what is the importance of education 4.0

The future of learning: How AI is revolutionizing education 4.0

Education 4.0 is about enhancing not replacing teaching with artificial intelligence. Image:  Unsplash/Santi Vedrí

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• Artificial intelligence (AI) can support education by automating administrative tasks, freeing teachers to focus more on teaching and personalized interactions with students, enhancing rather than replacing human-led teaching.
• AI applications in education must be designed collaboratively and with equity in focus, addressing disparities across various demographics and ensuring accessibility for all students.
• Beyond using AI tools for educational purposes, it is crucial to educate students about AI itself, including how to develop AI technologies and understand their potential risks.

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and education is not just a future possibility; it is imminent.

Imagine a future where all students receive personalized support and inclusive learning opportunities, build stronger connections with teachers for enhanced guidance and receive apt recognition and evaluation of their achievements.

While the promise of AI in education is compelling, only through responsible and informed adoption can AI truly fulfil its potential and ensure equitable access to quality education for all.

In 2020, the World Economic Forum identified eight pivotal transformations needed to enhance education quality in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution – Education 4.0 Framework . As AI emerges as the defining technology of this era, we can accelerate the adoption of Education 4.0 by using this technology and ensuring learners are equipped to thrive with it.

Have you read?

Education 4.0: here are 3 skills that students will need for the jobs of the future, how we can prepare for the future with foundational policy ideas for ai in education, ai and education: kids need ai guidance in school. but who guides the schools, achieving success with ai in education.

With increasing interest in AI and education, the Education 4.0 Alliance sought to understand the current state and future promises of the technology for education. The latest report – Shaping the Future of Learning: The Role of AI in Education 4.0 – shows four key promises that have emerged for AI to enable Education 4.0:

1. Supporting teachers’ roles through augmentation and automation

The global teacher shortage poses a formidable challenge to improving educational outcomes, with the demand for educators projected to surge in the coming years. Integrating AI into education can streamline administrative tasks, giving teachers more time for meaningful student engagement.

By automating routine duties and emphasizing human-centric teaching, we can create an environment where educators can thrive, creating a richer learning experience. However, teaching involves more than imparting information – AI should augment, not replace teachers’ role.

2. Refining assessment and analytics in education

The integration of AI in education holds promise in revolutionizing the assessment and analytics landscape. AI-enabled assessments offer educators invaluable insights, from pinpointing learning trends to supporting the evaluation of non-standardized tests.

By leveraging AI capabilities, educators can expedite the assessment process, offering timely feedback to learners and facilitating more focused engagement. Through real-time analysis, educators can identify strengths and weaknesses in student performance, allowing for targeted instructional strategies.

Schools of the Future: Defining New Models of Education for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

3. Supporting AI and digital literacy

Many education systems struggle to address the growing digital skills gap, crucial for students' employability and ethical tech use. Bridging this gap is imperative to cultivate an AI-ready workforce.

AI presents an avenue through which students can improve digital literacy, critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity, preparing learners for future job demands. Integrating AI into education, through traditional or innovative methods, is key to shaping tomorrow’s workforce.

4. Personalizing learning content and experience

Extensive research confirms that individual tutoring significantly boosts learning outcomes, with tutored students consistently outperforming 98% of their peers in traditional classroom settings. However, providing personalized tutoring for every student poses a major economic challenge.

AI offers a solution to this hurdle. By harnessing AI, we can now tailor the learning experience to the individual, enhancing academic performance while seamlessly catering to diverse learning needs. Customizable interfaces emerge as invaluable assets, particularly benefiting neurodiverse students and those with diverse physical abilities.

Delivering on AI in education

As we build on the lessons learned, it’s clear that new developments in AI may provide much-needed innovation in education. To make sure that new technologies fulfil their potential to enhance Education 4.0 and lifelong learning, we need to deploy them strategically and safely, taking into account the following factors:

1. Design for equity

Recognizing AI’s potential to exacerbate current education gaps, AI-enabled educational innovations must prioritize equity in their design. That means addressing disparities between genders, public and private schools, as well as catering to children with diverse abilities and learning styles, while removing language and access barriers.

2. Enhance human-led pedagogy

AI will never replace high-quality, human-led pedagogy. To that end, most examples focus on enhancing human-led teaching by providing the right AI tools that automate clerical tasks and alleviate teachers’ time to focus on their craft or by providing relevant training about AI skills that help them better deliver lessons on AI.

3. Co-design and implement with supporting stakeholders

AI-enabled innovations in education should acknowledge the critical roles played by teachers, parents and educational institutions in adopting this emerging technology. Successful instances of AI integration in education underscore the importance of collaboratively designed educational solutions with input from students, teachers and experts.

This collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach ensures that solutions meet the practical demands of the classroom, align with national curricula, remain abreast of industry trends and implement safeguards to protect student data.

4. Teaching about AI is equally crucial to teaching with AI

AI tools e.g. those that provide data analytics and gamified learning – have long been part of the educational landscape. While developments in generative AI offer new opportunities to leverage AI tools, it becomes increasingly evident that teaching about AI in schools is vital.

This education should prioritize imparting skills related to AI development and understanding its potential risks. These skills are critical for shaping future talent capable of ethically designing and developing AI tools that benefit economies and societies.

5. Economic viability and access

Ensuring economic viability and access to AI-learning opportunities for all learners, is essential to prevent deepening the existing digital divide and avoid creating new disparities in education. The realization of AI promise in education requires substantial investment, not only in the products themselves but also in supporting infrastructure, training and data protection.

By addressing these critical aspects, we can unlock the full transformative potential of AI to improve educational outcomes for learners worldwide.

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World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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Everything You Need to Know About Education 4.0

In order to prepare future graduates for work, universities must align their teaching and processes with  technological  advanc ements .   

In the new millennium, technology  began  to infiltrate the education process, and both student s  and teacher s   started  to utilize technology in basic ways ( otherwise known as  Education 2.0).  

A s  this t echnology  advanced, including the mass infiltration of a more user-generated internet,  Education 3.0 was  formed.    

Students now had their own  access to information, the option to learn virtually, and platforms to easily connect with faculty and other students.  

Education was no longer centered upon a back and forth between student s  and teacher s , but instead took on a more networked approach, with students having their own direct connection to a variety of different information sources.  

This encouraged the development of a more personalized way of learning   where the student’s independence and unique approach to study was celebrated.  

However, we ’re  now on the cusp of a new phase ;  Education 4.0.   

What is Education 4.0?  

Education 4.0 is a desired approach to learning that aligns itself with the emerging  fourth  industrial revolution .   

This industrial revolution   focuses on  smart technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics; all of which  now impact our everyday lives.   

For universities to continue to produce successful graduates, they must  prepare their students for a world where  these cyber-physical systems are prevalent across all industries.  

This means teaching students about this technology as part of the curriculum, changing the   approach to learning altogether, and utilizing this technology to better improve the university experience.  

career options; something that will be  extremely  valuable in the future.   

Alongside their degrees, they might also look for job opportunities for students to allow them to gain work experience to support themselves financially and to build their skills in teamwork and communication in readiness for the careers ahead of them.

Preparing students  for evolving industries   

Cyber-physical systems are steadily becoming more integrated into various industries, inevitably affecting the skill s  requirements  for  employees.   

Research by McKinsey Digital  revealed that due to the  fourth  industrial revolution 60% of all occupations  could potentially  have at least  a third  of their activities automated.  

The topic of how  a rtificial  i ntelligence might affect jobs in the future was explored in our previous blog :   How will Artificial Intelligence Influence the Global Higher Education Sector?  

However, there is much more to consider than the potential disruption to the  hard   skills required for various  job  roles.   

The  fourth  industrial revolution will also impact the  soft  skills that students will need in the future.  

In 2016,  the   World Economic Forum  produced a report exploring these changes. They predicted that by 2020 ,  “more than a third of the desired core skill sets of most occupations will be comprised of skills that are not yet considered crucial to the job today.”  

Some of the soft skills they claim will soon become indispensable include complex problem solving, social skills, and process skills.  

T echnology  also  allows us to be constant ly  connected, and as a result ,  job  roles  are steadily becoming more flexible and  adaptable .   

Education 4.0 is about evolving with the times, and for higher education institutions ,  this means understanding what is required of their future graduates.   

Undoubtedly, in order to produce more graduates who are prepared to take on the future state of employment, universities must evolve, and accept that  changes to  some  traditional   processes are inevitable.  

A new approach to learning    

By aligning teaching and learning methods with the skills needed in the future, universities can be sure they are successfully preparing their students for the  fourth  industrial revolution.  

One method of doing so is by encouraging a ccelerated remote learning , which i s the idea that students will learn theoretical knowledge remotely using digital means, whilst ensuring any practical skills are still learnt face-to-face.   

This is a more flexible way of learning that requires accountability and good time management; skills that will be  relied  on  due to the rise in the freelance economy.  

The move towards this way of working will also  require  students  t o learn how to adapt quickly to new situations they may face in their evolving careers.   

Project-based learning highlight s  the importance of studying a wide set of skills that can then be applied to each scenario , as opposed to sticking to a set of skills directly linked to a specific job role.   

Learning practices such as SCALE-UP are increasing in popularity, with insti t utions such as  North Carolina State University  utilizing the practice.   

A SCALE-UP way of learning  has  students s i t at round tables scattered across the room, allowing the teacher to freely walk through the space and approach students if necessary.   

With this way of learning students are also  “working out problems on laptops and whiteboards, answering real-time quiz questions ,  and helping each other learn.”  

The approach to exams and assessments will also change, moving away from t he t raditional method of  a bsorbing  and relaying  a vast amount of information; skill s  not as necessary in the future.   

We may see students assessed instead  “by analyzing their learning journey through practical and experiential learning-based projects or field works . ”  

Of course ,  the biggest change we are likely to see as part of Education 4.0 is a deeper fusion of technology into the teaching process.   

The ultimate purpose of utilizing this technology and adopt ing  new methods  is  to place students at the center of the education process,  “shifting the focus from teaching to learning.”  

Adapting  to new realities   

Higher education institutions are  moving towards a more personalized way of learning.   

By utilizing data and tracking student performance, universities will be able to  identify  struggling students and provide optimized learning strategies to suit their needs.   

The various ways data is being used by universities is explored in more detail in our white paper:  Your A-Z Guide to Data in Higher Education .  

Education 4.0 embraces this advance in analytics and uses it to treat each student as an individual ,  understanding that everyone’s learning needs and desired outcomes will be different.  

There have also been talks of entirely customizable degrees, whereby a student does n’t  have to pick just  one  or  two  subjects to study, but instead  can  select modules from multiple programs.   

There are some ,  however, who are n’t  yet convinced by this approach and  view  this move away from the traditional degree structure  as  problematic.   

For example, Oxford Professor of Higher Education ,   Simon  Marginson ,  believes that ,  “ as long as they retain fixed curricula,  flexibility makes other institutions look of lower quality.”  

Yet the new approach to program structure is likely to create more versatile, well-rounded students who can adapt themselves to various career options; something that will be  extremely  valuable in the future.   

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Why should higher education institutions focus on Education 4.0?

Education 4.0: The impact of today’s education has a very long tale. Tablets and smartphone supportive classrooms, online assessments, robotics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data are all the infiltration of technology.

Thanks to those innovative minds and to the needs of the fourth industrial revolution, Education 4.0 is here— the fourth Education revolution, replacing the clumsy old procedures of conventional education. 

What is Education 4.0?

Education 4.0 is a purposeful approach to learning that lines up with the fourth industrial revolution and about transforming the future of education using advanced technology and automation.

Creativity is the foundation of Education 4.0. It emphasizes the need to prepare students to take on challenges, head-on.

To keep up with the change, one has to revisit the traditional educational paradigms with a futuristic approach. Students should be adept with skills set by the fast-changing technology; they should be led, but not instructed; information should be made accessible, but not fed to them.

Both general and vocational education should aim at making students skill-ready to compete with the outside labor force. 

Major trends of Education 4.0

We have tried to summarise the major trends of Education 4.0 here below.  

(i) A more personalized learning

Education 4.0 appreciates the individuality of every single student and their own pace of learning. Having a personalized way of teaching will have a greater impact on students to achieve their outcomes easily. 

With Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing, there are numerous tools available that tweak the whole teaching process as per the individual learner’s needs learning pace.

Faculty, on the other hand, will be able to easily identify the strengths and weaknesses of the students and provide instant feedback.

(ii) More remote learning opportunities

The cornerstone of Education 4.0 is making learning available anywhere, anytime with the set of e-learning tools that promote remote and self-paced learning. 

The Active Blended Learning (ABL) concept is picking up, where students get to be actively involved in learning beyond classrooms. This way, they end up mastering both practical and experiential learning. 

(iii) The plethora of education tools 

Education 4.0 offers a clear route to students by making tools and techniques handy in their learning environment. 

This means that the students will be able to choose the tools and techniques through which they want to acquire knowledge. Collaborative and engagement tools flipped learning, and blended learning are a few to mention.

(iv) Project-based learning

The project-driven approach that Education 4.0 supports helps students learn in a fun and interesting way! 

It shuns theoretical knowledge and prompts students to learn time management skills, organizational skills, collaborative skills, time management skills, much needed for their employment for the road ahead. 

(v) Easy and accurate assessment 

A more practical way of assessment comes into place with Education 4.0. There are both online and offline assessments and students get assessed on projects, assignments, and fieldwork.

(vi) Data at the fingertips

There are greater insights into the students learning journey with data analytics and reporting in Education 4.0. The statistical analysis allows teaching staff to learn where students exactly stand and guide them appropriately.  

How industry 4.0 affect the education industry?

The effect of Industry Revolution 4.0 has had on Education can never be ignored.   

With education 4.0, there’s a cultivating peer-to-peer learning atmosphere with students being able to learn collaboratively and from each other.

The role of teachers is that of facilitators. The curriculum and learning outcomes focus on complex 21st-century skills including problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management, teamwork and collaboration, emotional intelligence, judgment and decision-making, service orientation, negotiation, and cognitive flexibility.  

Is 4.0 helping the education industry? Why do education institutions need curriculum 4.0? 

Education 4.0 is nothing but the curriculum of the future. It is about evolving with the times, and for higher education institutions, this means understanding what is required of their future graduates. 

World leaders have laid numerous predictions about the kind of jobs the future would bring up with technology and automation. Updating the content and delivery of the education system should be an urgency. 

McKinsey and Company’s recent analysis of Automation predicts that nearly 51% of the total job would be automated, which is shocking for job seekers and educators. If not addressed on time, the situation could lead to a serious level of unemployment in the coming future.   

A majority of hiring managers believe that AI will impact the types of skills their companies need.

The below graph is an indication of what the hiring managers would foresee in the tech-driven workforce transformation.

Source: Future of Jobs Survey - World Economic Forum

How can education institutions prepare students for Education 4.0?

The only way is by aligning industry requirements with education. Here are a few ways by which the same could be achieved;

Remodeling of Curriculum with special stress on futuristic subjects. With digitization and automation, a skill-based curriculum is an order of the day. Employers are running short of skilled workforce and bank on universities and educational institutions to upskill the present workforce. 

Building digital skills . Institutions should have modern workplace skills and focus on training their faculty to build digital skills to develop fully able students for their workplace.  Soft skills should be made indispensable with a mix of problem-solving, social skills, and process skills. 

Opt for digital tools for virtual learning (face to face) environments (VLEs) . This is picking up across the world where students and faculty gain remote access for teaching through LMS. Learning and teaching, accessing course content, online chat facilities, discussions, collaborations, peer teaching, blended learning, all happen in flexible hours. 

Tweaking of course delivery. There should be a synchronization between the Faculty and the curriculum taught. Faculty should be open to using technological applications to improve students’ cognitive learning abilities.

They should adapt to personalized adaptive learning techniques for a smarter learning approach to make the whole process fun and interesting.

A robust professional framework with career planning inter disciplines should be included. This aspect will futurize Indian education for building a workforce for enterprise 4.0. 

Technology built classrooms to be initiated across universities, colleges, and higher education institutions to deliver successful graduates for the cyber-physical systems prevalent across all industries.

This means building a technology-rich curriculum, transforming the learning approach, to better the student experience.

This education industrial revolution 4.0 focuses on modern and smart technology, AI, robotics, all of which influence our everyday lives.

Hence universities and colleges should gear up to this massive transformation of bringing technology-driven design into the curricula with the assistance of educationists and other visionaries. 

Giving today’s workforce the right tools will help create a more multifaceted society where everyone plays their part well, adding to a self-sustainable model of education. 

At Creatrix Campus we value the power digital technology has on transforming education and we are here to help you watch your step in every way possible. We know that the future of higher education is uncertain and complex. But at Creatrix Campus we will unwind it for you. 

Our product Creatrix Campus is end-to-end higher education software that digitizes and automates the toughest processes and makes your campus future-ready.

We have tools to provide 24/7 virtual learning, platforms to offer personalized learning and to easily connect with faculty and other students, tools to develop curriculum the way you prefer, admit, and enroll students, conduct assessments online, etc. 

There’s an Outcome-based education module for your Accreditation needs,   Competency-based education module for developing effective skill-based learning.

We have built some hybrid products that improve the experience, reduce the cost of operations, and automate processes within Higher Education.

Your scheduling efforts, Virtual Classroom enablement, Accreditation, strategic planning, everything is taken care of with a set of Project Management Tools, Reporting & Analytics tools.

With Creatrix, you are not alone while planning for your next big shift in the education paradigm. Together let’s plan a preferable future for today’s students.  

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Education 4.0

Transforming the future of education through advanced technology.

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Debra Gray, principal of Grimsby Institute, part of TEC Partnership

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Explore education 4.0

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Education 4.0: Here’s Why it has Come to Stay

If you are an educator or simply enjoy following educational trends, you must have noticed a lot of fuss around Education 4.0. In case you were wondering what this new type of education is and how it is linked with the fourth industrial revolution, keep on reading to learn more about its exciting prospects.

Let’s find out.

The Role of Education

Education has intertemporal value in our society. Its primary role is to create values and shape attitudes and behaviours aligned with society’s expectations. Furthermore, education’s secondary role is to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life.

But what is “needed” in life has a dynamic nature that changes with culture and technology evolution. Especially nowadays, that the world is currently undergoing a rapid digital transformation, there is an urgency for educational systems to adapt. This school adaptation relates to both speeding up innovations and technology integration in schools and improving school curricula.

The still-going COVID-19 pandemic exposed the inefficiencies of education systems around the world. But luckily, this situation sped up the digital transformation of schools, making them better prepared to support Education 4.0.    

What is Education 4.0?

Education 4.0 is what we call the current state of education with all the digital tools (blended learning) and the newly aligned educational goals. For those not familiar with the term, its name originates from the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 in short.

“Industrie 4.0 refers to the intelligent networking of machines and processes for the industry with the help of information and communication technology”. In other words, we are talking about new ways of production, value creation and real-time optimization with new technologies’ help. For example, important components of industry 4.0 are the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, machine learning and others.

As a result of this new technological boom, there is also an increased demand for tech skills. And that is when education 4.0 chimes in with the important role to teach young children the necessary digital skills. Specifically, the job types that today’s children will do in the near future do not exist yet . Additionally, it is observed that the gap between education and work is further widened after limited innovation in education systems.  Therefore, Education 4.0 is crucial to begin the reskilling revolution to meet the current demand in digital skills and competencies and the future needs.     

The Education 4.0 Benefits

As Education 4.0 will support the 4.0 Industry, it is evident that its role will be critical for the future. When education catches up with the technological advancements of the fourth industrial revolution, it will serve as a key enabler of its advantages.

Just imagine all the benefits from the previous industrial revolutions that have led to today’s unprecedented standards of living. Education can provide meaningful support to this technological revolution and improve further:

• The labour market
• Health Sector

More specifically, Education 4.0 will create a wider base of higher-skilled workers and reduce workforce shortages in critical sectors. Furthermore, this new type of educations aspires to create a deeper link between employers and schools. Thus, school curricula will adapt better to the actual needs of the workplace, and students will have better chances to be employed.

Education 4.0 for Youth European Project

Of course, this critical educational revolution could not be missing from the context of EU project funding. Education 4.0 for Youth ERASMUS+ project will seek to educate around this new type of education and show its relevance to the fundamental concept of the Industrial Revolution.

For this project consortium, identifying sources of learning is equally important to skills acquisition and knowledge accumulation. For that reason, the expected outcomes of this EU project are creating a digital platform for learning and online learning content in the spirit of Education 4.0.

Stay tuned for further updates on Education 4.0 for Youth European project and follow it through its project implementation period.

Vasilis Bouronikos

Content & Communication Manager

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Collaboration on tech-driven design will help the leaders and learners of tomorrow

The  fourth industrial revolution is changing the world around us. Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, big data and the internet of things will combine to impact on jobs and industry. However, the 21st century’s intellectually intensive jobs will be impacted just as much as those manual activities that were changed forever by the industrial revolution of the 19th century.

The fourth industrial revolution will also affect the roles that UK universities and colleges prepare students for, and educational institutions are ideally placed to help produce the workforce for this new world and the student experience to match it. And that includes adult learners as well as school leavers.

To take full advantage of the opportunity created by advanced technology we need a similar revolution in education – not just to meet the needs of industry, but also to ensure the best possible student experience, use of staff time and investment in estates and facilities.

Paul Feldman, chief executive of Jisc, the UK’s technology solutions not-for-profit, says: “We know that some universities are already developing an Education 4.0 experience for students that reflects the fast-developing world around them.

“But if we want to shape this new world to meet the expectations of students in 10 to 20 years’ time, we need more urgent collaboration across the sector. We want to work with universities to design and deliver the technological solutions for a future-proof student experience that can also help tackle the big challenges in HE.”

That’s why at the 2018 Universities UK (UUK) conference, Jisc introduced the Education 4.0 concept and invited delegates to reflect on where new trends and technologies might lead. This feedback will inform Jisc when we choose research and development projects to meet the needs of the educators and learners of tomorrow. Universities, colleges and research centres can still get involved by contacting Jisc .

Some of the following trends are being used by Jisc as prompts:

• Teaching transformed – how should human teachers focus their efforts if AI and other technologies become used to their full potential in the university experience?
• Personalised adaptive learning – an individualised approach that takes learner diversity, performance and behaviour into account.
• Assessment re-imagined – can AI, digital experiential learning and micro-credentials replace high stakes summative tests?
• Intelligent digital and physical estates – this concept is responsive to student journeys and interactions, helping universities deliver efficiencies and a smart approach to campus design.

University leaders who attended the UUK workshop were asked to predict the trend that they felt would have the greatest impact and discuss how institutions could best respond.

More than half the delegates felt that personalised adaptive learning was the key trend to watch, supported and underpinned by transformed teaching methods. Delegates said this transition was attractive to them because it lets the institution focus on developing learners as individuals.

University leaders were particularly interested in using AI to improve support for student mental health and wellbeing. It could highlight to personal tutors when a student is disengaged and potentially at risk.

It was acknowledged that profound changes to working practices need to be handled carefully. UUK delegates said that it was important to have a dialogue about the direction and the pace of change, in particular about reward mechanisms and policy frameworks that would encourage innovative practices.

Delegates also felt that many of the fundamental tenets of the university degree and the conventional practices of higher education would come under scrutiny. For example, will the metrics we use to measure the quality of higher education be fit for purpose for the world of tomorrow?

It was predicted that students would in future have greater flexibility in choosing their mode of engagement. For example, by mixing campus-based and distance learning on a module-by-module basis. Technology can sometimes create perverse incentives, such as the reduced student engagement seen when lecture capture is made available online and it is no longer necessary to attend lectures in person. University leaders said that technology such as learning analytics would be increasingly important in helping tutors to develop a holistic view of learners’ engagement and progress.

Delegates said that the emerging technological trends should produce great opportunities for students to take ownership of their learning and that learners should be able to see evidence of their progress towards their qualification. This could be done through credits that they have accumulated as the university’s AI recognises their growing mastery of the subject matter. Delegates felt that these types of systems would eventually manifest across the education system, as confidence grows in using technology to transform assessment.

Finally, the workshop noted that more than 75 per cent of employers are reporting a shortage of digital skills in their workforce. They felt that UK universities and colleges can play a pivotal role in retraining and up-skilling, providing adult learners with a “careers booster jab”. It was also recognised that a large proportion of future students would be looking for flexible approaches to learning because of their work and caring commitments. Technology will play a vital role in enabling this.

Armed with this valuable feedback, Jisc will decide – in conjunction with universities, colleges and research centres – which ideas to take forward as R&D projects. Each project will be designed collaboratively to meet the needs of IT, business and teaching staff, and students. 

Examples of Education 4.0 in action

An award-winning chatbot in Leeds

In the summer of 2018, a chatbot that helped boost enrolment of students through clearing at Leeds Beckett University won a Times Higher Education Leadership and Management award (THELMA)  for digital innovation.

The chatbot, known as Becky , which was developed in two months for just £30, won the Jisc-sponsored digital innovation of the year award.

Using AI and chatbot technology, Becky provides an instantaneous response and information to prospective students going through clearing.

A total of 89 students who were made an offer via the chatbot enrolled in September 2017, which represents a 46.6 per cent conversion of offers to enrolment. This compared to a general conversion rate of 26 per cent.

Leeds Beckett’s enrolment of students recruited during clearing increased by 11 per cent in 2017 and the university estimates a return of investment on Becky of £2.4m in tuition fees.

Northampton’s blended learning

The University of Northampton has moved to a new £330m campus that has one large lecture theatre and several smaller spaces. Active Blended Learning (ABL) is embedded across the entire teaching practice.

The dean of learning and teaching, Professor Alejandro Armellini , explains: “The traditional view that the blend is a combination of online and face-to-face is pushed to one side. ABL is far more sophisticated, interesting and exciting than a mere combination of face-to-face with online teaching.

“ABL provides a learning environment where students play an active role and are given the opportunity to engage in a variety of ways in and outside the classroom, in the field, in the lab, in the studio and in the workplace. Those study modes are fully integrated into a proper blend, not different strands of a course running in parallel.

“Over the past three years we have been redesigning our curriculum to ensure that the principles of ABL are followed, but also that we review space allocation and timetabling to accommodate the students in smaller teaching rooms.” 

Bolton plans to co-ordinate through smartphones

Bolton College launched its campus chatbot, Ada , in April 2017. At the outset, it could answer everyday questions from students about college services, life on campus and their studies.

Ada is about to get an upgrade, which will enable students to access it through their smartphones, thanks to the support from the Ufi Charitable Trust.

The college is currently teaching Ada to respond to a broad set of staff questions that will assist teachers and support teams to gather on-demand information about student progress, staff rotas, holidays taken, professional development records, documents on the college intranet and much more.

To participate in Jisc’s Education 4.0 programme email [email protected]  

This article was commissioned by  Times Higher Education  in partnership with Jisc, the UK body for digital technology and resources in higher education, further education, skills and research.

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Education 4.0: importance of fourth industrial revolution technologies.

Abhishek Gupta

Abhishek Gupta, Founder and CEO of High School Moms and INACE

In its recent Educational 4.0 Report, the World Economic Forum explores how technology can improve student’s access to education and address learning gaps. A synthesis of the findings of the report highlights four priority intervention areas. These are foundational numeracy and literacy (FLN), professional development for educators, career readiness, and connecting underserved students. Curriculum, content, capacity, community, and digital interventions are categorised under these five building blocks.

Educate 4.0 India leverages the efforts and interventions of both the central and state governments. By utilizing more adaptive learning systems and engaging communities, the recommendations can have a profound impact, ranging from improving educational accessibility to reducing dropout rates.

Industrial Revolution 4.0 – An overview

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 is the fourth industrial revolution in human history. Educators are abuzz with Education 4.0 due to the fourth industrial revolution sweeping all sectors, including the education sector. Education 4.0 India was launched in May 2020, bringing together over 40 partners from ed tech, government, academics, and start-ups. We are, therefore, on the verge of a new era in education; Education 4.0. 

Technological advances, such as IoT, sensors, and automation, have already impacted India’s present education system in various ways. Furthermore, education today relies heavily on virtual communication systems and digital platforms. However, the Indian education system still faces internet protocol and communication systems issues. Teaching in some parts of the country is still dominated by traditional rote learning methods, which are not very practical for students. This type of conventional education pattern will not be helpful to students in the future.”

Education 4.0 aims to overcome the shortcomings of conventional ways of teaching and learning. Under Education 4.0, the primary responsibility for learning will shift from teachers to students. Classes will become more flexible in the next few years, accommodating diverse learning methods. 

Emerging Transformations 

Because of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, novel and advanced educational institutions are emerging that offer education, research, and service differently, including massive open online courses (MOOC), virtual classrooms, virtual libraries, virtual laboratories, and virtual educators. Education 4.0 is also driving schools, colleges, and universities to upgrade themselves. Smart technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics are just a few examples of how the industrial revolution has impacted our daily lives. Therefore, to remain competitive, educational institutions are equipping students for a world in which cyber-physical systems permeate virtually every industry.”

Promotes a student-centric model

Education 4.0 will also allow students to choose what they wish to learn. Moreover, each student will receive a customised learning experience. Also, a certain level of expertise will be required before they can move on to the next level.

Students will also have the option of selecting the learning tools they prefer. Also, the learning process will be more project-based for students to help them develop time-management or interpersonal skills to make them job-ready. 

Promotes inclusiveness

In addition to making digital learning central to education worldwide, the pandemic has exacerbated the digital divide, leaving those without internet connections and devices further behind. While some schools in India have limited access to computers, others have no internet access. 

Transforming teaching methods 

Education 4.0 will enhance teachers’ ability to deliver education in creative ways. The report suggests improving teacher training as a way to strengthen teachers’ ability to perform. Teachers are also involved in designing a comprehensive teacher capacity-building program that links training with career development.”

The way ahead

Industrial Revolution 4.0 will impact the Indian education system in a significant way via advanced technology. Powered by Artificial Intelligence, the Fourth Industrial Revolution will augment the learning experience and offer exciting opportunities for higher education, which may be able to transform Indian society in positive ways. As higher education moves into the 4th Industrial Revolution, it will provide quality teaching, enlighten learners through exploratory research, and sustain societal development while taking on an increasingly important role in the global education sector

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Preparing Students for the Future: The Importance of Education 4.0

February 8, 2023.

Countless forecasts have been made regarding the future of work . Leading organizations from all over the world have been warning of impending changes in the way the working world is structured for years.

The impact and opportunities of the internet have been evident for more than a decade. A thorough analysis by McKinsey in 2011 revealed that while the Internet has eliminated 500,000 jobs over the past 15 years, it has also generated 1.2 million new ones, totaling a net increase of 700,000 or 2.4 jobs for each job that was eliminated. This implies that digitalization and connectivity offers a field of opportunities, just waiting to be plucked.

This shows that there has been a clear shift in the priority of skill sets in the 21st-century employment landscape. Digital literacy and fundamental ICT skills are becoming increasingly essential now more than ever.

In 2019, The Future of Work report by OECD recognized three factors that has a significant impact on the job market- Globalization, technological advancement, and demographic shift.

The Education 4.0 initiative was launched by the World Economic Forum and UNICEF in 2020 to increase access to digital learning, eradicate the disparities in the Indian education system, and foster a holistic learning environment for the youth of India.

Want to explore the 5 foundational pillars of Education 4.0? Click here .

Skill development for the evolving 21st-century job landscape received widespread attention in the Education 4.0 initiative.

Table of Contents

Transforming the Education Landscape to Align with Industry 4.0

Nearly all occupations are changing to reflect the expanding use of technology and the automation of repetitive tasks, along with the emergence of new fields. In order to maintain a competitive advantage and develop students for digitally advanced industries, education institutions should prioritize the following:

• Development of digital infrastructure to facilitate blended learning strategies.
• Development of digital literacy for a comfortable “school-to-work” transition.

A clear advantage over machines in modern workplaces will continue to exist for companies with robust digital infrastructure and employees with well-trained digital literacy. Hence, in addition to receiving a foundational education in ICT, students should be immersed from the start in a cutting-edge digital ecosystem.

Digital Infrastructure:

The digital infrastructure of a university can be defined as the equipment, tools, and technological innovations implemented and used to establish itself in the online world. A robust digital infrastructure allows institutions to completely transform their existing brick-and-mortar setup and maximize efficiency in the long run.

For instance, digital edtech platforms, internet connectivity, devices like smartboards, etc.

Some of the unmatched benefits of a well-established digital infrastructure:

• Educators and students can stay connected at all times via the internet.
• Limitless digital course content repositories accessed online and on demand.
• Blended learning environment for continuous practice and maximum knowledge retention.
• Effective assessment and evaluation through online assignments.
• Automation of mundane and repetitive tasks for ease of management.
• Immediate feedback to guide and eliminate knowledge gaps in real-time.
• Precise analytics and insights into learning patterns and student behavior.
• Multimedia content for the comprehension of intangible concepts like quantum physics, chemical bonds, astronomy, etc.

Digital Literacy:

Digital infrastructure is worthless without digital literacy.

Institutions, colleges, and universities are open to the idea of creating a blended learning environment, which is unachievable without digital tools and cloud-based technologies. Students in this digital era need to get familiar with digital dashboards, automation, multimedia content, and other immersive technologies that are already prevalent in many industries.

Universities continue to play a crucial role in ensuring that the youth is prepared to be active citizens and productive workers in light of the growing “job disruption” and “increased socioeconomic polarization.”

To prepare students for the digitally advanced workspaces of the twenty-first century, existing curricula need to be redesigned. Lessons should be taught through interactive methods via digital platforms that foster the critical and individual thinking required in the innovation-driven future.

Creative problem-solving, collaboration, and self-management need to be explicitly taught via blended learning pedagogies alongside academic knowledge and deeply ingrained into the curriculum.

The Ultimate Goal

In a perfect world, educational models would integrate digital learning pedagogies, enabling the students to gain the skills and abilities they need to succeed, ultimately resulting in a more “inclusive, interconnected, and productive world.”

As discussed above, the students of this technologically advanced era need to be immersed in digital learning to develop specific skills for the 21st-century workspace. Universities with robust digital infrastructure and opportunities for digital literacy will unlock innovative blended learning strategies and facilitate a seamless transition to the working world, ultimately producing successful innovators of tomorrow.

Modernizing STEM Education with Möbius

DigitalEd India offers an interactive Möbius platform that enables students to work in an increasingly digital world. It helps create a cohesive digital learning ecosystem for STEM students.

Here’s how Möbius aligns STEM education with industry 4.0:

• An immersive digital learning environment to prepare students for modern workspace;
• It facilitates a blended learning approach with a seamless and easy-to-use digital dashboard;
• Educators can design, develop and distribute interactive digital courses across the globe;
• Educators can stay connected with the students digitally throughout the learning process;
• Educators can add multimedia content and inline questions to reinforce knowledge in-between lessons.

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Education 4.0 and Teachers: Challenges, Risks and Benefits

• George A. Panagiotopolos Department of Museology, University of Patras, Greece
• Zoe A. Karanikola Department of Museology, University of Patras, Greece

The aim of the present study is to investigate and capture teachers’ attitudes towards the principles, benefits and risks of Education 4.0, as it is shaped in the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution. The methodology followed is the quantitative one and specifically an improvised questionnaire was structured. It was answered by a sample of 233 primary education teachers of the Region of Western Greece. Data was analyzed using the statistical software SPSS 26.0 for Windows. The results of the research show that teachers believe that students will have more opportunities to learn at different times and in different locations with tools tailored to their individual abilities and will choose the devices, programs and methods by which they will learn. In addition, the use of technology in education will improve learning outcomes, will help save material resources and improve teachers' communication with parents, students and education staff. However, participating teachers believe that the use of technology entails a greater workload for them, leads to the creation of unknown and demanding professions, leads to sharper inequalities and widens the social gap. In addition, there is a very high risk of job losses and is related to the feeling of insecurity and danger. At the same time, it raises moral issues, threatens individuality and the private sphere of life, homogenizes the views of people and polarizes societies. Finally, additional studies, employment, overall service and training in new technologies have a statistically significant effect on teachers' perceptions.

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How to Become a Financial Advisor

Becoming a financial advisor can lead to a lucrative career, but the real reward is helping clients achieve their dreams.

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As a financial planner, you might work in a bank or brokerage firm or settle into a niche in a smaller firm or as an independent consultant.

"Financial advisor" is more than just a title. It means you've committed to guiding people through their financial journey. You can help others with their money and future goals, guiding them to make smart choices about saving, investing and planning for what's ahead. Depending on factors like experience, location and the type of firm, financial advisor salaries can range from $61,960 to $165,590.

Advisor's Corner

Advisor's Corner is a collection of columns written by certified financial planners, financial advisors and experts for everyday investors like you.

As a financial planner myself, I can tell you that beyond the numbers, the real reward is seeing your clients achieve their dreams. If you're thinking about becoming a financial planner or are already set on it as a career choice, I'll walk you through how to make it happen:

• What is a financial advisor?
• What does a financial advisor do?
• Financial advisor qualifications.
• Important skills for financial advisors.
• How long does becoming a financial advisor take?
• Is being a financial advisor right for you?

What Is a Financial Advisor?

A financial advisor is a trained professional who helps people with their finances. They offer guidance and expertise on the intricacies of managing money, from retirement and estate planning to real estate and investment opportunities.

As a financial planner, you might work in a bank or brokerage firm or settle into a niche in a smaller firm or as an independent consultant. You could also choose to specialize in a specific financial area or work with people who fall within a certain net worth or age bracket.

What Does a Financial Advisor Do?

The role of a financial advisor is as varied as the clients they serve. As Adam Breazeale, a senior financial planner at Schwab Wealth Advisory, puts it, "We look at where our clients are relative to where they want to be, then provide the tools and solutions necessary to create a road map for success."

As a financial advisor, you'll help with financial planning by creating long-term strategies to build wealth and manage risk. We analyze our clients' current financial situation and seek to understand their goals and objectives. "If you understand the psychology of money, and how emotions and childhood experiences impact financial decisions, this will let you better serve and understand your future clients," says Jude Wilson, founder of Centrus Financial Strategies.

Then you develop a tailored plan to help them achieve those goals. You might offer advice on investment options, manage their investment portfolios , recommend insurance needs, map out a tax strategy, or provide any other type of financial planning or advice.

Financial Advisor Qualifications

I can attest that there's no "one right path" to becoming a financial advisor. For instance, my professional journey began at a Japanese investment bank. However, I wasn't able to connect on a deeper level with clients to truly help with their personal financial well-being. I took my career in a new direction and became a certified financial planner, or CFP.

Financial advisor careers are open to almost anyone, which is one of my favorite aspects of the profession. The financial industry is strictly regulated, but the requirements you'll need to meet can depend on the type of service you want to provide.

Many financial planners come from backgrounds in finance, economics or business. I suggest taking courses in investments, taxes, estate planning and risk management to help you get a solid grasp on financial principles, investment strategies and economic trends.

While you don't need a bachelor's degree to become a financial advisor, a career in finance is difficult to start without one. Keep in mind that educational guidelines can depend on your career aspirations, too. For instance, I wanted to become a CFP, which requires CFP Board-approved coursework and a bachelor's degree.

Professional Licenses

Professional licenses are required for some financial advisors. If you want to sell investment products or operate in multiple states, a common occurrence at broker-dealers and banks, you'll need to pass exams administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA. The Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam is a common requirement for many in the financial services industry. You may need to pass additional exams as well, depending on your situation:

• Series 6: The Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative Qualification Examination (IR), required to sell mutual funds, variable annuities or other limited investment products.
• Series 7: The General Securities Representative Qualification Examination (GS), required to sell common and preferred stocks and other fixed-income investments as a stockbroker.
• Series 3 or 31: The National Commodities Futures Exam or the Futures Managed Funds Exam, required to sell commodity or managed futures contracts.
• Series 63: The Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam, required to satisfy state law registration requirements.
• Series 65: The Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam, required to provide fee-based investment advisory services.
• Series 66: The Uniform Combined State Law Exam, which merges the Series 63 and 65 exams.

If you establish a practice as an individual, you may also need to register your firm as a registered investment advisor, or RIA, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and register yourself as its representative.

Certifications

These professional certifications can enhance your credibility and are encouraged by financial advisory firms, but they're not mandatory for becoming a financial advisor. Many certifications and designations are available, and deciphering them can feel like navigating a complex maze of acronyms.

The CFP certification is a well-known badge of expertise in the industry. Earning it demands several years in financial planning, a formal degree, clearing the CFP exam and adhering to high ethical standards. You must also act as a fiduciary , which means prioritizing your clients' needs over your own.

In addition to the CFP, other notable financial planner certifications include:

• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA): A globally recognized certification for investment professionals, especially in the areas of investment management and research.
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC): A certification focused on advanced areas of financial planning, such as retirement, real estate, insurance and income tax planning.
• Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA): Focuses on asset management and investment consulting.
• Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA): Designed for professionals who work with high-net-worth clients on wealth management.
• Certified Fund Specialist (CFS): Specializes in mutual funds and the mutual fund industry.
• Personal Financial Specialist (PFS): Offered to certified public accountants, or CPAs, who want to specialize in personal financial planning.

Professional Experience

Starting with internships or entry-level roles is more than just a resume builder; it offers valuable experience in the financial industry. You learn more than the mechanics as you navigate client interactions, strategy crafting and problem solving. The hands-on learning prepares you for future hurdles and deepens your understanding of the industry.

Mentorship, too, is invaluable in this journey. A seasoned mentor not only shares wisdom and strategies but also offers insights based on personal experiences that textbooks can't capture.

Wilson's experience underscores the importance of this. Being among the less than 2% of Black financial planners in the U.S., he faced unique challenges and perspectives. "I recommend to anyone, especially those in the minority, to find a mentor or to intern with a professional," says Wilson.

You may eventually arrive at the crossroads that many financial advisors face: joining an established firm or forging your own path. Both have merits. While existing firms offer stability, going solo can be rewarding for the entrepreneurial at heart.

Important Skills for Financial Advisors

Technical knowledge is undoubtedly essential, yet it's our ability to build trust, understand our clients' needs and effectively communicate that can make all the difference for success. One crucial aspect of being a financial planner is the ability to break down complex financial jargon and explain it to clients in a way they understand.

In my experience, financial advisors should ideally have:

• An ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.
• A keen ear to actively listen to a client's financial worries and goals.
• The acumen to analyze investment opportunities and gauge market trends .
• Creativity to find solutions that fit individual client needs.
• Time management skills to balance client consultations, planning and market research.
• A solid moral compass to uphold the highest standards of integrity and trust.

Financial planning does not use a one-size-fits-all approach, and every client will have different challenges and goals. A versatile skill set can empower you to address these needs effectively.

How Long Does Becoming a Financial Advisor Take?

Your path to becoming a financial advisor depends on where you start your journey. It can vary from a few months to a few years. One of the quickest routes is to get your series licenses with FINRA, which require no prior job experience.

Hazel Secco, a certified financial planner and president and founder of Align Financial Solutions, reflects on her initial journey. "I began with four different licenses: Series 6, 63, 65 and an insurance license. This process took approximately three months before I officially commenced my role as a financial advisor," says Secco.

She didn't stop there. "I decided to pursue the CFP designation right from the beginning of my career. It took me three years to accumulate all the necessary experience and complete the required courses," says Secco.

You must also factor in the time it takes to complete an internship or gather experience.

Michelle Bender, a certified financial planner at Potomac Financial Consultants, says she'd "struggle to bring in" for an interview an applicant who lacked experience and had not taken the appropriate courses.

Is Being a Financial Advisor Right for You?

Becoming a financial advisor can be a fulfilling and rewarding career choice, but it's important to consider whether it's the right fit for you . Think about your strengths and interests and evaluate the educational and regulatory requirements. But above all, consider where your heart lies.

Being a financial advisor requires technical knowledge, but it's more than crunching numbers. It's about nurturing a passion for finance, combined with a genuine desire to help others achieve their financial goals.

10 Best Financial Certifications

Julie Pinkerton Sept. 19, 2023

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NYU Launches Its Center for the Study of Antisemitism

At a moment when antisemitism is on the rise, NYU faculty, graduate students, and scholars from other universities grappled with the historical origins and widespread impact of this particular form of hate, examined its connection to other forms of bigotry, and analyzed the resulting harm to American democracy and societies around the world.

NYU’s Center for the Study of Antisemitism, announced last fall, presented its inaugural academic conference, “Four Critical Questions: Confronting Antisemitism in 2024 and Beyond,” on April 18 in the John A. Paulson Center’s African Grove Theatre. With more than 120 in attendance—including university leadership, supporters, and community partners—the conference employed a multidisciplinary lens to examine the age-old hate and its role in our current global crisis.

Calling for critical inquiry founded in precision, empathy, and courage, NYU President Linda G. Mills opened the day-long event by emphasizing NYU’s decision to harness its unique academic strength.

“The creation of the Center for the Study of Antisemitism comes in part out of the renewed wave of Jewish hatred we have seen in the past several months. There is a clear need for knowledge and further study,” Mills said. “Today we have assembled several brilliant scholars from NYU and beyond to use the tools we at a university know best: systemic and scholarly review.”

The conference came the day after a second Congressional hearing on higher education’s handling of antisemitism and the challenges facing universities in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. The hearing was the latest to highlight the ongoing debate about how to weigh the protection of academic freedom with concerns about discrimination and student safety.

Avinoam Patt, the inaugural director of the Center for the Study of Antisemitism, welcomes participants to the April 18 conference. ©Hollenshead: Courtesy of NYU Photo Bureau

The groundbreaking center was created in November to meet this difficult moment. It will convene scholars and students from diverse disciplines—including the arts, humanities, social sciences, Judaic Studies, history, social work, public policy, psychology, law, sociology, media studies, management, and public health—to address the historical roots of antisemitism, its contemporary manifestations, and the most effective ways to combat it.

Presented in four parts, “Four Critical Questions” began with “Historical Perspectives,” probing how Oct. 7 and the resulting surge in global antisemitism could be understood within Jewish history. With Benjamin Hary, director of NYU Tel Aviv, moderating, Lihi Ben-Shitrit, Henry Taub Professor of Israel Studies and director of the Taub Center for Israel Studies in Arts & Science, examined antisemitic attitudes across the political spectrum and how conflict in Israel contributes to anti-Jewish violence. Elisha Russ Fishbane, associate professor in the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, explored the roots of anti-Judaism and antisemitism in the Muslim world, while Lawrence Schiffman, Global Distinguished Professor in the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, traced the history of Jewish-Christian relations.

Eric Ward, executive vice president of Race Forward and senior fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center, examined the connection between antisemitism and racism and other forms of hatred. In a keynote that was both personal and political, Ward described antisemitism as the “theoretical core” of the White Nationalist movement and charted its movement from the margins to the center of American society.

Eric Ward gave the conference keynote address. ©Hollenshead: Courtesy of NYU Photo Bureau

“It imperils us all. Because it doesn’t look like anti-Black racism, we may think it is not a big deal. But I believe it is one of the biggest deals. Antisemitism is an effective conspiracy theory that dehumanizes us all.  It distorts our understanding of how the world actually works. It isolates us. It kills, but it also kills American democracy,” said Ward, who drew parallels to the Civil Rights Movement in outlining the importance of combating prejudice.

Most significantly, Ward explained why antisemitism is a threat to all civil society and not just to Jews.

“Antisemitism isn’t just bigotry toward the Jewish community. It is, more accurately, utilizing bigotry toward the Jewish community and those seen as proximate to it to deconstruct 60 years of Black Civil Rights struggle,” he continued. “It does so by framing democracy as ineffective and a conspiracy rather than a tool of empowerment or a functional tool of governance.”

To start the afternoon session, President Mills presented a Proclamation in Honor of Richard Courant , the late NYU mathematics professor who joined NYU in 1933 after losing his position in Germany because he was Jewish. Not only a noted mathematician, whose name graces the university’s institute of mathematics, Courant was a lifeline for others escaping Nazi Germany, Mills explained.

The next panel focused on the role of education in confronting antisemitism. Daniel Greene, a curator and subject expert at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., described how the museum pushes visitors to tackle difficult questions and contradictions.

“We are a nation of immigrants and we are also a nation that has closed its doors to immigrants,” he said, citing one example of the tensions highlighted in the museum’s exhibitions.

Batia Wiesenfeld, a professor and director of the Business & Society Program at the Stern School of Business, asks a question. ©Hollenshead: Courtesy of NYU Photo Bureau

Azedeh Aalai, associate professor of psychology at Queensborough Community College, and adjunct professor at NYU, discussed how studying the Holocaust exercises students’ critical thinking skills, improves their emotional literacy, and makes them less susceptible to antisemitism. Difficult conversations around questions that may not have answers are opportunities for transformational learning, she said. Sara Fredman Aeder, director of Israel and Jewish Affairs at the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, presented findings of her research on Jewish student belonging and the distinctions between students’ experiences of antisemitism and their perceptions of safety.

Renowned Jewish historian David Engel, professor emeritus of NYU's Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, gave the day’s final lecture, which examined the past, present, and future of Antisemitism Studies. Engel traced the meaning of the word from its debut in 1879 to the current day, arguing that its many meanings have prevented serious academic research on the varied forms of anti-Jewish persecution over time. Rather than focus on its definition, Engel encouraged research that empirically studies specific types of discrimination and responses to them. He also encouraged the center to tap NYU’s strengths in data science and its global centers to create a framework for future research.

Avinoam Patt, Maurice Greenberg Professor of Holocaust Studies and the inaugural director of the center, concluded the event by thanking the presenters and participants for their thoughtful contributions.

“We know that right now we are living in a turning point in history…when resources are properly being invested in the critical study of this topic, but also, hopefully, in the study of a broader examination of hate in a radical time of profound social, economic, and political crisis,” he said. “I’m under no illusions that the launch of our center will solve the problem of antisemitism, but we know that we can begin to ask serious questions and begin to do the research that will help move our field forward.”