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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- Why Faculty Hold The Keys To Higher Ed’s AI Digital Transformation - Aviva Legatt, ForbesIf the 20th century belonged to the textbook, the 21st belongs to the prompt. In lecture halls from Toronto to San Diego to Ho Chi Minh City, students are already co-writing their education with algorithms. Nearly 80% of undergraduates worldwide are already using generative AI, often daily. What’s missing is not adoption—it’s alignment. While students are […]
- Sydney Uni students will use ChatGPT, so let’s teach them how - Adam Bridgeman and Danny Liu, Financial ReviewWe now have a “two-lane approach” to assessments. Lane 1 assessments are secure and measure students’ capabilities in live, in-person environments, such as interactive oral assessments, Q&As or demonstrations, skills observations or, yes, sometimes exams. When these assessments are well-designed and executed, with AI use reliably controlled, they safeguard academic integrity and measure whether learning […]
- The future of customer experience [student experience]: Embracing agentic AI - McKinseyLet’s look at the next chapter of AI—agentic AI, and how it could unlock the next generation of operational excellence and productivity in service operations. We dig into the high stakes of continued investment in digital transformation and the potential payoffs. We discuss collaborations between the chief information officer (CIO) and COO, and how thoughtful […]
- Education as a driving force for self-determination, equity, and the reclamation of knowledge systems - Education InternationalMarking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August), President Mugwena Maluleke reaffirmed Education International’s commitment to Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, quality, public education that is culturally relevant. On 9 August and every day, Education International (EI) member organisations defend and promote the collective rights of Indigenous educators and students, advocating for […]
- How AI Supports Student Mental Health in Higher Education - Erin Brereton, EdTechStudents’ awareness of campus mental health services has grown in recent years, according to research from the Steve Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the emotional well-being of young people of color. Yet, taking advantage of these resources isn’t always easy, as 40% of college students say they’ve found it challenging to access mental […]
- 4 Steps to Responsible AI Implementation in Education - Rhea Kelly, THE JournalResearchers at the University of Kansas Center for Innovation, Design & Digital Learning (CIDDL) have published a new framework for the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence at all levels of education, from preschool through higher education. Developed under a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Education, the framework "is intended to provide guidance […]
- How should higher ed prepare students for a world where AI is everywhere? - Dayton Daily NewsThe role of education today should be to create broadly literate students who understand how things work, why they work that way, and what the consequences are of inventing and adopting new writing tools. Educators need to face our current moment by teaching the students in front of us and designing learning environments that meet […]
- OpenAI founder Sam Altman says ChatGPT has graduated from college-level intelligence to PhD-level expertise. - Financial ReviewOpenAI chief executive Sam Altman said GPT-5 would give his users access to greater levels of intelligence on their devices, with much greater capability than its current model, which was released 15 months ago. “This is like a superpower that would have been pretty much unimaginable at any previous point in human history,” Altman told […]
- College applications rise outside US as Trump cracks down on international students - Sylvia Hui, APIn China, wait times for U.S. visa interviews are so long that some students have given up. Universities in Hong Kong are fielding transfer inquiries from foreign students in the U.S., and international applications for British undergraduate programs have surged. President Donald Trump’s administration has been pressuring U.S. colleges to reduce their dependence on international […]
- OpenAI says they are no longer optimizing ChatGPT to keep you chatting — here’s why - Amanda Caswell, Tom's GuideWith over 180.5 million monthly active users and nearly 2.5 billion prompts per day, OpenAI recently revealed it is optimizing ChatGPT to help, not hook. In a new blog post titled “What we’re optimizing ChatGPT for,” OpenAI revealed it’s moving away from traditional engagement metrics like time spent chatting. Instead, the company says it’s now […]
- The Precision Learning Companion - There Is An AI For That (TAAFT) Notion SiteThis prompt turns AI into an ultra-detailed, dynamic personal tutor that doesn’t just quiz, it teaches deeply, layer by layer, until the user genuinely masters the material. It’s built to adapt in real time, constantly diagnosing knowledge gaps, and never moving forward without full comprehension. Every answer, right or wrong, triggers a structured, narrative-style breakdown […]
- OpenAI, Google and Anthropic Win US Approval for Civilian AI Contracts - BloombergThe US government’s central purchasing arm is adding OpenAI, Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Anthropic to a list of approved artificial intelligence vendors, opening the door to widespread adoption of the technology across civilian federal agencies. The move by the General Services Administration, to be announced Tuesday, will speed up the adoption of AI tools in […]
- Here are 4 ways your institution can become more attractive for adult learners - Alcino Donadel, University BusinessHere are some institutional insights from the report to increase adult re-enrollment.Increase financial assistance: Tuition assistance, emergency aid, work-study and other campus-based resources will ensure finances won’t inhibit adult learners from re-enrollment.Simplify admission process: Stopped-out adults encounter administrative barriers when trying to return to school, such as complex re-enrollment procedures and financial aid roadblocks. Institutions […]
- These College Professors Will Not Bow Down to A.I. - Jessica Grose, NY TimesWhere does this leave college students? Gen Z is not giving up on the arts or the pleasures of reading and thinking for themselves. As A.I. creates chaos and uncertainty in the market for entry-level jobs, more students may react by following their passion for the humanities; why begrudgingly major in tech or business if […]
- Self-adaptive reasoning for science - Newman Cheng, et al; MicrosoftUnlocking self-adaptive cognitive behavior that is more controllable and explainable than reasoning models in challenging scientific domains. Long-running LLM agents equipped with strong reasoning, planning, and execution skills have the potential to transform scientific discovery with high-impact advancements, such as developing new materials or pharmaceuticals. As these agents become more autonomous, ensuring effective human oversight […]
- Bringing the best of AI to college students for free - Sundar Pichai, The Google Keyword BlogStarting today, students (ages 18+) in the U.S. as well as in Japan, Indonesia, Korea and Brazil can sign-up for a 12 month Google AI Pro plan for free. Here’s what they’ll get:Expanded access to Gemini 2.5 Pro: Ask any question and upload images. Our most capable model provides quick homework and writing help.Deep Research: Save time […]
- OpenAI Announces Massive US Government Partnership - Joe Schiffer and Will Knight, WiredOpenAI is partnering with the US government to make its leading frontier models available to federal employees. Under the agreement, federal agencies can access OpenAI’s models for $1 for the next year, per a Wednesday announcement from the company and the General Services Administration (GSA). The partnership is the culmination of months of effort on […]
- AI Skills Needed in Many Postgrad Careers—Not Just Tech - Ashley Mowreader, Inside Higher EdMore companies are seeking employees with experience using artificial intelligence tools outside of traditional computer science or IT fields, according to a recent report. As artificial intelligence tools continue to develop, more industries are seeking workers who possess AI skills, creating opportunities for higher education to better prepare students. A recent report from Lightcast found […]
- U.S. Continuing Education Market to Surpass USD 95.98 Billion by 2030, Growing at 6.2% CAGR as AI and Micro-Credentials Reshape Learning - Arizton, the Globe and MailAccording to Arizton’s latest report, the U.S. continuing education market is projected to grow from USD 66.91 billion in 2024 to USD 95.98 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 6.20% during the forecast period. The continuing education market is accelerating its digital transformation as AI becomes a core growth catalyst. Providers are adopting […]
- College students can get Google's AI Pro plan for free now. Here's how - Sabrina Ortiz, ZDnetStudents ages 18+ get the Google AI Pro plan for free for 12 months. Plan includes access to Deep Research, Veo 3, Jules, and more.Part of a larger $1 billion investment in AI education and job training. As AI tools continue to develop, they expand beyond the standard question-and-answer loop and offer more meaningful assistance for students. […]
Other Curated News:
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2022 UPCEA MEMS Award Recipients Announced
15 Recipients Chosen For Three Award Categories WASHINGTON, D.C., October 20, 2022 — UPCEA, the leader in online and professional continuing education, has announced the recipients of the 2022 Excellence in Enrollment Management Award, Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness in Marketing, Enrollment, and Student…
Higher Ed Curricula – the Short Game
It is time that we prepare for adding a more relevant, more responsive, student-centered, technology-delivered curriculum. Rick Seltzer reports in Higher Ed Dive that a recent Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded study of 18-to-30-year-olds without a college degree, found: “Respondents prioritized their own emotional,…
New Research Offers Insights into the Criteria and Contractual Agreements Chief Online Learning Officers (COLOs) Consider When Deciding to Work With an OPM LOUISVILLE, KY and WASHINGTON, DC (October 6, 2022) — With the explosive growth of online learning and the accompanying rise of online…
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