By the year 2000, European higher education institutions must achieve the following aims: resolve the conflict between the social demand for education and costs of higher education without lowering standards; provide continuing education to cope with rapid technological change and increased leisure and/or unemployment; build even closer links between industry, public services, and higher education in the field of informatics; and infuse new talent into static academic manpower. Informatics (varied new communications technologies that are based around microprocessing and optics) may enable the achievement of those aims. The move to distance education and independent learning will accelerate through computer conferencing, cable television and videocassettes, computer-based audiographic systems, and interactive videodiscs. New technologies offer an alternative model to the large, centralized specialist system, because they are both easy to access and easy for teachers to use. The technology needed to achieve these aims is here now, and will become increasingly easier to use. The main barrier is the inability of large institutions to carry through the fundamental changes in organization, financial arrangements, and teaching strategies that are essential if flexible, off-campus teaching is to be achieved. Eight references are listed. (LMM)