A review is presented of findings emerging from the International Council for Educational Development assessment of the world educational crisis. The assessment was made of education in both developed and developing countries and was geared toward finding the future status of education in the 1980s and the 1990s. An analysis is made of basic trends that are shaping education's future. Fundamental to many problems facing educators is a rapid growth in human learning needs. A great increase in the number of learners in the developing nations produces pressure to expand enrollments, while developed nations, despite low population growth, are experiencing increases in learning needs, especially on the part of older youths and adults. Exacerbating the problem of providing for larger educational demands are the factors of tightened economies, increasing bureaucratization and politicalization of education systems, deteriorating employment markets, and a weakening of international cooperation in the field of education. These basic trends are seen as having far-reaching future implications for all levels and types of education throughout the world. Within this broad context, an examination is made of six critical issues facing higher education. These issues are identified as: (1) adjustment to changing demands in developed and developing countries; (2) fading employment prospects for graduates; (3) a growing financial squeeze in all nations; (4) educational inequalities for minority groups and the economically deprived; (5) problems in planning, management, and governance; and (6) barriers to international and intercultural cooperation and understanding. (JD)