The World of Higher Education
Higher Education Strategy Associates
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Top 10 The World of Higher Education Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The World of Higher Education episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The World of Higher Education for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The World of Higher Education episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
What a Second Trump Presidency Could Mean for US Higher Education with Brendan Cantwell
The World of Higher Education
09/19/24 • 29 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher discusses the potential effects of a second Trump administration on U.S. higher education with Brendan Cantwell, a Michigan State University professor. The conversation delves into the federal government's role in higher education, potential changes to student financial aid and research funding, and the influence of the Supreme Court on educational policy. They also explore the challenges and risks higher education institutions may face under another Trump presidency and compare them to a possible Kamala Harris administration. Tune in for a comprehensive analysis of the political landscape and its implications for higher education.
Blog Links:
2.32: 2 Topics, 1 Episode: German Higher Education and U-Multirank
The World of Higher Education
05/30/24 • 20 min
This week's guest is Dr. Gero Federkeil, head of international projects at the Centrum fur Hochschulenwicklung, or Center for Higher Education, in Gütersloh, Germany. He's with us to talk about two totally unrelated topics: the changing profile of university enrolments in Germany, and rankings — specifically U-Multirank.
Overskilled and Underused? What PIAAC Reveals About the Canadian Workforce
The World of Higher Education
04/24/25 • 24 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher delves into a discussion about the Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) with guest Noel Baldwin, Executive Director of Canada's Future Skills Centre. Baldwin explains the scope and purpose of PIAAC, compares it to PISA, and delves into its implications on policies, particularly how governments utilize the data. Key topics include global declines in adult literacy, factors affecting these trends, the use of skills data in Canada, and the future of PIAAC. The episode also touches on the potential impact on workforce skills, literacy strategies, and the changing landscape of policy-making based on hard data.
👉 Episode Links:
Please note, the views and opinions expressed in each episode are those of the individual contributors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast host and team, or our sponsors.
This episode is sponsored by Studiosity.
Student success, at scale - with an evidence-based ROI of 4.4x return for universities and colleges. Because Studiosity is AI for Learning — not corrections - to develop critical thinking, agency, and retention — empowering educators with learning insight. For future-ready graduates — and for future-ready institutions. Learn more at studiosity.com.
Data, Decisions, and Disruptions: Inside the World of University Rankings
The World of Higher Education
02/13/25 • 26 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, host Alex Usher is joined by Duncan Ross, former Chief Data Officer of Times Higher Education Rankings. Duncan shares his journey from the tech sector to leading university rankings at THE in 2015. He discusses the initial challenges of unifying ranking data, expanding the geographic diversity of rankings, and dealing with methodological and ethical issues in university evaluations. Duncan also introduced the Times Impact Rankings, which assess universities based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and highlights how these rankings offer a new perspective on university excellence.
👉 Episode Links:
Centers for Teaching and Learning with Mary C. Wright
The World of Higher Education
10/03/24 • 23 min
This episode, hosted by Alex Usher, features a discussion with Mary C. Wright from Brown University about Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTLs) in higher education. Wright, the author of a recent book on CTLs, shares insights from her research on the evolving aims and strategies of these centers across U.S. campuses. The conversation explores CTLs as change agents, advocating for inclusive learning environments despite structural challenges. Wright introduces the HITS framework, categorizing CTLs based on their change strategies—Hubs, Incubators, Temples, and Sieves—and discusses their role in policy implementation and leadership.
👉 Episode Links:
Centres for Teaching and Learning: The New Landscape in Higher Education by Mary C. Wright
Studiosity
Dutch Higher Education at a Crossroads with Marijk van der Wende
The World of Higher Education
10/10/24 • 28 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, host Alex Usher discusses the dramatic changes in Dutch higher education funding with Marijk van der Wende, Distinguished Faculty Professor at Utrecht University. They explore the recent election of the Party for Freedom, PVV, and its impact on government priorities, including a significant cut in higher education funding. The dialogue touches upon the challenges faced by Dutch universities due to the decline in per-student funding and restrictions on international student intake. Van der Wende provides insights into Dutch government formation, the socio-political landscape, and the potential wider European implications of these policies.
👉 Episode Links:
- Wende, M.C. van der (2024). How open can it be? The promise of open systems and open science under siege. In: Engwall, L. (Ed.). Internationalization in Higher Education and Research: Perspectives, Obstacles and Alternatives, Cham: Springer.
See p. 108 onwards for the NL - Wende, M.C. van der (2023). Opportunities and challenges for open systems in global context. in: Marginson, S. Cantwell, B. Platonova, D & Smolentseva, A (eds). Assessing the Contributions of Higher Education: Knowledge for a disordered world. Edward Elgar Publishers. Pp. 111-130.
See p. 116 for theoretical part (trilemmas combined) - Wende, M.C. van der (2021). Neo-Nationalism and Universities in Europe. In: J. Douglass (ed). Neo-Nationalism and Universities: Global Perspectives on Politics and Policy and the Future of Higher Education. Johns Hopkins University Press.
See p. 127 ow for the NL (and Denmark – much in common) - Additional PDFs: Publications - Prof. dr. Marijk van der Wende - Utrecht University (uu.nl)
Unrest and Reform: Bangladesh’s Youth Movement and Higher Education with Sharowat Shamin
The World of Higher Education
11/21/24 • 24 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, hosted by Alex Usher, we dive deep into the surprising student protests in Bangladesh that shook the government in the summer of last year. The catalyst was a controversial job quota system, but the movement quickly gained momentum against the increasingly authoritarian regime. Joining us to discuss is Sharowat Shaman, an academic at the University of Dhaka and the School for Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. Together, they explore the history of student political movements in Bangladesh, the intricacies of the country's labor market, and the broader implications for higher education and democratic transitions.
👉 Episode Links:
AI-CADEMY: Canada Summit for Post-Secondary Education: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/HESAaicademy/home
Where Canada lies in Global Trends with Alex Usher
The World of Higher Education
01/09/25 • 22 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, Alex Usher discusses global trends and challenges in higher education funding. He outlines systemic issues like slow economic growth, price volatility, and skepticism about the value of higher education, examining how these factors affect countries worldwide. The discussion includes specific insights into the Canadian higher education system, the impact of international students, and the trend towards vocational education. Tune in to understand how global pressures and local policies shape the higher education landscape.
👉 Episode Links:
3.1: Higher Education in a Polarized World with Simon Marginson: https://youtu.be/N5y1v_PuGaI
3.3: What a Second Trump Presidency Could Mean for US Higher Education with Brendan Cantwell: https://youtu.be/gOzDoHwobOo
3.6: Dutch Higher Education at a Crossroads with Marijk van der Wende: https://youtu.be/lFHFExCIX5M
2.23: Higher Education in Russia: https://worlded.transistor.fm/episodes/2-23-higher-education-in-russia
🗓️ AI-CADEMY: Canada Summit for Post-Secondary Education: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/HESAaicademy/home
Utopian Universities: A Global History of the New Campuses of the 1960 with Dr. Miles Taylor
The World of Higher Education
10/31/24 • 23 min
In this episode of 'The World of Higher Education' podcast, Alex Usher speaks with co-editor Miles Taylor about 'Utopian Universities: A Global History of the New Campuses of the 1960s.' They delve into the distinctive characteristics of universities founded during this period, the vision behind their creation, and why these institutions often ended up very different from their founders' original plans. They also discuss the lasting legacy of these 'utopian' campuses and the role of architecture and interdisciplinarity in shaping their identities.
👉 Episode Links:
Book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/ca/utopian-universities-9781350138636/
Quarterly Policy Briefings with Alex Usher: https://higheredstrategy.com/quarterly-policy-briefings
The Lost Potential of Institutional Research: Insights from 'Outsourcing Student Success'
The World of Higher Education
11/14/24 • 23 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, host Alex Usher is joined by Joseph Wycoff, author of 'Outsourcing Student Success: The History of Institutional Research and the Future of Higher Education'. They dive into the unique and underappreciated field of institutional research within higher education institutions. Wycoff explores the origins, development, and deprofessionalization of institutional research, its struggle for recognition as a science, and its impact on higher education policy and management. The discussion also covers the tension between institutional researchers and academia, the comparison with the role of librarians, and the consequences of institutional research's path over the past century.
👉 Episode Links:
Free Kindle Download: https://www.amazon.ca/Outsourcing-Student-Success-Institutional-Education-ebook/dp/B07D7NDSJ7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
AI-CADEMY: Canada Summit for Post-Secondary Education: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/HESAaicademy/home
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FAQ
How many episodes does The World of Higher Education have?
The World of Higher Education currently has 81 episodes available.
What topics does The World of Higher Education cover?
The podcast is about Higher Education, Podcasts and Education.
What is the most popular episode on The World of Higher Education?
The episode title '2.8: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) — Selecting a Rector' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The World of Higher Education?
The average episode length on The World of Higher Education is 25 minutes.
How often are episodes of The World of Higher Education released?
Episodes of The World of Higher Education are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The World of Higher Education?
The first episode of The World of Higher Education was released on Feb 1, 2023.
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