Reimagining HigherEd

Dr. Wafa Almansoori, Interim President and Provost, American University of Bahrain

This week, we're resharing a popular episode from the archives. Dr. Wafa Almansoori, Interim President and Provost of American University of Bahrain (AUBH) joins host, Dr. Ashraf Mahate 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.

LIVE RECORDING: GSU and NISS at ACEx2026 - Beyond the Classroom

At ACEx2026, Dr. Timothy M. Renick and Dr. Kathryn Crowther detailed the results and strategic implications of an innovative pilot program between the National Institute for Student Success (NISS), Georgia State University (GSU), and Studiosity.
In an era demanding both efficiency and personalized learning, GSU sought a student support solution that could scale effectively across their diverse student body. A micro-pilot took place in Spring 2025, offering Studiosity to 100 students, and was expanded for the Fall to 1,000 students across multiple programs and disciplines. GSU strategically adopted Studiosity's AI-powered writing feedback tool and foundational skills support to determine efficacy and impact.
Featuring:
Dr. Timothy M. Renick, Executive Director, National Institute for Student Success
Dr. Kathryn Crowther, Director of Teaching Effectiveness & Learning Design in the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Online Education at Georgia State University

Dr. David Andrews, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global)

Dr. David Andrews, Chancellor at UMass Global and Studiosity Academic Advisory Board member, joins host and Chief Academic Officer, Professor Judyth Sachs to discuss:
The mindset shift and practices needed to "meet students where they are"
Reimagining the role of faculty and leveraging AI for efficiencies in grading and feedback
Fluidity and flexibility to enable accessible, enjoyable learning experiences.

LIVE RECORDING: Dr. Rajiv Jhangiani, Vice Provost, Teaching and Learning at Brock University presenting live at Re:University | HESA

Dr. Rajiv Jhangiani, Vice Provost, Teaching and Learning at Brock University, discusses the data-rich results of their recent pilot and survey with Studiosity. This session was presented live at Re: University on January 29, 2026 and provides a grounded, evidence-based perspective on how AI support tools are impacting students' confidence, study habits, and AI use, and what the outcomes are for institutions.

Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva, President, Complete College America (CCA)

Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva, President of Complete College America (CCA), joins Studiosity Chief Academic Officer, Prof. Judyth Sachs to explore the intersection of equity, access, and institutional transformation, underpinned by CCA’s bold mission of improving completion rates for 10 million students across 53 systems. Dr. Watson Spiva addresses AI and the need to shift away from policing towards a pedagogy-first approach, and discusses embedding “universal design” support into institutional infrastructure to ensure every student can persist and successfully complete their degree, regardless of zip code.

EXCLUSIVE: Dual Enrollment in the U.S. - A Higher Education Roundtable Discussion

Over 2.8 million high schoolers across the U.S. are taking dual enrollment courses, offered in partnership between high schools and local universities and community colleges. With demand increasing, this panel explores the value and impact of dual enrollment programs, career and college readiness and how dual enrollment courses can help students pursue post-secondary aspirations, and some of the barriers preventing more students from taking advantage of these programs.
Your panelists:
Amy Williams, Executive Director at the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships
John Fink, Senior Research Associate and Program Lead, Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University
Christopher Todd, Executive Director of the Office of Early College Programs, University of Connecticut
This session is moderated by Goldie Blumenstyk, veteran reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education and now Senior Fellow at Studiosity.

Dr. Kemi Jona, Vice Provost for Online Education and Digital Innovation, University of Virginia

Dr. Kemi Jona, Vice Provost for Online Education and Digital Innovation at the University of Virginia and Studiosity Academic Advisory Board member, joins host Prof Judyth Sachs to discuss the perfect storm facing higher education: declining public trust in research, shifting government funding, and the need to prove employability outcomes in a changing labor market.
The two leaders reflect on how far higher education has strayed from its core mission of enabling students to think deeply and critically, and to demonstrate those skills authentically, and Dr. Jona gives advice to senior leaders looking to successfully pivot towards industry-aligned learning in 2026. Listen in now.

Professor Alex Zelinsky AO, VC and President, University of Newcastle

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, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi

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.

Professor Clare Pollock, VC and President, Edith Cowan University (ECU)

“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.