Reimagining HigherEd

Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education (ACE) joins host and Studiosity Senior Fellow, Goldie Blumenstyk for a deep dive into the current state of higher education in the U.S., which Goldie refers to as “different than anything I've ever seen in my 36 years of reporting.” They discuss the urgent need to evaluate universities and colleges by civic impact and social mobility rather than post-graduation earnings alone, while identifying policy unpredictability as today's top senior leadership challenge. Warning against the "deceptive easiness" of AI and consequential “watering down” of degree value, Ted explains why faculty must bring the intellectual struggle back into learning by pushing students to interrogate what is wrong with their own arguments.

How can higher education prepare graduates for an era defined by AI, rapid workplace changes, and technological uncertainty? In this Live recording, Studiosity Chief Academic Officer Prof Judyth Sachs hosts a panel of higher education leaders and a student perspective to examine the intersection of Work Integrated Learning (WIL), enduring human capabilities, and responsible AI integration. Discover why institutions are moving away from transient 'skills' lists to focus on adaptive expertise, critical thinking, agentic sense-making, and citizenship. Key Topics Covered: Scaling Work Integrated Learning (WIL): Lessons from Swinburne's universal WIL model and Newcastle's compulsory career-ready placements. Enduring capabilities vs. transient skills: Why adaptive expertise, creativity, curiosity, and good citizenship matter more than short-term technical tool mastery. AI in curriculum & pedagogy: How technology can transform WIL, and why educator capability is the critical first step. The student voice on AI: Why teaching critical thinking, reasoning, and human connection is essential when integrating AI tools into study and practice. Your panel: Prof Judyth Sachs – Chief Academic Officer, Studiosity (Chair) Prof Steven Warburton – Pro Vice-Chancellor Education Innovation, University of Newcastle Prof Ruth Bridgstock – Professor of Education Transformation - Capabilities, Swinburne University of Technology Prof Sherman Young – Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, RMIT University Sophia Bell, 5th year law student, University of Newcastle  

Former Director of Harvard College Writing Center, Jane Rosenzweig, sits down with Professor Judyth Sachs to explore why writing is far more than just an assignment to grade; rather it is a tool for critical thinking and intellectual discovery, that empowers students to develop their own voice and appreciate the value of thinking for themselves. Drawing on decades of teaching experience, Jane speaks about the role of human connection in learning, whereby teachers and peers go on the journey with a student, something that AI cannot replicate. Jane speaks directly to today’s leaders, urging the sector to slow down to reflect on the core capabilities of future graduates and to ensure technology supports independent thinking and the transformative cognitive struggle, rather than replaces it.

Dr. Jun Salipsip, President of Enderun Colleges in the Philippines, sits down with Prof. Judyth Sachs to reflect on what it means to prepare students for an unpredictable future. Moving beyond traditional lectures, Dr. Salipsip breaks down Enderun’s hands-on approach - from building an "experience bank" of real-world challenges to using inquiry-driven curriculum that teaches students how to think, evaluate bias, and prioritise community over individualism. Reflecting on his journey which he likens to a ‘skipping stone’, and recent American Chamber of Commerce “Icon of Excellence” Award, Jun shares grounded leadership advice for navigating radical disruption: do away with perfectionism, stay curious, and learn continuously.

Dr. Paul LeBlanc, former ACE Board Chair and President Emeritus of Southern New Hampshire University, joins Troy Burnett, SVP and GM of Studiosity, to explore AI impact on trust and public perception within the higher education space, unpacking the policy frameworks necessary to safeguard the inherent value of a degree in an AI-driven landscape.