Views of university instructors about the effect of Industry 4.0 on higher education

In this study, the views of university instructors about the effects of Industry 4.0 on higher education have been presented. It has been aimed at stating the instructors' views related to the transformation in the objective, structure, process and climate of higher education which will be given rise by Industry 4.0 thought to change jobs and organizations in a very quick way, and also offering suggestions related to the topic has been targeted. The phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research methods, has been used in the study. Fort this research, 20 instructors working at different faculties and schools at Pamukkale University were interviewed with. Data have been collected using a semi-structured interview form in these interviews with the instructors. In the research, it has been concluded that the awareness levels of the instructors for Industry 4.0 and its components are not at the same level. Considering the current objectives of the universities, there is a common opinion among the instructors that these objectives should be updated and transformed according to Industry 4.0 components immediately. The instructors in the research agree that 21st century skills should be developed before Industry 4.0 components and technological developments in the field of education and that this should form the basis of education. At the same time, they foresee a change and transformation in professions. Participants who think that Industry 4.0 will positively affect the organizational structure in higher education institutions believe that bureaucracy in universities will decrease and they will reach results faster in operations. According to the instructors, management processes are expected to be faster, more efficient and more result-oriented in the impact process.of Industry 4.0. Considering the organizational climate and dimensions, it is expected that the effects of Industry 4.0 will be positive in general. However, it has been concluded that dimensions such as sincerity and solidarity based on the human element may be negatively affected and individual areas will increase. Keywords: Industry 4.0, the components of Industry 4.0, Higher education, Education 4.0, University 4.0