The Economist's Higher Education Forum Will Address the Skills Needed to Close Global Skills Gap

NEW YORK, NY — The Economist will hold its Higher Education Forum on September 30th, 2014 at 10 on the Park at Time Warner Center in New York City. The Higher Education Forum is a full-day conference designed for senior leaders in academia and policy, as well as high-level corporate executives interested in improving the outlook for post-secondary schooling and bridging the path from education to employment.

The conference will bring together top decision-makers from private companies, leaders from institutions of higher education, as well as policy-makers to address the major human capital challenges facing university and business leaders today.

Some confirmed speakers include:

John Sexton, president, New York University
Edith Cooper, managing director, Global Head of Human Capital Management, Goldman Sachs
Richard Levin, chief executive, Coursera
Pamela Thomas-Graham, chief marketing and talent officer, Credit Suisse
Ben Nelson, chief executive, Minerva Project
Douglas Becker, founder, chairman and chief executive, Laureate Education
Eric Spiegel, president and chief executive, Seimens Corporation

“Rising costs, changing demand and disruptive technologies have catalysed a revolution in higher education,” says Matthew Bishop, Higher Education Forum chairman and U.S. business editor for The Economist. “But to close the skills gap and boost economic growth, employers and institutions of higher education need to work together to develop talent.”

The forum will address how institutions of higher education can better prepare the next generation of students for the workforce, and why these challenges are just as important to prioritize on the agenda of every chief executive. Featured topics include:

  • The costs for students, schools and employers
  • Measuring success with employment
  • Corporations reshaping education’s future
  • Global standards
  • Expanding opportunities through education
  • Recognizing innovative credentials

Lumina Foundation is a platinum sponsor and InnoCentive is a challenge sponsor for the Higher Education Forum.

For more information on the program, speakers or to register for the event, delegates can visit http://econ.st/1nCZCAb. Join the conversation and connect with attendees and speakers on Twitter via #EducationForum.

Featured

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • abstract illustration of school gym

    How the Gymnasium Can Serve as a Model for Learning Space Design

    Multipurpose gyms work because flexibility was built into the brief from the start, not retrofitted later. The same logic applies to academic spaces.