Ryan opens the discussion by resetting some expectations regarding the value of online education. In the wake of COVID-19, the ability to learn anything anytime anywhere seemed poised to severely disrupt higher education. Ryan has a different perspective. He believes that online learning is uniquely suited to early-career individuals who already have their foot in the door somewhere. They have at least some interest in learning and a goal or two in mind.

Ryan and fellow investors believe higher education should serve as a pathway to a good job and there are a lot of elements missing from the online education experience that is gained in more social settings such as soft skills and leadership behaviors. They direct their investment dollars to support companies that help bridge this gap outside the traditional emphasis on a college degree. The episode wraps by examining the role community colleges should play in making education more accessible and affordable and why they struggle to achieve this goal.

Discover more about University Ventures Fund by visiting their website and following on LinkedIn or @UniVenturesFund on Twitter. You can also connect with guest Ryan Craig on LinkedIn.

Ryan is the author of two books on the topic of higher education: A New U: Faster + Cheaper Alternatives to College and College Disrupted: The Great Unbundling of Higher Education. 

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

See you in the next episode.