The Innovating Together Podcast

Bridget Burns, Executive Director of the University Innovation Alliance, and Doug Lederman, Editor and Co-Founder of Inside Higher Ed, speak with Michael Rao, President of Virginia Commonwealth University. He talks to us about recognizing the education that most students want and need, returning to campus during the pandemic, and how to be a more effective and efficient leader. Topics include:

• Elitism in higher ed vs. the real-world needs of the neglected majority
• Students' expectations for their college experience
• A pragmatic look at starting a new school year in a time of COVID
• The need for personal care and prioritizing his communications
• Wisdom from his mentors and his own advice to rising higher ed leaders

Bridget Burns, Executive Director of the University Innovation Alliance, and Doug Lederman, Editor and Co-Founder of Inside Higher Ed, speak with Maria Flynn, President and CEO of Jobs for the Future. JFF is a nonprofit that sits at the intersection between workforce, education, policy, and practice. In our conversation, President Flynn talks about connecting college graduates with employment opportunities, the skills required in an evolving career marketplace, and the challenges of scaling a nonprofit within a volatile ecosystem. Topics include:

• Smooth transitions between college and the labor market
• What's expected of tomorrow's entrepreneurs and leaders
• The delicate dance required for working with so many diverse sectors
• Her advice for both seasoned and emerging leaders

Bridget Burns, Executive Director of the University Innovation Alliance, and Derrick Tillman-Kelly, Director of UIA's Fellows Program and Network Engagement, speak with Dr. Chantal Levesque-Bristol, Executive Director of the Center for Instructional Excellence at Purdue University. She enlightened us about her research on student-centered learning, what it really is versus what it's commonly perceived to be, and how it can be used to include marginalized or minoritized student populations in the learning outcomes they deserve. Topics include:

• Self-determination theory and its motivational building blocks
• The role of autonomy in student-centered learning
• Why changing instructional practice begins with a shift of instructor mindset
• The differences between student-centered learning and active learning
• How focusing on human motivation is an investment in people