In the final episode of 2025, host Alex Usher welcomes Robert Kelchen, a recurring favorite guest, to discuss the top 10 issues in American higher education over the past year. They cover a wide array of topics such as state funding for public higher education, efforts to dismantle the US Department of Education, rising athletic spending, DEI and admissions, the impact of artificial intelligence, international student enrollment trends, state-level DEI policies, and the challenges faced by university leadership. Additionally, they delve into the One Beautiful Bill Act and the Trump administration's higher education compact. Don't miss this comprehensive look into the major developments and challenges in the world of higher education in 2025.

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• Focus Friday: Sign up to receive our daily newsletter and register for our biweekly webinars for free

Join Tiffany MacLennan on the World of Higher Education Podcast as she interviews Alex Usher, President and CEO of Higher Education Strategy Associates, about their comprehensive report: The World of Higher Education — Year in Review 2025. This episode delves into the major global forces affecting higher education, including politics, demography, technology, and policy neglect. Understand the impacts of U.S. political upheavals, demographic declines, and rising private education in Western Europe. Learn which countries are emerging as bright spots and the fault lines to watch for in 2026.

👉 Episode Links:

• Read the free report: The World of Higher Education — Year in Review 2025 by Higher Education Strategy Associates
• Register for free: Focus Friday December 5 | What is the Future of Work?

Join Alex Usher in the latest episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast as he talks with Rob Annan, President and CEO of Genome Canada. They explore the intertwined relationship of science and economic progress, the role of government in science funding, and the shift toward a more utilitarian approach to research funding. The discussion covers the current state of science, the impact of policy on scientific research, and the broader implications on public policy. They also delve into the Canadian context, discussing the nation's unique research system and its future direction.

👉 Episode Links:

• Genome Canada
• Register for free: Focus Friday December 5 | What is the Future of Work?

In this episode, Attila Pausits, Professor of Higher Education Research and Development, delves into the inaugural report by the Global Observatory on Higher Education Changes (GOHEC). Attila sheds light on the latest trends in higher education, the role of AI in research, and the importance of a global perspective in understanding educational transformations. Discover the key findings from GOHEC's 2024 survey, insights on digital transformation, political interventions, and regional contrasts across the globe. 

👉 Episode Links:

• Global Observatory on Higher Education Changes (GOHEC)
• Annual Report of GOHEC - Journal of Research and Innovation in Higher Education (JRIHE)
• Register for free: Focus Friday November 21 | AI in Action: Real-World Campus Experiments

In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher delves into the complex world of private higher education with Dan Levy, a distinguished professor at SUNY Albany and director of the program for Research in Private Higher Education. They explore the significant variations in private higher education across the globe, the different types of private institutions, and the evolving patterns in various regions. Levy, author of 'A World of Private Higher Education,' shares insights from his latest book, discussing the identity-based, elite/semi-elite, and demand-absorbing categories of private higher education. They also address current trends, surprising growth in Western Europe, and the challenges and dynamics faced by the sector. Tune in to grasp the intricacies of private higher education and its global impact.

👉 Episode Links:

• A World of Private Higher Education by Daniel C. Levy
• Register for free: Focus Friday November 21 | AI in Action: Real-World Campus Experiments

Join Alex Usher and Debbie McVitty, editor at Wonkhe, as they discuss the recent white paper on post-16 education released by the Labor Party in the UK. The episode delves into the current state of higher education, the financial challenges universities face, and the muted response to the proposed reforms. McVitty outlines the sector's strengths and weaknesses, the political tensions around university funding, and the potential impact of the white paper's proposals on the future of English higher education. Don't miss this detailed analysis of what lies ahead for UK universities.

👉 Episode Links:

• Post-16 Education and Skills white paper
• Wonkhe
• Focus Friday: November 7 | Register for free

In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher is joined by Dr. Ruixue Jia, a professor of economics at UC San Diego and co-author of 'The Highest Exam: How The Gaokao Shapes China.' They discuss the historical and contemporary significance of the Gaokao, China's university entrance exam, and its profound impact on Chinese society. Topics include the exam's origins in the Tang Dynasty, how it influences social mobility, and its role in governance. They also compare the Chinese and American systems of university admissions and explore the future of the Gaokao given China's economic and demographic changes.

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• The Highest Exam: How The Gaokao Shapes China

Join Alex Usher and Luiz Augusto Campos on 'The World of Higher Education Podcast' as they delve into Brazil's journey from its history of slavery to addressing racial inequality through fixed numerical admissions quotas in higher education. Discover how these policies have transformed Brazil's public universities, making them more inclusive, and the ongoing challenges and future prospects for affirmative action in Brazil's academic landscape.

👉 Episode Links:

• Book: "O impacto das cotas: Duas decadasde acao affirmativano Ensino superior brasileiro"

In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher delves into the intricate economics of higher education with guest Joshua Travis Brown from Johns Hopkins University. They discuss Brown's new book, 'Capitalizing on College,' which examines how private religious institutions navigate rising costs through various financial strategies. From traditional approaches to innovative entrepreneurial models, Brown provides a detailed analysis of how these institutions strive to remain sustainable. They explore four primary strategies: Traditional, Pioneer, Network, and Accelerated, and discuss their implications and challenges. Tune in to gain valuable insights on the financial dynamics shaping higher education today.

👉 Episode Links:

• Capitalizing on College: How Higher Education Went from Mission Driven to Margin Obsessed

In this episode of The World of Higher Education Podcast with Alex Usher, the discussion focuses on the vast reconfiguration of Russian academic life following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Scholar Dmitry Dubrovsky of Charles University shares insights into the slow-motion collapse of Russian higher education, tracing the changes from the dawn of the Putin era in 2000 to the present. Topics include the ideological control from the Kremlin, the international reforms of the Medvedev era, the conservative shift post-2012, the brain drain of faculty, and the recent shift away from the Bologna Process. Future prospects for Russian academia in a post-Putin world are also considered. Don't miss this detailed analysis of a system in flux.