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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- Here's why revenue growth isn't easing higher ed's financial worry - Alcino Donadel, University BusinessEven as most college leaders expect revenue growth next year, more than a third are cutting campus services and pouring money into AI, fundraising and compliance efforts as fears of recession and policy uncertainty mount, according to a new report from BDO, a global consulting firm. More than a third of college leaders are cutting […]
- The judgment bottleneck: Balancing AI and human speeds in strategy - Alex D’Amico, Bruce Delteil, Laura LaBerge and Matt Banholzer, McKinsey QuarterlyAI is transforming strategy development by accelerating research, interpretation, synthesis, simulation, and communication. But while AI can speed up many of these activities, the human judgment and alignment building that turns analysis into sound decisions cannot be compressed the same way. This means AI’s speed gains often fail to translate into better or faster strategy […]
- AI Tutors in Corporate Training: Design Determines Results - Sergio Arturo, Lievano Madrigal, Mexico BusinessRandomized trials show that AI tutors improve corporate and technical training only when they are designed to teach, while general-purpose assistants raise task performance without lasting skill gains. The evidence matters for Mexico, where AI adoption among surveyed firms rose to 48.5% by June 2026 while 82% of employees report no AI training. HR leaders, […]
- The Singularity, Black October and Other Lessons for Higher Education - Ray Schroeder, Inside Higher EdWhat happens when the exponential growth graph of a technology approaches the point at which it begins to go vertical? That is just where we are in the implementation of agentic AI. Change is now happening very rapidly as the capabilities of agentic artificial intelligence accelerate into a near-vertical graph of capabilities day by day, month […]
- Comparing self-regulation, anxiety, and willingness to communicate across blended, face-to-face, and online instruction in female EFL learners - Haige Shi, Vida Salimi & Siros Izadpanah, NatureTechnology-enhanced language instruction has expanded the range of instructional options available to EFL learners, yet evidence comparing blended, online, and face-to-face modes across multiple cognitive and affective outcomes remains limited, particularly among advanced EFL learners. This study compared self-regulated learning strategies (SRLSs), foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA), and willingness to communicate (WTC) in English writing […]
- Roblox offers a way to use online games to study - Phil Lin and Emma Chu, the Classicith testing always around the corner, Townsend Harris students are finding new innovative ways to prepare themselves. For many, online games, like Roblox, have allowed for an unexpected outlet to study coursework. Roblox is an online gaming platform that allows users to explore the many existing games made by other players, or even develop their […]
- Closing the Completion Gap: Improving Outcomes in Online Skills Training - Toronto Metropolitan UniversitySmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are central to Canada’s economy. Still, their ability to compete depends in part on developing the skills required to respond to labour shortages, technological change, and productivity pressures. Despite the importance of workforce development, SMEs are less likely to participate in formal training and often have limited time and resources, […]
- Auburn Online collaboration brings innovative course design to Social Work Program - Katelyn Nelson, Auburn UniversityAuburn Online, a unit within Auburn University’s Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (Biggio Center), is bringing innovative teaching approaches to online education through its collaboration with the university’s Master of Social Work program. By working closely with faculty, Auburn Online is helping develop courses that connect academic concepts with real-world professional […]
- Critical infrastructure is under threat. Are organizations prepared? - McKinseyOrganizations may not recognize their exposure to conventional, cyber, and hybrid risks until a disruption occurs. Here is how they can anticipate and reduce risks associated with these threats. In January 2026, a suspected arson attack triggered a power outage in Germany, leaving over 45,000 homes without electricity.1 About seven months later, cyberattacks on water […]
- College Students Use AI Extensively, Survey Shows: A survey of AI use in colleges and universities has surprising results. - Cami Rosso, Psychology todayA new survey reveals college students' AI usage patterns, along with their views on AI's impact. Fifty percent of students say peers use AI text with little editing; only 8 percent admit doing so themselves. Researchers recommend AI guidelines for college students remain flexible to account for various disciplines. The disruption of education, especially higher […]
- BIGGEST HACK of all time just started - Wes Roth, YouTubeWes Roth analyzes a major wave of cyber incidents dubbed "Black October"—spanning a multi-billion-dollar cryptocurrency heist [10:06], disrupted military refrigeration systems [00:27], and massive government and healthcare data breaches—to argue that digital security has entered a dangerous new phase driven by hyper-automated scripts and AI agent swarms capable of rapidly chaining zero-day vulnerabilities [03:18]. Roth […]
- Man Who Identifies as a ‘Humanist’ Gets Religious Exemption From Using AI at Work - AJ Dellinger, GizmodoIf your boss asks why you haven’t integrated artificial intelligence tools into your workflow yet, tell them it’s because your faith forbids you from doing so. According to a report from the Religion News Service, a research administrator at the University of Kentucky successfully received a religious exemption from his employer, excusing him from any […]
- How Online Programs Can Close the Workplace Readiness Gap - Even Kropp, EdTech MagazineFor generations, a college degree was widely seen as a reliable path to career opportunities and economic mobility. But a recent report from Cornell University shows that students are increasingly anxious about the rising costs of college as well as how ready they’ll be for a workplace that is rapidly changing due to evolving technology. […]
- RA4KT: a causality-informed explainable reverse attribution framework for knowledge tracing - Lanlin Wang, Meihe Fu, Zhongheng Jian, Jianmei Tan & Xinyue Zhou, NatureWith the global digital transformation of education, Knowledge Tracing, the core cognitive modeling module in intelligent tutoring systems, has become a key research focus in educational data mining. However, existing deep learning-based KT models are inherently black-box: while achieving high-accuracy answer performance prediction, they fail to clarify internal decision logic or translate outputs into actionable […]
- How important are college degrees in the age of AI? - Matt Zalaznick, University Business60% of employers remain confident in higher ed.Just less than half say AI makes college degrees more valuable.80% of employers said they prefer job candidates with a bachelor's or associate degree.A majority of employers remain confident in higher ed, with just less than half saying college degrees will become more valuable as AI advances, according […]
- Updated HELP Online Course on Data Protection and Privacy Rights is Now Available and Opened for Enrolment - Council of Europe Data ProtectionThe updated course guides learners through foundational legal concepts, key principles and applicable standards under the Council of Europe and European Union data protection acquis. The course explores the data subjects’ rights and their enforcement mechanisms, as well as applicable rules on transborder flow of personal data. It also examines challenges posed by new and […]
- In the age of AI, learning still requires friction - Bruce Adams, University of IllinoisGrainger Engineering faculty are helping define the future of engineering education, setting new standards for AI fluency and responsibility through curricular innovation, human-centered teaching, and a commitment to ensuring AI strengthens learning without compromising rigor. As AI rapidly reshapes how students learn, the college is preparing students to do more than use the technology. They […]
- Understanding users’ intention to adopt AI avatars in online learning: an integrated model of TAM and DOI - Runqi Wang, Luying Yang, Mengge Dai & Jungho Jung, NatureThis research examines the key factors associated with users’ intentions to adopt AI avatars within online learning environments. By combining the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory, a comprehensive model was proposed to assess the relationships between four primary design elements—perceived personalization, feedback quality, transparency, and interactivity—on five key constructs: […]
- There is no 'average' young person: designing AI that works for different lives - Nessa Keddo and Zeqi Jia, AI Insights, Kings CollegeGenerative AI is already part of daily life for many young people, shaping how they learn, create, communicate, solve practical problems and seek advice. In September 2026, King's College London and OpenAI, supported by the King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence, convened the closed workshop, 'Youth Well-Being and Development in the Age of Generative AI'. Researchers, […]
- AI and Keeping University Learning Human - Elaine Maimon, Philadelphia CitizenOn October 6, the Graduate School of Education (GSE) launched the Penn GSE Living Laboratory for Human Agency and AI (Living Lab). Planning for the lab goes back to 2024. Katharine Strunk, GSE dean since 2023, saw clearly that AI and the future of education were inseparable. An economist of education, Dean Strunk is not […]
Other Curated News:
News from UPCEA:
Major Updates Biden-Harris Administration Takes Actions including $198M in Grants to Support Students’ Basic Needs and Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 at Colleges and Universities “The Department announced that it will be inviting applications next week for a $198 million grant opportunity under the Supplemental…
UPCEA welcomes 31 leaders in alternative credentials to volunteer roles WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 26, 2022) — UPCEA, the association for college and university leaders in online and professional continuing education, announced today the inaugural leadership team for the Council for Credential Innovation (CCI). The Council…
The Agile methodology has been around for more than 20 years, spearheaded and most well-known in software development and tech circles. However, the Agile methodology and various frameworks can be applied to almost any discipline. At NC State Online, embracing Agile has completely transformed our…
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