The Future of Guest Speaking in Higher Education

Guest speaking has always been part of education. Professors invite alumni, industry professionals, or colleagues to enrich their courses. What is changing now is the scale and the structure. Guest speaking is moving from occasional events to a more regular and integrated part of teaching.

The Future of Guest Speaking in Higher Education

Hybrid and Flexible Formats

The pandemic accelerated the use of technology in higher education. Guest speakers no longer need to be on campus to have an impact. Remote talks allow educators to bring in professionals from across the country—or across the world. Some online courses now even include recorded guest speakers as part of the curriculum, a shift that makes voices available on demand.

SpeakerPost in Action

I’ve seen this evolution firsthand. A SpeakerPost member in Vietnam wanted to introduce her students to public relations through voices from the U.S. communication field. Within weeks, we organized six online sessions with SpeakerPost professionals who volunteered their time. Each session covered a different aspect of PR, and together they created a complete foundation for students in a market where these resources were scarce.

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Larry Steven Londre, SpeakerPost member

"Love SpeakerPost. I was able to give my “What is Marketing” What is Advertising, With the 9P’s of Marketing” presentation to 350-400 students at a university in Ho Chi Minh. SpeakerPost delivers awareness, desire, interest and action.  What an excellent resource."

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Equity and Representation

The future of guest speaking will also demand greater attention to equity. Students need to hear from professionals who reflect a variety of backgrounds, not only the most visible or well-connected voices. With SpeakerPost, educators don’t have to rely only on personal networks. They can reach a broader, more diverse pool of voices.

Budget Pressures

Another reality is financial. Many institutions are cutting budgets for external speakers. Our volunteer professionals have stepped in to fill the gap. In some cases, they’ve made it possible for students to access industry insights they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Community Over One-Offs

What has traditionally been episodic is becoming more consistent. Rather than a single lecture, guest speaking can be built into the rhythm of a course or a program. When multiple voices are heard over time, students see how different perspectives connect to the same concepts.

The Role of SpeakerPost

This shift requires infrastructure. Informal networks and ad-hoc invitations are no longer enough. SpeakerPost was built to support this new model—one where educators and professionals form an ongoing community, not just one-time exchanges.

Guest speaking will continue to evolve, shaped by technology, equity, and collaboration. But the goal remains the same: preparing students for the world they are about to enter. The difference now is that we have the tools—and the community—to make guest speaking easier, more inclusive, and more integrated into higher education.

Visit speakerpost.com to learn more about how we are building this community.