Season 1: Trends in Higher Education and Online Learning

Online Education Services (OES)

Global shifts reshaping higher education: AI, workforce change and the future of universities  This season captures a moment of significant transition for higher education. Through expert interviews and industry perspectives, it explores how universities are responding to technological acceleration, changing workforce expectations and new models of delivery. Positioning OES within the broader sector conversation, the series brings together practical insights and external viewpoints to better understand what the future of universities could look like in practice. This season presents a macro view of higher education transformation, shaped by intersecting global forces: Technological forces, including AI, data, digital platforms and emerging environments like the metaverse, are reshaping how education is designed, delivered and experienced. Economic pressures, from labour market change to global competition and shifting value propositions, are redefining how universities position themselves and demonstrate relevance. Social dynamics, including changing student expectations and a renewed focus on access, equity and participation, are influencing how institutions engage and support increasingly diverse cohorts. Educational models themselves are evolving, with new approaches to assessment, delivery formats and learning experience design redefining what effective, high-quality education looks like in practice. Together, these forces highlight a sector in transition, requiring institutions to rethink how they design, deliver and sustain meaningful learning outcomes. Higher education in transition How are global forces reshaping higher education, and how should universities respond? Season 1 of The Thought Bubble brings together global experts, industry leaders and policy voices to explore the structural shifts transforming higher education. Across the season, conversations examine how artificial intelligence, workforce disruption, globalisation and emerging technologies are reshaping how universities design learning, deliver education and support student outcomes. From AI and data to assessment, employability and access, the series provides real-world perspectives on how institutions can adapt to rapid change and navigate an increasingly complex global landscape. What to expect Across the season, the conversation moves from emerging trends to practical implications for institutions. The episodes explore: how artificial intelligence and data are transforming higher education how workforce shifts are redefining skills, employability and curriculum how assessment is evolving in response to digital capability and AI how online and peer-based learning are reshaping student experience how globalisation is changing delivery models and competition how equity, access and participation are being redefined Published by OES (Online Education Services) – www.oes.edu.auRecorded in Melbourne, Australia.

Episodes

  1. 24/04/2025

    AI in Higher Education: Key Insights for University Leaders

    Episode 8: The Thought Bubble Podcast An interview with Dr. Kendra Vant, by OES Lead Learning Designer, Jesse Keenan. With introduction from OES AI Programs Director, David Paroissien. Dr. Vant is currently Director of Europa Labs and author of the popular 'Data Runs Deep' Substack. Explore the transformative potential of AI in higher education and discover how Universities can leverage AI to enhance teaching, learning, and research, while navigating its challenges. Learn about the importance of data quality, personalised learning, and responsible AI adoption.  Get ready for the future of AI in education where both curiosity and caution are key! Published by OES (Online Education Services) - www.oes.edu.au Recorded in Melbourne, Australia. OES respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, live, teach, and learn. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    55 min

  2. 08/05/2023

    Employment trends: What the workforce of the future looks like today

    An ageing labour force, a turbulent global economy, and the advancement of AI transforming ‘work’ as we know it… Today's graduates are entering the job market in a time of significant transformation. So how are these factors going to effect the employment landscape in the next five, ten and fifty years?  Matt Cowgill, Senior Economist at employment marketplace SEEK, takes us through the current labour trends that will help us best prepare for these changes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min

  3. 28/03/2023

    Authentic assessment: Evaluating digital fluency, mature soft skills and resilience

    Recently, some universities have returned to pen and paper assessment, due to fears AI services are enabling students to cheat in exams and essays. But what if we’re looking at the problem all wrong? Maybe the better question is: does the exam and essay assessment format still make sense in the world we live in? There is no doubt in our rapidly evolving technological landscape that digital fluency and resilience are more critical than ever. So we spoke with Mark Andrews, from Adobe Education, about how to enhance students' employment prospects through creative technology and authentic assessment.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min

  4. 28/11/2022

    Beyond the classroom: how peer-to-peer learning enriches student outcomes

    The sense of connection students develop in and around classes is vitally important to the university experience. But as higher education increasingly migrates into online spaces, how can peer-to-peer learning evolve and adapt? We sought insight from Jimmy Pearson, who previously ran an internal learning community at Google, a program encouraging any employee to take or teach a class on any topic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min

  5. 14/11/2022

    Redrawing the lines: the end of education with borders

    Digital modalities have the power to erase borders and fundamentally change what delivering a high quality education looks like. The sands are shifting beneath our feet, raising existential questions for the sector.  In response, Maria Spies co-founded education market intelligence platform HolonIQ, to harvest, interpret, and share the world’s most sophisticated education market datasets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min

  6. 31/10/2022

    Embedding technology: To the Metaverse and beyond

    We’ve all heard of the Metaverse, but the details of what it is, when it’s coming, and how we might use it are elusive.  Jason Juma-Ross is Meta's Regional Director of Technology Strategy. He joins us to tackle our most pressing questions about the Metaverse. Most notably, should higher education already be thinking about it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min

  7. 17/10/2022

    From AI to B: Forecasting the integration of AI into education

    Artificial Intelligence technology is making its way into higher education, in everything from course translation to campus socialising. But to maintain community trust, it’s essential the foundations of AI technology are set-up correctly. James Mabbott of KPMG Futures shares his insights on possible applications of AI in the higher ed space, as well as customer responses to these technologies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min

  8. 03/10/2022

    Access and Equity: What can we learn from gaming?

    The Duolingo app started as a simple language learning game, but in 10 years it has evolved into a massive education company, disrupting English language proficiency testing for admissions to higher education providers.  Dr. Alina Von Davier, Chief of Assessment at Duolingo, speaks to OES about how adaptive testing technologies are changing the game in higher ed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min

  9. SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Trailer

    Coming soon, a new podcast by OES.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Global shifts reshaping higher education: AI, workforce change and the future of universities  This season captures a moment of significant transition for higher education. Through expert interviews and industry perspectives, it explores how universities are responding to technological acceleration, changing workforce expectations and new models of delivery. Positioning OES within the broader sector conversation, the series brings together practical insights and external viewpoints to better understand what the future of universities could look like in practice. This season presents a macro view of higher education transformation, shaped by intersecting global forces: Technological forces, including AI, data, digital platforms and emerging environments like the metaverse, are reshaping how education is designed, delivered and experienced. Economic pressures, from labour market change to global competition and shifting value propositions, are redefining how universities position themselves and demonstrate relevance. Social dynamics, including changing student expectations and a renewed focus on access, equity and participation, are influencing how institutions engage and support increasingly diverse cohorts. Educational models themselves are evolving, with new approaches to assessment, delivery formats and learning experience design redefining what effective, high-quality education looks like in practice. Together, these forces highlight a sector in transition, requiring institutions to rethink how they design, deliver and sustain meaningful learning outcomes. Higher education in transition How are global forces reshaping higher education, and how should universities respond? Season 1 of The Thought Bubble brings together global experts, industry leaders and policy voices to explore the structural shifts transforming higher education. Across the season, conversations examine how artificial intelligence, workforce disruption, globalisation and emerging technologies are reshaping how universities design learning, deliver education and support student outcomes. From AI and data to assessment, employability and access, the series provides real-world perspectives on how institutions can adapt to rapid change and navigate an increasingly complex global landscape. What to expect Across the season, the conversation moves from emerging trends to practical implications for institutions. The episodes explore: how artificial intelligence and data are transforming higher education how workforce shifts are redefining skills, employability and curriculum how assessment is evolving in response to digital capability and AI how online and peer-based learning are reshaping student experience how globalisation is changing delivery models and competition how equity, access and participation are being redefined Published by OES (Online Education Services) – www.oes.edu.auRecorded in Melbourne, Australia.

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