Online and Professional Continuing Education News
See below for a listing of curated news articles of the day brought to you by Ray Schroeder, Senior Fellow at UPCEA.
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- 5 Education Trends to Look Forward to in 2026 From AI literacy to micro-credentials, education is entering a new phase. - Anindita Acharya, MillenniumpostDigital badges are becoming an increasingly popular way to showcase skills and learning achievements. They give students and professionals the chance to demonstrate practical competencies beyond traditional degrees, highlights Prof Jaiswal. “Earned through courses, workshops, or conferences, these badges can be shared on platforms like LinkedIn, helping learners gain recognition and visibility across the globe,” […]
- How CSUMB faculty and students view AI one semester into a system-wide ChatGPT roll-out - Dolores Haidee Marquez, KAZUWhile some faculty warn about the risks artificial intelligence poses to critical thinking, others argue the greater risk is failing to engage with the technology at all. Education professor Erin Ramirez received a grant to develop ways to train future teachers to use AI in middle and high school classrooms.As part of the CSU systemwide […]
- Artificial intelligence reshapes learning as KU works to adapt - Abigail Moore, University Dailly Kansan“From my perspective, AI is here to stay, and it is very apparent from my classes,” Max Biundo, a senior studying computer science at the University of Kansas, said. “It's almost like a calculator for code now, a lot of my professors have updated their syllabus to allow the use of AI with proper documentation, […]
- Growing share of Americans say the U.S. higher education system is headed in the wrong direction - Kim Parker, Pew ResearchSeven-in-ten Americans now say the higher education system in the United States is generally going in the wrong direction – up from 56% who said this in 2020, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. A line chart showing that 7 in 10 Americans now say U.S. higher education is going in wrong direction. […]
- Of Panic And Purpose: Higher Education In The Age Of AI - Diana Abdul Wahab, Business TodayHigher education today stands at a crossroads unlike any in living memory, buffeted by disruptions that arrive not gradually, as in past technological shifts, but with breathtaking speed and scope. The arrival of generative artificial intelligence, tools that can draft essays and solve complex problems or even mimic human creativity, has upended long-held assumptions about […]
- The future of the CLO: Leading in a world of merged work and learning - Bryan Hancock and Heather Stefanski with Lisa Christensen, McKinseyTechnology has given chief learning officers the tools to make learning a seamless and integrated part of the work experience. To succeed, CLOs can make several fundamental changes. The burning platform is familiar: Rapid technological advancements, shifting market dynamics, and a complex regulatory landscape are reshaping industries at a breakneck pace. To respond, employees will […]
- The Rise of the Agentic AI University in 2026 - Ray Schroeder, Inside Higher EdAgentic AI is no longer merely an interactive tool we talk to; it is a colleague that acts for us. The use of generative AI continues to expand in new ways. Meanwhile, the development of AI agents is driving the expansion and efficiency of AI. In the agentic AI models, we have tools that are […]
- OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman says in 10 years’ time college graduates will be working ‘some completely new, exciting, super well-paid’ job in space - Preston Fore, Yahoo!With Gen Z facing existential career crises, billionaire OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says that in just 10 years, college grads will be exploring the solar system—jobs that will reel in sky-high salaries. The tech leader even says he’s envious of young people because our early-career jobs will look “boring” by comparison. As AI reshapes the […]
- New ‘FutureReady States’ initiative will promote short-term credential programs in North Carolina, other states - Ben Humphries, EdNCLumina Foundation announced on Thursday a new initiative called “FutureReady States” with the goal of increasing access to education and credential training that “pays off in the labor market.” Lumina — a private foundation based in Indianapolis — and partner organizations will do that by offering states technical assistance and policy guidance, according to a […]
- AI use explodes on Minnesota college, university campuses - Erin Adler, Star TribuneArtificial intelligence is dramatically changing higher education as professors adapt to its use, despite fears and hand-wringing that college students are using it as a cheating free-for-all. As higher education wrestles with unprecedented challenges— including shrinking budgets due to federal cuts and fundamental doubts about its value — AI’s growth is prompting instructors to have […]
- If Anthropic Succeeds, a Nation of Benevolent AI Geniuses Could Be Born - Steven Levy, Wired“We figured out the fundamental recipe of how to make the models smarter, but we haven’t yet figured out how to make them do what we want.” The deadline might be closer than even the Anthros think. In a meeting in January, an engineer shared how he’d posed to Claude a problem that the team […]
- Higher education at a point of no return: How 2025 rewired the university system - Shauba Chauhan, Economic TimesThe year 2025 will be remembered as the moment higher education stopped preparing for change and began living inside it. For decades, universities were assessed on expansion, that is, more campuses, higher enrolments, global rankings and physical infrastructure. That era is now decisively over.In 2025, outcomes overtook optics. Institutions were judged not by intent, but […]
- Florida House Bill Proposes AI Task Force in Public Postsecondary Education - the CapitolistA House Democrat lawmaker filed legislation on Tuesday that would establish a temporary statewide task force to study how artificial intelligence is reshaping public higher education and to recommend policies governing its use across colleges and universities. House Bill 899, filed by Rep. Leonard Spencer, would create the Task Force on Artificial Intelligence in Public […]
- Expert says higher education must take new approach to AI - Esther Wickam, VT CNGAs American schools continue to turn to artificial intelligence, a new study by eLearning Industry highlights which states are showing the strongest interest in AI education. The study analyzed data on the website searches with 28 AI education-related keywords across all 50 states. Virginia leads the nation in online interest in AI education with 60.87 […]
- I was wrong. Universities don’t fear AI. They fear self-reflection - Ian Richardson, Times Higher EdReaction online to my recent opinion piece in Times Higher Education on universities’ failure to strategically engage with artificial intelligence (AI) has been both fierce and illuminating. Some criticisms were measured and thoughtful; others were reflexive, polemical or rooted in deeply held convictions about what universities are – and what they must never become. Together, […]
- The Skills Revolution: Why 63% of Americans Say Four-Year Degrees Aren't Worth the Debt - Chris John, University HeraldSomething fundamental has shifted in American attitudes toward higher education. In a startling reversal, 63% of registered voters now believe a four-year college degree isn't worth the cost, according to recent NBC News polling—a dramatic increase from just 47% in 2017 and 40% in 2013. The numbers tell a story of eroding confidence. Only 33% […]
- Agents, robots, and us: Skill partnerships in the age of AI - Lareina Yee, McKinseyAI is expanding the productivity frontier. Realizing its benefits requires new skills and rethinking how people work together with intelligent machines. Work in the future will be a partnership between people, agents, and robots—all powered by AI. Today’s technologies could theoretically automate more than half of current US work hours. This reflects how profoundly work […]
- OpenAI Sells Over 700,000 ChatGPT Licenses to 35 U.S. Universities - Bogdana Zujic, TechnobezzOpenAI has secured more than 700,000 ChatGPT licenses across 35 public U.S. universities, according to purchase orders reviewed by Bloomberg. The deals position ChatGPT as the dominant AI assistant on campuses where Microsoft's Copilot and Google's Gemini have seen more measured adoption rates. Students and faculty used ChatGPT over 14 million times in September 2025 […]
- OpenAI explores college deals as ChatGPT gains AI edge: Universities warm to AI as OpenAI secures an early foothold - Jess Sobrevinas, Rolling OutArtificial intelligence has crossed a threshold on U.S. college campuses. What was once met with caution, policy debates and outright bans is now being woven into the daily rhythm of academic life. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is emerging as an early beneficiary of that shift, quietly securing a foothold in higher education as universities […]
- Agents, robots, and us: Skill partnerships in the age of AI - Lareina Yee, McKinsey Global InstituteWork in the future will be a partnership between people, agents, and robots—all powered by artificial intelligence. While much of the current public debate revolves around whether AI will lead to sweeping job losses, our focus is on how it will change the very building blocks of work—the skills that underpin productivity and growth. Our […]
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Major Updates Bill with Short-Term Job Training Pell Passes House; Excludes Online Programs The COMPETES Act passed the House of Representatives in early February. An amendment to the bill establishes a new short-term job training Pell grant program. Unfortunately, this provision excluded any online-only programs….
How AI and Associated Technologies Change the Role of Higher Ed
As artificial intelligence and associated technologies extend their influence in our society, the role of higher education must change. We can no longer prepare learners for static careers in unchanging fields. We are in the midst of profound change in the nature of employment worldwide….
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