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

  • school building with glowing circuit board patterns

    AI Is Coming to Schools — But Most School Buildings Still Run on Institutional Memory

    As school districts race to introduce AI into classrooms, administration, and curriculum planning, another conversation is happening behind the scenes: How prepared are school facilities themselves for the operational demands AI will create?

  • California Middle School Breaks Ground on Major Renovation Project

    The Hillsborough City School District (HCSD) in Hillsborough, Calif., recently began construction on new multipurpose and administration facilities for Crocker Middle School, according to a news release.

  • New Jersey Day School Opens New Science & Entrepreneurship Building

    Saddle River Day School (SRDS) in Saddle River, N.J., recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Dr. Kristen Walsh Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship, according to a news release. The school partnered with DIG Architecture on the 32,000 square foot facility, completed on a 17-month construction timeline in time for the beginning of the new school year.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.