Higher education used to operate in a relatively stable environment in the aspects of finance, structure and governance with occasional operational bugs ameliorated by rather simple process design and re-design. In recent times, the tide brings waves of change from various perspectives such as climate change, pandemic diseases, energy , economic and political crisis, technology and information revolution sweeping many countries across the world. These events present unprecedented threats and opportunities impacting global trade. Higher education cannot escape this momentum of change and is faced with a higher degree of uncertainties. The role of university and the management of institutions has become more complex in the second half of the century. Complexity is a precursor to chaos, where small changes can lead to big consequences. Chaotic environments can be opportune moments for creative and innovative solutions in addressing the emergence of disruptions brought about by changing milieu and advancement of technology. Novelty requires change that almost always contradicts status-quo. This paper discusses the complexities and the resulting chaos and contradictions in the context of higher education from three dimensions (i) structural and governance; (ii) role of university; and (iii) technology and infrastructure. How do we surf this looming tide of change to continue the strive in educating the future society? How does future higher education look? The discussion aims to raise questions, trigger new modes of thinking for the imaginings of higher education futures.
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