After 30 years of AI evolution, the algorithms have changed, the machines have gotten faster — but have we lost sight of what really matters in education? In this episode, I sit down with AI and education expert Rose Luckin to uncover a powerful truth: while the tech has transformed, the fundamentals of how we learn remain unchanged.
Join us as we go back to the basics — and explore why any truly effective educational technology must start there.
Credits:
Presenters: Carmen Tomas, Rose Luckin
Music: Uplifting intro music by Joshua Wales
🎙️ Writing in Times of GenAI: Past, Present & Future — with Professor Mike Sharples
How has AI shaped creative writing over the past four decades — and where is it headed next?
In this episode, Professor Mike Sharples takes us on a journey from his groundbreaking AI research in the 1980s to today’s world of Generative AI. We explore what’s changed, what timeless lessons still apply, and how educators can use GenAI to spark creativity rather than replace it.
Mike shares practical ideas for rethinking assessment in the age of AI — shifting from product-focused grading to reflective, process-based approaches that celebrate creativity and learning.
He even predicted back in the ’90s that computers would write books — and he was right. Join us to hear his latest predictions for the future of writing, creativity, and education in the GenAI era.
Credits:
Presenters: Carmen Tomas, Mike Sharples
Music: Uplifting intro music by Joshua Wales
What happens when students take education into their own hands? At the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Pau Martinez and Claudia Herrero have set out to answer that question with SparkEd, a remarkable initiative driven by the power of student leadership and entrepreneurship.
Frustrated by the gap between theory and practice, Pau and Claudia created SparkEd—a vibrant community where students actively shape their learning journey through hands-on experiences, workshops, and collaboration. In just 18 months, SparkEd has already empowered over 400 students by:
· Facilitating masterclasses with industry experts
· Connecting students with local companies for real-world projects and visits
· Launching their own podcast to share inspiring stories
· Creating peer-to-peer learning spaces
· Planning immersive bootcamps to further expand their impact
Their mission? To equip students with the entrepreneurial mindset, confidence, and skills they need to thrive in the future workforce.
💡 SparkEd is proof that student-led innovation can reshape education and cultivate the leaders of tomorrow.
Tune in to our latest episode to learn more about their inspiring journey and discover how empowering students can ignite meaningful change!
This episode is in Spanish.
#Entrepreneurship #StudentLeadership #Innovation #HigherEducation #FutureOfWork #SparkEd
Credits:
Presenters: Carmen Tomas, Pablo Martinez, Claudia Herrero
Music: Uplifting intro music by Joshua Wales
In a previous episode, we explored Minerva University’s groundbreaking educational model. Today, we dive deeper with fresh insight from those who know it best—its students and alumni.
Martina Dianda, a current first-year student, shares what it’s really like to study at a university without a traditional campus or exams, where active learning takes center stage. She reveals how Minerva’s unique approach relies on continuous, embedded assessment—without overwhelming students with deadlines—and how feedback is seamlessly integrated through flipped classrooms and real-world projects. Martina also discusses the innovative use of AI as both a learning and assessment tool.
We’re also joined by Alberto Arenaza, a Minerva graduate reflecting on his journey five years post-graduation. Together, we discuss how Minerva fosters resilience, embracing uncertainty, risk-taking, and building a global community. Alberto shares how these vital skills prepared him for life beyond university and why traditional institutions might benefit from nurturing the same mindset in their students.
Dive into the world of educational technology and innovation with Carmen Tomás as she goes into the origins of SEK Lab and explores the latest trends in Spanish EdTech with industry expert Félix López (SEK Lab Edtech Accelerator Director) 🎓💡.
Félix has been at the helm of the SEK Lab, part of the SEK Education Group, for nearly a decade. Under his leadership, SEK Lab has become a pioneering model of educational innovation, actively supporting over 100 EdTech startups, with an impressive 70% still thriving today ✅🚀.
As a central hub in Spain's EdTech landscape, SEK Lab’s success is deeply intertwined with the SEK Education Group's mission to champion innovation in education 📚🌍. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the current and future trends of educational innovation, guided by leading experts in the field 👩🏫📈.
🎙️ Unlocking Innovation: The CDTM Story 🚀
Join Carmen Tomas and Michael Fröhlich as they dive into the fascinating origins of the Center for Digital Technology and Management (CDTM) 🌐! From Munich to Valencia, CDTM is revolutionizing entrepreneurship education for undergrads 📚.
🔍 Michael reveals the secret sauce behind CDTM's success: rigorous selection, multidisciplinary teams, real-world problem-solving, student autonomy, and trust-building 🤝.
📊 We explore the impact of CDTM—both by the numbers and through the stories of those who've been part of it. Discover how CDTM creates virtuous circles by uniting talent, communities, industry, and universities to tackle challenges together 🌟.
Tune in for an inspiring journey of innovation and collaboration! 🎧
Join Carmen Tomás as she sits down with Inés Martínez, co-founder & CEO of FarmaLeaders Talento, to uncover an inspiring journey of impact and innovation! This remarkable success story illustrates how innovative collaboration with communities and employers is creating high value learning and talent solutions.
What started as a response to gaps in university education has grown into a thriving community dedicated to empowering pharmacy graduates. FarmaLeaders connects talent with top employers, offering:
This is a game-changer for young professionals looking to kickstart their careers in pharmacy! In just 2 years, they have 600+ graduates
And guess what? This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for even more exciting developments!
Visit our website and subscribe: https://www.hlexpodcast.com/subscribe
Visit FarmaLeaders Talento: https://www.farmaleaderstalento.com
Credits:
Presenters: Carmen Tomas & Inés Martínez
Music: Futuristic Beat by Nver Avetyan
In this special and inspiring episode, Bisila Bokoko—public speaker, book author, and business consultant—joins Carmen Tomas to delve into the true meaning of success and the essential skills required for graduates entering the workforce in the 21st century, especially in these rapidly changing times.
Tune in to gain valuable insights on how educational organisations can support learners' success beyond their university results, fostering a lifetime of continuous learning and development. What steps can these organizations take to meet this challenge? Embracing the person-profession nexus, humanistic leadership, and fundamental values are excellent starting points.
If you are in need of inspiration, this is an episode not to be missed.
Curious about the future of higher education? 📚 Join Carmen and visionary founder Ben Nelson as they dive into the bold, game-changing philosophy behind Minerva University!
🔹 Discover the Minerva method – a radically innovative approach where students master the art of learning through active, applied learning both in the classroom and in the real world.
🔹 Say goodbye to fragmented, siloed courses. Minerva’s cohesive, program-level curriculum makes every class connect meaningfully to the bigger picture, preparing students for real-world impact.
🔹 And it doesn’t stop there! Ben shares how he’s working to bring this transformative, learner-centered model to institutions worldwide, through the Minerva Project.
If you’re passionate about education or curious about how learning can evolve, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in and be part of the education revolution! 🎧
Credits:
Presenters: Carmen Tomas & Ben Nelson
Music: Futuristic Beat by Nver Avetyan
Microphone animation by: creativeartstudio21 (pixabay)
In this episode, we dive into the highlights of the first-ever EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) EdTech Conference, where over 100 key players in the education and tech sectors gathered to shape the future of EdTech in Europe.
Join Carmen Tomas and Martin Vendel to learn about the top four priorities that emerged from the conference—from incentivizing innovation to driving collaboration and investment. Don’t miss this deep dive into the future of EdTech!
We’ll explore the challenges facing this dynamic industry, uncover the exciting opportunities for innovation, and discuss how Europe can become a global leader in educational technology. For more information you can read the full 2024 conference report.
The next conference is already on the horizon for March 2025 and registrations are open.
Join Helena Ribeiro, Joana Marto and Magda Fonte for an exciting episode as Helena and Joana share their inspiring journey in designing a blended learning postgraduate course in Advanced Cosmetology. The main objective of this course is to train specialists in the field of cosmetic products: from regulation, formulation, stability, manufacturing and testing.Discover new ways of using online assessment to enhance student learning, explore innovative pedagogical approaches that are transforming traditional education, and learn about the valuable partnerships with companies that have enriched the course with real-world insights and resources. This episode is a must-listen for educators, industry professionals and anyone interested in the future of cosmetology education.
Join Willem Schoors and Carmen Tomas for an engaging episode as Willem shares his inspiring journey in founding a school rooted in student autonomy and evidence-based principles. He delves into his vision and hands-on experience driving innovation in education, emphasizing the critical role of visionary educational leaders that can articulate a vision for learners. Discover new ways of fostering collaboration among educational leaders, researchers, and edtech providers to fortify the education innovation ecosystem. Willem highlights the progress of the EmpowerEd project, a bold European initiative aiming to integrate and advance the education innovation landscape. Central to this effort are better collaboration and evidence-based practices. Tune in to learn how EmpowerEd is transforming education!
Visit the EmpowerEd project website
https://www.empowerededtech.eu/
Credits: Presenters: Carmen Tomas & Willem Schoors
Music: Futuristic Beat by Nver Avetyan
Microphone animation by: creativeartstudio21 (pixabay)
Join Teresa Rose in this whistle stop tour of all things about skills, AI and learning in organisations. We covered the latest on key skills in demand in AI times. Be prepared to learn about skills-based organisations and also how AI is revolutionising the definition, understanding and skill gap identification. We go on to discuss learning and feedback in organisations. And lastly, what can universities do to help students be prepared for the world of work.
Credits:
Presenters: Carmen Tomas & Teresa Rose
Music: Futuristic Beat by Nver Avetyan
Microphone animation by: creativeartstudio21 (pixabay)
This episode highlights the journey and insights of Neuza Pedro, professor and coordinator of the Master in Education and Digital Technologies at the Instituto de Educação of Universidade de Lisboa. This conversation covers everything from designing a fully online programme to the instructional design strategies that keep students engaged and motivated. Neuza Pedro shares her knowledge on the integration of digital technologies and emerging trends, while also discussing the challenges and best practices of coordinating an online Master's programme. From the accreditation process to ongoing quality assurance, this episode provides a comprehensive overview for institutions and educators looking to implement similar initiatives, and concludes with inspiring advice for the future of higher education in Portugal.
Douglas Barr shares his experience of programme design. In designing the BSc(hons) Applied Software Development degree for UHI, Douglas explains how the programme is highly relevant to industry and employment with a framework constructed around team and project work. This case exemplifies advanced features of student-centred learning. All student work takes place in teams, and students are responsible for mapping their individual contributions against programme level learning outcomes, guided by real time assessment dashboards. With no set curriculum, Lecturers adopt facilitator roles, supporting individuals and teams in their self-directed learning. This sophisticated learning design is delivered online, enhancing equal opportunity of access for a student population spread over a huge geographic area. A highly industry relevant degree, it became the first degree course in the UK to be delivered in partnership with IBM. Credits: Presenters: Carmen Tomas & Douglas Barr Music: Futuristic Beat by Nver Avetyan
In this podcast episode, Magda Fonte talks to Nikoletta Agonács about the fascinating world of Instructional Design. In this dialogue, Nikoletta unveils the concept of Instructional Design, exploring its responsibilities, functions and the evolution of the term over the years. She highlights the importance of a pedagogical foundation, critical and analytical skills, and the need for effective communication, especially in the context of higher education. The conversation also delves into emerging trends, such as the influence of Artificial Intelligence on instructional design, and offers valuable advice for those considering entering this dynamic and ever-evolving career path.
This episode is aimed at education professionals, aspiring instructional designers and anyone else interested in how technology and pedagogy intertwine to create engaging and effective learning experiences.
For more information: https://www.hlexpodcast.com/
Credits:
- Presenters: Magda Fonte & Nikoletta Agonács
- Music: Futuristic Beat by Nver Avetyan
- Microphone animation by: creativeartstudio21 (pixabay)
Yaz El-Hakim talks about co-founding Verifyed.io. The starting point was creating a tool to prevent educational fraud using blockchain-backed digital certificates. Driven by a vision to enable lifelong learning, Verifyed enables and empowers students to reflect on their learning throughout their studies to improve employability and lifelong learning. Yaz discusses the importance of learners, employers, learning designs, transparency, and the data we need to improve educational trust, employability and lifelong learning. For more information: https://www.hlexpodcast.com/ Credits: - Presenters: Carmen Tomas & Yaz El-Hakim - Music: Futuristic Beat by Nver Avetyan - Microphone animation by: creativeartstudio21 (pixabay)
Ronan Gruenbaum (Global Director of Undergraduate Learning and Development) shares his experience of developing and building the Bachelor of Business Administration program to ensure a consistently high quality and holistic learning experience for all students that best prepares them for the world of work or further study. Winner of the MERIT Summit & Awards (Innovation in Higher Education), this is an exemplary case of contemporary design of learning at programme level. Moreover, the deployment of advanced student dashboards places students at the centre monitoring progression from day one in real time.
For more information: https://www.hlexpodcast.com/
Credits:
- Presenters: Carmen Tomas & Ronan Gruenbaum
- Music: Futuristic Beat by Nver Avetyan
- Microphone animation by: creativeartstudio21 (pixabay)
In this episode of the Higher Learning Exchange podcast, Magda Fonte invited the manager of the NAU platform - Pedro Cabral - to tell us about this service and what it has to offer to Higher Education in Portugal.
The NAU platform is a service developed and managed by the FCCN unit of the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), which allows the creation MOOC courses (Massive Open Online Courses), that are open and accessible to everyone, produced by recognised and relevant entities in society, with the participation of thousands of people.
For more information: https://www.hlexpodcast.com/
Credits:
- Presenters: Magda Fonte & Pedro Cabral
- Music: Futuristic Beat by Nver Avetyan
- Microphone animation by: creativeartstudio21 (pixabay)
