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

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Acquires VPS Architecture

    Full-service planning, architecture, and engineering firm Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has acquired VPS Architecture, according to a news release. The move will help strengthen Wold’s education and public-sector design expertise, industries in which both companies have strong pre-existing ties and relationships.

  • Florida District Completes Construction on New Leadership Institute

    Pinellas County Schools near Tampa, Fla., recently announced that construction is complete on the new Dr. Michael A. Grego Leadership Institute, according to a news release. The district partnered with Rowe Architects for the project’s design and with Skanska for construction services.

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.