In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, co-producer, Tiffany MacLennan is our host and Alex Usher takes a turn in the question seat. Together, they review the most significant global higher education stories of the year, discussing topics such as the impacts of Trump's policies on international education, massification, the role of private higher education, and the financial challenges faced by universities worldwide. The conversation highlights examples from various countries,...
Jun 12, 2025•25 min
In this episode of The World of Higher Education Podcast, Alex Usher discusses the Trump administration's unprecedented actions against science and universities. Billions of dollars in funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health have been stripped, international students are facing deportation, and low-income students are seeing cuts to loans and grants. Brendan Cantwell from Michigan State University returns to analyze these strategies and tactics, drawing...
Jun 05, 2025•29 min
In this episode of The World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher discusses the historic merger of two major Australian universities—the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia—set to be completed by January 2026. This merger will form Adelaide University, which will be one of the largest academic institutions in the country. Alex interviews David Lloyd, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of South Australia, and Co-Vice Chancellor of Adelaide University,...
May 29, 2025•31 min
Join Alex Usher in the latest episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast as he discusses the hyperactive state of New Zealand's higher education policy with Roger Smyth, a former senior New Zealand public servant, now a consultant. The episode delves into the recent activities of the University Advisory Group, government decisions affecting institutional frameworks, the controversial halt in humanities and social sciences research funding, the financial challenges faced by universities, an...
May 22, 2025•26 min
In this episode of The World of Higher Education Podcast, Alex Usher is joined by Dr. Romulo Pinheiro, a professor at the University of Agder, Norway. They discuss the evolving role of universities in regional economic development, particularly in peripheral areas. Dr. Pinheiro shares insights on the challenges and strategies for universities in less densely populated regions, their global and local ambitions, and the vital role of trust. They also explore the balance between global excellence a...
May 15, 2025•27 min
Join Alex Usher on the World of Higher Education Podcast as he delves into the future of Canadian higher education amidst economic shifts with guest John Stackhouse, Senior Vice President at the Royal Bank of Canada. The discussion focuses on the necessity for post-secondary education reform, the vital role of human capital, and how universities can better align with evolving labor market needs. Learn about the complexities facing the sector, from outdated budget models to the integration of res...
May 08, 2025•27 min
Join host Alex Usher in the World of Higher Education Podcast as he interviews Shai Reshef, Founder and President of University of the People. Discover how this online institution serves 150,000 students across 209 countries with a tuition-free model. Learn the economics behind running a mega online university, the role of technology and volunteers, and how they achieve quality education at a fraction of the cost of traditional universities. Listen in as Reshef shares insights about their unique...
May 01, 2025•26 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 trend...
Apr 24, 2025•25 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher talks with Nicolas Badré, Chief Operating Officer of Galileo Global Education, about the rise of private higher education in Europe. They explore the unique business model of Galileo Global Education, its rapid expansion, and its innovative approaches, including leveraging AI for content creation, student experience, and operational efficiency. They also discuss Galileo's new initiative, Copernia, and its master's program ...
Apr 17, 2025•26 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher delves into the nuances of innovation in universities with guest Dara Melnyk. They discuss the catalysts for innovation in higher education, the required structure and leadership for sustaining innovation, and the global differences in institutional approaches. Dara shares insights from the Innovative University's Global Webinar series, highlighting practical and impractical motivations behind institutional innovation, cri...
Apr 03, 2025•23 min
In this interview, Alex speaks with Steven Mintz, a renowned scholar and postdoctoral researcher, and author of the book, " The Learning-Centered University: Making College a More Developmental, Transformational, and Equitable Experience " In the following conversation, Mintz discusses what makes a learning-centered university, the benefits of active learning over traditional lectures, and the practical challenges faced in implementing these changes. The discussion also delves into alternative s...
Mar 27, 2025•23 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher interviews Dendev Badarch, a professor at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology, about the evolution and current state of higher education in Mongolia. They discuss the historical Soviet influence, the impact of Mongolia's transition to a market economy, the rise of private colleges, and recent legislative changes aimed at university autonomy. Badarch also outlines the challenges and opportunities facing Mongo...
Mar 20, 2025•21 min
Join Alex Usher in this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast where he chats with Hilligje van 't Land, Secretary General of the International Association of Universities (IAU). They delve into the evolution and role of IAU, challenges of global higher education, and how universities from diverse backgrounds can work together towards common goals. 👉 Episode Links: IAU Webinar Series on the Future of Higher Education Please note, the views and opinions expressed in each episode are th...
Mar 13, 2025•26 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, host Alex Usher engages with Maya Wind, postdoctoral scholar at UC Riverside, to discuss her book 'Towers of Ivory and Steel: How Israeli Universities Deny Palestinian Freedom.' Maya Wind discusses the rationale behind the academic boycott of Israeli institutions, the ethical debate surrounding academic involvement in state policies, and the implications of institutional complicity in systemic oppression. 👉 Episode Links: Towers of Ivory...
Mar 06, 2025•29 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, host Alex Usher is joined by Jim Dickinson, Associate Editor at Wonkhe, to discuss the significant role of student movements in Serbian political history. The conversation covers the origins and growth of the current protests, spurred by a tragic incident at a railway station, and their impact on anti-corruption efforts and political change in the country. The episode explores the differences between official student unions and more radic...
Feb 20, 2025•25 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 ...
Feb 13, 2025•26 min
Join Alex Usher on the World of Higher Education podcast as he revisits ' The Great Brain Race ' with author Ben Wildavsky. They explore the book's thesis on globalization in higher education, the trends of student and faculty mobility, and the phenomena of global university rankings and branch campuses. They also discuss the current status of the 'global war for talent' and the impact of global rankings and for-profit universities on education. Tune in for an engaging conversation on the progre...
Feb 06, 2025•29 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, host Alex Usher is joined by Javier Botero, a lead consultant at the World Bank and former Vice Minister of Higher Education in Colombia. They delve into the overlooked but significant developments in Colombia's higher education system under President Gustavo Petro. Topics include the implementation of free tuition, student assistance programs, challenges faced by private and state institutions, and specific cases such as the financial cr...
Jan 30, 2025•22 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, host Alex Usher sits down with Michael Shattock to discuss the complexities of university governance across Europe. The discussion covers the fundamental differences between the British, French Napoleonic, and German Humboldtian models, and their practical impacts on the relationship between universities and the state. Michael Shattock provides insights from his book, 'The Governance of European Higher Education: Convergence or Divergence...
Jan 23, 2025•25 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, host Alex Usher welcomes back Alma Maldonado, an education researcher at CINVESTAV, to discuss the state of higher education in Mexico. The conversation covers the transition from former president AMLO to the new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and the impact of Morena's policies on universities. Topics include budget cuts, the controversial Benito Juarez universities, and the future of public and private higher education institutions in Me...
Jan 16, 2025•23 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 unde...
Jan 09, 2025•23 min
Join Alex Usher and Robert Kelchen as they discuss the top 10 higher education stories in the U.S. for 2024 in this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast. Topics include changes in big-time college athletics, college closures, international student trends, state funding dynamics, political realignment, accreditation issues, diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions on education policy. Don't miss this comprehensive analysis of signifi...
Dec 12, 2024•24 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, host Alex Usher explores China's vocational higher education system with Professor Gerard Postiglione from the University of Hong Kong. They discuss the origins of China's vocational education policy, recent successes, and the development of vocational universities. Tune in for insights on the transformation of Chinese tertiary education, its alignment with industry needs, and the broader implications for the global higher education lands...
Dec 05, 2024•22 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, we delve into the consequences of Brexit on European students attending UK universities. Host Alex Usher is joined by Paul Wakeling, Professor of Education at the University of York, to discuss the shift in student mobility, financial implications, and broader impacts on UK higher education. They explore not only the dramatic drop in EU student enrolments, but also the shifts in institutional representation and potential strategies that u...
Nov 28, 2024•23 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. Toget...
Nov 21, 2024•24 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 edu...
Nov 14, 2024•23 min
In this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast, host Alex Usher speaks with Chris Whelan, Chief Executive of Universities New Zealand, about the country's new University Advisory Group. The discussion covers the challenges facing New Zealand's higher education system, including declining government funding and the impact of COVID-19 on student numbers. Whelan explains the purpose and scope of the advisory group and outlines the potential obstacles to implementing its recommendations. T...
Nov 07, 2024•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...
Oct 31, 2024•23 min
Join host Alex Usher in this episode of the World of Higher Education podcast as he interviews Dr. David Baker, coauthor of 'Global Mega-Science: Universities, Research Collaborations, and Knowledge Production.' They delve into the historical transformation of universities into major scientific research hubs, covering the evolution from individual labs to global mega-science collaborations. The discussion touches on the rise of the university science model, the significant role universities play...
Oct 17, 2024•25 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 re...
Oct 10, 2024•29 min
