The University of Austin is a new and promising institution set to open its doors to full time students in just over a year. The university is the brainchild of a few individuals who believe that an institution based on a new model is necessary. The school is committed to freedom of inquiry, a core tenet of any great university, that allows for the pursuit of truth. Today’s guest is the founding president, Pano Kanelos, a distinguished academic that had a successful tenure at St. John's College. We discuss the university's mission, building new institutions, and how they fit within Austin’s education and innovation ecosystems.

Episode Highlights

• The University of Austin aims to become a new center for innovation and academic freedom in the city.
• UATX aspires to become the "Stanford to Berkeley" for Austin, complementing the University of Texas.
• By working closely with industry leaders, the university seeks to co-develop programs, offer internships, and provide support for student-led projects.
• The Polaris Project emphasizes real-world application and impact on pressing global problems, while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among students.
• They want to inspire new institutions around the world by proving that it’s possible to build a new university today
• What’s next Austin? “A dozen years from now, there is a thriving campus in the Austin area that is attracting scholars, practitioners, and young people from across the country and across the world who are building things that we haven't yet dreamed of.”

Episode links

University of Austin: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack