Reimagining HigherEd
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, Sir Eric Thomas, Dr Noreen Golfman, and Prof Petra Wend.
Episodes
2 days ago
2 days ago
Arthur Levine, President Emeritus at Teachers College, Columbia University, chats to Prof Judyth Sachs, about reimagining the student experience for the 21st century. They discuss formative assessment in practice; why universities need to regain traction, look outward, and bind with community; and Arthur shares what he would change if he could reinvent universities.
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
Prof Anthony Smith, Vice Provost Faculties, University College London
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
Thursday Mar 23, 2023
On the Reimagining HE podcast this week, Prof Anthony Smith, Vice Provost Faculties at University College London, chats to Sir Eric about partnering with students, hybrid learning, online exams, and long-term change for teaching and learning - including hope for a more agile and accessible student experience.
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Dr. David Barnard, President Emeritus, University of Manitoba
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Thursday Mar 16, 2023
Join Dr. David Barnard, President Emeritus and former VC and President at University of Manitoba, in discussion with Dr. Noreen Golfman, as they dive into David's rich experience in higher education - from being first in family to go to university, to never quite leaving.
Dr. Barnard shares what it was like to be among the first Computer Science Graduates; his love for poetry and the poem he introduced to many colleagues while in leadership; the journey to connecting and learning from Indigenous leaders, friends, and communities; and observations on a subtle shift in why students choose to study.
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Dr. Ainsley Carry, Vice President, Students, The University of British Columbia
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Thursday Mar 09, 2023
Dr. Ainsley Carry, Vice President of Students at The University of British Columbia joins Dr. Noreen Golfman, to discuss equity, diversity, and inclusion on campus; the consequences of higher education returning to where it was pre-pandemic; and why centring students in strategic planning is more important than ever.
Ainsley shares the passion project he has been working on in recent years, and why he would tell his eighteen year old self to be wary of conventional wisdom. Tune in for this refreshing, insightful look into higher ed administration, from Ainsley's 20+ years working with students across the US and Canada.
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
With over 145 registrants, the first UK Symposium of 2023 held 28 February was an engaging discussion on the impact of AI tools on teaching, learning, and assessment. The general consensus being these tools aren’t new - indeed we can look as far back as the arrival of the calculator. It’s all about clarity; reframing assessment and making assessment purposeful; and it’s about accepting that this technology will continue to develop.
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Professor Brian Schmidt AC FAA FRS, Australian National University VC and President
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
Thursday Feb 23, 2023
This week, Australian National University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Brian Schmidt AC FAA FRS, joins Professor Judyth Sachs to discuss immersive on-campus learning, finding balance in life and academia, and the role and future of universities in Australia.
Prof Brian reflects on his own deep academic experience as a Harvard undergraduate, how he has modelled this for his own students, and his future plans (after he steps down from VC later this year) to design the class he wish he could have had.
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Professor Margaret Gardner, Monash University Vice Chancellor and President
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
In this week’s episode, Monash University Vice Chancellor and President Professor Margaret Gardner sits down with long-time friend and former colleague, Professor Judyth Sachs. Prof Gardner shares her biggest learnings, the key ingredient to working in universities, and why she has chosen to stay in higher education, making her Australia’s longest serving VC to date. Don’t miss this candid conversation that includes the two Professors discussing hopes and ideas for the student experience in 2023.
Thursday Feb 09, 2023
Thursday Feb 09, 2023
With over 1,700 registrants, this first Symposium session of 2023 held on 7 Feb was a lively discussion around the impact of AI on student learning, how institutions can refocus on learning processes and outcomes, graduate attributes, and relevance to modern society.
The video and full transcript are available here: https://www.studiosity.com/studentsfirst
Thursday Feb 02, 2023
Professor Chris Day, Vice Chancellor and President, Newcastle University
Thursday Feb 02, 2023
Thursday Feb 02, 2023
Prof Chris Day, VC and President of Newcastle University, joins Sir Eric for an insight into university participation rates in North-East England, and the transformational impact of the charity IntoUniversity, bridging the gap between school and higher education in difficult to reach areas.
Chris also discusses the rise in academic industrial clusters, COVID as an accelerator for alliances between universities and anchor institutions, and producing graduates relevant for your region. Listen to the end for a funny anecdote about Prince Charles' old bedroom at Aberystwyth University!
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Dame Denise Holt, Chair of Council, University of Sussex
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Dame Denise Holt, Chair of Council at University of Sussex, joins the podcast this week to dive into all things governance. She speaks about the common tenets of good governance, having seen it at work across a range of contexts and roles, from the Foreign Office, to Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation), and Higher Education Institutions.
Dame Denise discusses the changing landscape for governing bodies; mutual exchange between a university and its governing members; and diverse representation around the table, to drive bold risk-taking.

Seven years leading critical conversations in Higher Education
Our global 'Students First' Symposia provide a platform for open, collaborative, cross-institutional Higher Education discussions. We bring together guests from across the sector: students, teaching and learning, support, leadership, administration, and more.