Reinventing Higher Education
Disruption and Opportunity
Ben Wildavsky
Pace University
2013 Leadership Forum
May 30, 2012
© 2010 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
“Every individual that we can
inspire, that we can guide, that we
can help to start a new company,
is vital to the future of our
economic welfare.”
— Ewing Kauffman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a41eQIO07R4
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
http://blog.kov.eti.br/?p=245
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Big Problems  Big Opportunities
1. Low graduation
rates

New approaches to
earning degrees
2. Failure to prioritize
student learning

New ways to teach
and learn
3. Model T Syndrome

More diverse,
entrepreneurial
models
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Big Problems  Big Opportunities
1. Low graduation rates
2. Failure to prioritize student learning
3. Model T Syndrome
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Percent of students who fail to earn a
bachelor’s degree within six years
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education System (IPEDS)
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
“Human capital, embodied in one’s people,
is the most fundamental part of
the wealth of nations.”
The Race between Education and Technology
(Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz)
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Big Problems  Big Opportunities
1. Low graduation rates
2. Failure to prioritize student learning
3. Model T Syndrome
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Critical thinking, complex reasoning, and
writing skills
Source: Richard Arum, New York University; Josipa Roksa, University of Virginia
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_70Gw2abmBeI/TT4JqPlnhOI/AAAAAAAAA_c/iiOJuUJlaXM/s1600/stephens_diploma.jpg
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Virginia Tech Math Emporium
http://www.roaminggecko.com/my_content/images/2008-04-21-14h36m06.jpg
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Student
Learning
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Costs
Productivity
Big Problems  Big Opportunities
1. Low graduation rates
2. Failure to prioritize student learning
3. Model T Syndrome
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Badges
http://chronicle.com/article/Badges-Earned-Online-Pose/130241/
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Big Problems  Big Opportunities
1. Low graduation
rates

New approaches to
earning degrees
2. Failure to prioritize
student learning

New ways to teach
and learn
3. Model T Syndrome

More diverse,
entrepreneurial
models
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Contact Information
Ben Wildavsky
bwildavsky@kauffman.org
@wildavsky
facebook.com/greatbrainrace
Education Sector blog: quickanded.com/author/bwildavsky
Chronicle of Higher Ed blog: chronicle.com/blogs/worldwise/author/bwildavsky
© 2008 by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. All rights reserved.