Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed

How can AI be adopted in a way that turns more students into “explorers” rather than “passengers” in their learning? This week we bring you a conversation with the co-author of a book on student disengagement in school, Rebecca Winthrop, who is also researching the impact of AI on education. The episode is by one of Future U’s producers, Jeff Young, from his new podcast, Learning Curve.Chapters0:00 - Intro 4:19 - When the ‘Student Disengagement Crisis’ Started7:25 - A Framework for Describing Levels of Student Engagement15:18 - How AI Is Impacting Student Motivation19:00 - Why ChatGPT’s ‘Study Mode’ Is Not the Answer25:05 - Advice for Companies Making AI Tools for Education29:32 - Tips for Students 34:42 - A High School Student’s Take on AI 48:30 - Advice For Teachers on Dealing with AI51:35 - What Is the Purpose of School in the Age of Generative AI?Publications Mentioned:“The Disengaged Teen,” by Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson “Minnesota high school student weighs the benefits and pitfalls of AI,” Minnesota Now“I’m a High Schooler. AI Is Demolishing My Education,”The AtlanticBrookings Global Task Force on AI in Educationwebsite‘We Have to Really Rethink the Purpose of Education,’The Ezra Klein Show“Attention Please: Professors Struggle With Student Disengagement,”EdSurge“Playing the Grade Game,”Bootstraps podcast seriesConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Explore how generative AI is challenging traditional higher education. With insight from book tours, the hosts discuss whether college should become more rigorous and the varying impacts of AI on different types of institutions. They highlight the emergence of AI-focused startup universities and a shift towards experiential learning as a core component of the college experience. Additionally, they examine how student loan debts are influencing Gen X's views on education, and touch upon accountability in pricing strategies amidst market disruptions.

Mergers and acquisitions are usually seen as bad things in higher ed. But there’s a growing sense that many colleges could benefit by teaming up, especially as the fiscal cliff means fewer potential students. Jeff and Michael continue to dive into their fascination with M&A by talking to Walter Iwanenko Jr, the president of Gannon University in Erie, Pa., about how and why the institution sought a merger with Ursuline College near Cleveland. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education GroupPublications Mentioned:“Two North Carolina universities announced a merger. Why some alumni are pushing back,” in USA Today. “A Midwest Merger: How Two Ohio Colleges Are Coming Together,” from Future U, season 8.Chapters3:42 - Why Mergers and Acquisitions Are Increasingly Important In HIgher Ed6:15 - What Led Gannon University to Look for a Merger?9:30 - What Gannon University Hoped For in a Partner13:01 - How Gannon University Found Ursuline College16:21 - What’s Stopping More Colleges From Seeking Mergers?21:36 - Learning From Other Mergers That Failed23:04 - What Should Change to Help More Mergers Happen?27:02 - Sponsor Break29:00 - How to Change the Perception of M&A in Higher Ed35:46 - Finding the Right Leadership38:30 - What is the Trump Administration’s Stance on Making College Mergers Easier?41:08 - Lightning RoundConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for YouSign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

Hilary Burns, a higher-education reporter at The Boston Globe, and Karin Fischer, an international higher-education reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education, unpack the Trump administration's impact on college dynamics. They dive into how political pressures alter funding opportunities and institutional priorities, highlighting unique contrasts between elite and regional schools. Discussions also cover the challenges faced by international students, the potential financial fallout of enrollment declines, and the increasing politicization of university leadership.

Jeff Selingo, co-host of Future U and author of 'Dream School,' brings fresh insights into college selection. He dismantles the myth that only highly-selective colleges lead to success, emphasizing a thoughtful approach to finding the right fit for each student. Selingo discusses the importance of teaching quality, budget considerations, and individual motivations. He also tackles the impact of college choice on dropout rates and the evolving landscape of higher education influenced by societal expectations and financial challenges.

College leaders faced a tumultuous summer as the Trump Administration moved to reshape higher education. Key topics include an unprecedented settlement involving Columbia University and a new executive order impacting college admissions. The discussion highlights the financial strains on prestigious institutions and the rising influence of Artificial Intelligence in academia. Additionally, a new ‘lightning round’ segment introduces rapid-fire insights that keep the conversation lively and engaging.

Mushtaq Gunja, the Executive Director of the Carnegie Classification Systems and Senior VP at ACE, joins the hosts to discuss transformative updates to the Carnegie Classifications. They dive into how these changes aim to promote student access and focus on outcomes, possibly reshaping college prestige. The conversation covers the implications for institutions vying for R1 status and the potential shift in funding and accountability. Gunja also reflects on the need for inclusivity in rankings and the broader impact of these new classifications on educational dynamics.

The U.S. has a lot to learn when it comes to systematizing apprenticeship. Thankfully, there are successful international models, like Switzerland’s, that we can study. Katie Caves, the Director at Switzerland’s Center on the Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems, joins the podcast to discuss the Swiss model and what can be gleaned from it. They discuss its permeability between academic and vocational tracks, proving its value to employers, the prestige of Swiss apprenticeships, and the principles that hold across borders. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education GroupPublications Mentioned:Return on investment of apprenticeship systems for enterprises: Evidence from cost-benefit analysesby Samuel Muehlemann & Stefan C WolterChapters0:00 - Intro3:35 - Swiss Apprenticeship 1016:56 - Path Selection and Funding13:46 - The Status of Apprenticeship in Switzerland18:58 - Borrowing Across Borders25:15 - The ROI to Employers29:47 - Evaluating Indiana’s Apprenticeship Model33:45 - Imbuing Prestige in American Apprenticeship38:49 - Striking the Balance43:01 - The Influence of AccountabilityConnect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education NewsletterWebsiteLinkedInX (Twitter)Threads  Connect with Jeff Selingo:Sign Up for the Next NewsletterWebsiteX (Twitter)ThreadsLinkedInConnect with Future U:TwitterYouTubeThreadsInstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag!Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

What does a community college in Idaho have to do with mounting economic tensions between the U.S. and China? A lot, actually. On this episode of Future U., Michael and Jeff dive into what the CHIPS and Science Act—the federal spending package designed to reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign manufacturers for microchips and other advanced technologies—means for a segment of American postsecondary institutions that’s often forgotten in these conversations: community colleges. They talk with nonprofit and government leaders about how the CHIPS supports the education and training of a high tech workforce. They then go deep with the team at the College of Western Idaho to get a view of how they are developing these programs in collaboration with their corporate partner, Micron. This episode is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group.

In this discussion, Michael Horn speaks with industry leaders including Will Bass, a gig economy expert formerly at Comcast; Kara Wiekowski from Accenture, who delves into AI's role in workforce development; Wayne Duso, a former AWS VP, discussing AI's impact on leadership; and Paul Bingham, WGU's Executive Dean, sharing insights on the future of work. They tackle how AI is reshaping talent acquisition and development, compare its impact to past tech revolutions, and stress the need for adaptive learning in a rapidly evolving job market.