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 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 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.

“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.

Professor Lily Kong, Singapore's first local and first female university president, currently leading Singapore Management University (SMU) joins host, Professor Judyth Sachs.

Prof. Kong reflects on her own undergraduate experience and how it shaped her focus as a leader - from introducing interdisciplinary curriculum that exposes students to the “big questions”, to cultivating interpersonal and intrapersonal skills so that students remain “more human” and can adapt in a rapidly changing world. Don’t miss this invigorating conversation with a truly visionary leader, committed to transforming the educational experience for every student at SMU.

Dr. James Beeby, Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse speaks to your host, and Studiosity Chief Academic Officer, Professor Judyth Sachs.

Dr. Beeby recounts his personal and professional journey, from first-generation college student from a small village in England, to leading a selective regional public university in the United States. He champions the transformative power of higher education and discusses his vision for the future, emphasizing greater responsiveness to community needs, providing affordable access, and preparing students for success. James offers advice to current students, noting the value of kindness, continuous learning, and lifting others as you climb.

In a very special episode this week, join three leading HE thought leaders to discuss the existential crisis facing universities today.

This high-stakes conversation is hosted by Professor Judyth Sachs (Chief Academic Officer, Studiosity, and former Provost, Macquarie University), and Judyth is joined by:

Dr. Noreen Golfman (Studiosity Academic Advisory Board Member, and former Provost, Memorial University): Detailing the rise of government interference, budget cuts, and the imperative for institutions to shed the "bloated" clichés.

Goldie Blumenstyk (Friend to Studiosity, and former 36-year journalist, The Chronicle of Higher Education): Sharing her unparalleled insights on the economic contraction and the current reshaping of the American academy.

Professor Imad Hoballah, VP for Institutional Advancement & External Relations at American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) joins host, Dr. Ashraf Mahate. Listen in to hear his insights on:

Encouraging students to learn through failure and discovery, rather than memorisation, recalling an early project failure and being told "If you're not failing, you're not pushing boundaries".

Equipping students for future jobs, not disappearing ones, and why any university not integrating industry into its programs is doing its students and community a disservice.

Transforming learning to remove rigid silos and enable students to gain diverse experiences to be agile for future multidisciplinary challenges.

On 25th September 2025, this panel came together to discuss New Zealand's growth plans for international students, the panelists' personal experiences as international students, the initiatives their universities have to support international students' wellbeing and sense of belonging, and the political and economic challenges facing international education in New Zealand.

They also discussed New Zealand's unique position in the international education market compared to other countries and the importance of aligning international student programs with the country's workforce needs.

Your panel:

And Chaired by Prof Judyth Sachs, Chief Academic Officer at Studiosity.

Professor Dato' Elizabeth Lee, Group CEO of Sunway Education Group in Malaysia, speaks to host, Professor Judyth Sachs, about how she is guided by her faith and a 'servant leadership' philosophy. During her early education, Elizabeth felt conflicted between her interest in the arts, and societal expectations to pursue the sciences. Her determination to follow her own path later shaped her vision to offer students a more holistic, interdisciplinary approach to learning.

Today, Sunway Education Group prepares students for an uncertain future by nurturing resilience, curiosity, and a sense of civic responsibility, while actively exploring ways to adapt AI technology tools into teaching and learning.