs, financial pressures, advancing technologies, and market forces requiring universities to adapt their models for the digital age.