Claim OwnershipReimagining HigherEd
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Higher Education leaders from around the world share their personal stories from within the sector - reflecting on improvements to teaching and learning and the student experience, while candidly discussing what still needs to come. With your hosts Prof Judyth Sachs, Dr Noreen Golfman, and Prof Petra Wend.
155 Episodes
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Professor Alex Zelinsky AO reflects on his journey from first-in-family to leading the University of Newcastle, emphasising how his experiences at CSIRO and in defence shaped his commitment to research with real-world impact. Speaking with host, Professor Judyth Sachs, he identifies a ‘triangle of unhappiness’ in the sector, caused by over-regulation, flawed funding models, and a lack of collaboration between government, unions, and universities. To combat these challenges, Prof Zelinsky champions a multidisciplinary, integrated model of education, highlighted by Newcastle’s mandatory career-ready placements, to ensure student success and drive regional economic transformation.
Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, Vice-Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, speaks to Dr. Ashraf Mahate about the future of higher education, emphasizing the need for adaptability, innovation, and a student-centric approach. Drawing on her personal philosophy of always remaining a student, Prof Martial-Braz shares how Sorbonne Abu Dhabi balances its legacy with the need to be relevant and competitive in the #UAE market, and advocates for embedding AI into curriculum, ensuring students can use these tools while preserving their human capacity for judgment and critical thinking.
“If it's not about the students, then what's education about anyway?”
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Clare Pollock’s leadership is defined by her unwavering commitment to student success and equity. In this conversation, she speaks with Professor Judyth Sachs about her strong advocacy for keeping students at the centre of the university experience, which she has carried through roles at different institutions.
Now leading Edith Cowan University, Prof Pollock shares insights into how the university is rethinking the future of education - including leveraging AI to transform its curriculum towards programmatic learning and assessment, to support authentic learning and prepare graduates for whatever comes next.
Professor Lily Kong, Singapore's first local and first female university president, currently leading Singapore Management University (SMU) joins host, Professor Judyth Sachs.
Prof. Kong reflects on her own undergraduate experience and how it shaped her focus as a leader - from introducing interdisciplinary curriculum that exposes students to the “big questions”, to cultivating interpersonal and intrapersonal skills so that students remain “more human” and can adapt in a rapidly changing world. Don’t miss this invigorating conversation with a truly visionary leader, committed to transforming the educational experience for every student at SMU.
Dr. James Beeby, Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse speaks to your host, and Studiosity Chief Academic Officer, Professor Judyth Sachs.
Dr. Beeby recounts his personal and professional journey, from first-generation college student from a small village in England, to leading a selective regional public university in the United States. He champions the transformative power of higher education and discusses his vision for the future, emphasizing greater responsiveness to community needs, providing affordable access, and preparing students for success. James offers advice to current students, noting the value of kindness, continuous learning, and lifting others as you climb.
In a very special episode this week, join three leading HE thought leaders to discuss the existential crisis facing universities today.
This high-stakes conversation is hosted by Professor Judyth Sachs (Chief Academic Officer, Studiosity, and former Provost, Macquarie University), and Judyth is joined by:
Dr. Noreen Golfman (Studiosity Academic Advisory Board Member, and former Provost, Memorial University): Detailing the rise of government interference, budget cuts, and the imperative for institutions to shed the "bloated" clichés.
Goldie Blumenstyk (Friend to Studiosity, and former 36-year journalist, The Chronicle of Higher Education): Sharing her unparalleled insights on the economic contraction and the current reshaping of the American academy.
Professor Imad Hoballah, VP for Institutional Advancement & External Relations at American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) joins host, Dr. Ashraf Mahate. Listen in to hear his insights on:
Encouraging students to learn through failure and discovery, rather than memorisation, recalling an early project failure and being told "If you're not failing, you're not pushing boundaries".
Equipping students for future jobs, not disappearing ones, and why any university not integrating industry into its programs is doing its students and community a disservice.
Transforming learning to remove rigid silos and enable students to gain diverse experiences to be agile for future multidisciplinary challenges.
Professor Dato' Elizabeth Lee, Group CEO of Sunway Education Group in Malaysia, speaks to host, Professor Judyth Sachs, about how she is guided by her faith and a 'servant leadership' philosophy. During her early education, Elizabeth felt conflicted between her interest in the arts, and societal expectations to pursue the sciences. Her determination to follow her own path later shaped her vision to offer students a more holistic, interdisciplinary approach to learning.
Today, Sunway Education Group prepares students for an uncertain future by nurturing resilience, curiosity, and a sense of civic responsibility, while actively exploring ways to adapt AI technology tools into teaching and learning.
Professor Yousef Haik, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at University of Sharjah speaks to Dr. Ashraf Mahate about the challenges and opportunities of rapid technological change - with a focus on elevating students' preparedness for the evolving job market. Prof Haik talks about how Sharjah is evolving their assessment methods to emphasise student learning over information recall, and tackles the big question of how universities can “develop reliable assessment tools that allow the students to use AI without jeopardising the integrity and rigour of the education”.
Professor Adeeba Kamarulzaman, leader of Monash University Malaysia, joins Studiosity’s Chief Academic Officer and host, Professor Judyth Sachs. Prof. Kamarulzaman reflects on the challenges facing higher education in Malaysia, in particular the rise of AI and changing workplace, and emphasises the need to balance the focus on producing skilled graduates in fields like engineering and AI, with a renewed emphasis on the humanities, integrity, and empathy - qualities she argues cannot be taught by AI.
The inimitable Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education (ACE) joins Studiosity Academic Advisory Board member and former Provost and Vice President Academic at Memorial University, Dr. Noreen Golfman. In this conversation, the two leaders reflect on the complex and challenging landscape of higher education policy in the United States.
Don’t miss this special episode - part of an initiative between Studiosity and the American Council on Education, to help ACE Members across the United States adopt scaled, evidence-based AI for Learning into 2026.
Join Abtar Kaur, Professor of Innovative Digital Learning and UNESCO Chair at Asia Pacific University (APU) with host, Prof Judyth Sachs. The two professors discuss a future “work and learn” model where student learning is industry-focused, with less time spent in classrooms; the importance of a whole-of-university approach to driving the transformation of teaching and learning; and Prof Kaur’s vision for developing curious, confident, and resilient graduates who can effectively apply AI to solve real problems and enhance their learning.
Professor Grant Edwards, Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University joins host, Professor Judyth Sachs in conversation. Reflecting on his passion for hockey and agriculture, Prof. Edwards discusses his path and connection to Lincoln, a specialist university with a deep commitment to the land-based sectors in New Zealand. He also speaks to the challenges facing HE leaders in the region, including navigating the role of technology in productivity and learning, and addressing access and affordability barriers in education.
Hear from the four UK and European finalists of Studiosity’s 2025 Tracey Bretag prize for Academic Integrity, to learn more about their educational integrity initiatives. Chaired by our Chief Academic Officer, Professor Judyth Sachs, in this Age of AI the panel discussed the need to evolve academic integrity from strict, punitive frameworks into supportive, evidence-based, and ethical approaches; the importance of clear policies on AI use in assessments; and the benefits of early engagement with staff and students in order to adapt to emerging challenges in higher education.
Your panel:
Lee Griffin, Academic Director (Postgraduate Taught), University of Warwick
Dr Marzia Coltri, PhD, GUS Fellow and Lecturer at Arden University, Academic Associate (Professor Extraordinarius) at UNISA
Dr Shiva Sivasubramaniam, Deputy Dean, University of Roehampton
Dr Mary-Claire Kennedy, Academic Integrity Lead, University of Limerick, Chair of the National Academic Integrity Network (Ireland)
Dr. Stacy Young, alum and President of Manchester University, Indiana speaks with Prof Judyth Sachs on staying agile, responding to changing student needs, and embracing AI to enhance the learning experience. Listen in to hear how Manchester is making higher education more accessible, through enabling students to graduate faster and with less debt, and by innovating the university’s programs to meet the evolving needs of the job market.
Dr. Wafa Almansoori, Interim President and Provost of American University of Bahrain (AUBH) joins host, Dr. Ashraf Mahate this week, to discuss:
Preparing students for a world with AI, and the challenges for universities in revising curriculum, training faculty, and establishing ethical guidelines.
How AUBH are incorporating collaboration across disciplines to mirror real-world challenges.
Dr. Wafa shares her thoughts on the mixed messages higher education sometimes sends to students: when their final grade dictates their opportunities more than the learning journey itself. This can leave students confused about what truly matters.
Dr. Sudhindra Shamanna, Academic President at Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai, joins host Dr. Ashraf Mahate to explore the evolving landscape of higher education and key questions facing leaders today.
How are educators adapting teaching to keep students engaged and at the centre of the learning process?
How can higher education connect more effectively with industry and community in the UAE, to ensure students are employable and feel more certain about their futures?
Universities like Manipal are rethinking assessment - how do they evaluate the way students are learning in the age of AI?
Listen in to hear these discussed in depth, plus more.
Dr. Ronald Rochon, President of California State University Fullerton, joins Prof Judyth Sachs for this enriching conversation. The two leaders discuss fostering environments where students are encouraged to engage with diverse communities, embrace discomfort, and build their capabilities. Dr. Rochon provides insight into the Cal State Fullerton student experience and the university’s commitment to celebrating different identities and perspectives.
Join Professor Judyth Sachs for an insightful conversation with Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar, the first woman and first foreign-born president of the University of Lynchburg. The two leaders discuss mentorship and determination, empowering students with purpose and belonging, leading through change, and Alison’s top three guiding books for navigating the complexities of higher education leadership.
This week, join Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive of Universities UK, and guest host Professor Petra Wend as they discuss the challenges facing the higher ed sector, including financial sustainability and the evolving landscape of mass university participation; universities leading the way in individualised support and student success; and the importance of having clear purpose and not losing sight of the end game.
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