In our large-scale, organized existence, we are not only mass consumers, but also mass products. Higher education has become a (mass) approach to “produce” global citizens who are able to work with smart technology, follow geopolitical issues and have sufficient communication and language skills (roughly the 21st century skills). However, higher education mainly produces (disguised) consumers. Corona showed that vocational education leads to essential and productive labour. Paradoxically, we can only return to small-scale by optimizing mass production. But contrary to what many political election manifestos suggest, it takes something other than more money for higher education or achieving a healthier life in the gym.