Degrees of change: Higher education’s role in a shifting world

How can post-secondary institutions prepare students – and society – for a future defined by rapid technological shifts, geopolitical uncertainty, and unprecedented global connectivity?

In this special episode of “Dialogue with the Dean,” Julian Birkinshaw, Dean of Ivey Business School at Western University, sits down with Alan Shepard, Western’s eleventh President & Vice-Chancellor, to explore the evolving role of higher education. Together, they examine how universities can foster innovation, adapt to the rise of AI, and champion entrepreneurship through dynamic initiatives, like the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship. The conversation also highlights why a diverse international student body is essential for post-secondary learning and how Ivey’s Bold Ambition is reimagining experiential business learning for a rapidly changing world. 

In this episode: 

2:12: How do universities evolve without losing themselves?
10:15: Why global perspectives belong in every classroom
14:44: Finding the balance between the three Ps: People, Planet, Profit
24:29: The rise of entrepreneurship at Western University
27:38: How Ivey is reimagining business education

To learn more about the initiatives discussed in this episode, please visit: 

Towards Western 150: https://strategicplan.uwo.ca/
Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship: https://entrepreneurship.uwo.ca/
Ivey’s Bold Ambition: https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/about/strategic-plan/