School Board Governance

💡 Learning in the Age of the Machine: AI Policy and the Future of Education, a whitepaper. The education sector quietly crossed a threshold this year: AI is no longer an experiment in classrooms. It is infrastructure. Teachers plan lessons with it, students complete assignments through it, and policymakers are scrambling to civilise its use. In the UK and acrosss Europe particularly, new governance is forming: • UNESCO is setting the moral horizon of equity, agency, transparency. • The EU AI Act and the Council of Europe AI Convention are binding these ethics into law. • The UK Department for Education has issued its most comprehensive guidance yet, calling the biggest risk “doing nothing.” Yet beneath the policy momentum deep tensions remain. 1. How do we balance innovation with integrity? 2. How do we make AI an instrument of equity, not advantage? 3. And how do we preserve human judgment in systems built to automate it? These are civic questions that the education sector can be one of the first to ask. It will decide whether the next generation learns with AI or through it. I had the opportunity to explore these ideas for the Think Tank, Saviesa, in a new whitepaper, “Learning in the Age of the Machine: AI Policy and the Future of Education”, which maps the converging themes now shaping global and UK policy: 1️⃣ From experimentation to governance 2️⃣ Human agency and the teacher-in-the-loop 3️⃣ Equity and access 4️⃣ Transparency and data 5️⃣ Pedagogical redesign and AI literacy As I wrote, AI may teach us to predict but education must still teach us to choose. If you’re working on AI strategy, policy, or learning innovation, do reach out to myself or Saviesa to access the paper. Saviesa Think Tank , Leonor Diaz Alcantara #AIpolicy #AIwhitepaper #education #educationpolicy

How can you make your Board stand up and pay attention to risk? Today, I led a collaborative meeting with members of the Risk Leadership Network, where we shared practical insights on how to move from just 'presenting risks' to facilitating dynamic, strategic conversations that actually resonate with leadership. Here are some of my key takeaways from the discussion.... ➡️ Getting adequate time on the Board's agenda for strategic risk conversations is a challenge for Risk Leaders. ➡️ The Risk Professional should not only be a compliance reporter, but become the catalyst for conversations about risk. ➡️ The conversation is two-way. The Risk Professional should ask Board members, 'What should we be thinking and talking about that is not already on the Risk Register'. ➡️ Risk reporting should reflect the Board's input and ownership of the resultant approaches to risk. eg 'We have increased our focus on Risk X following members' comments at the last Board meeting'. ➡️ Safety (personal and corporate), security and cyber disruption are high among the list of issues which keep Board members awake at night, as are executive succession planning, securing and retaining talent. ➡️ Boards should scenario plan their responses to risks that are arising, and not just obsess about the optics. ➡️ The Board's risk oversight and mindset needs to be forward, not backward looking. 'What's the next big problem coming down the line for us?' ➡️ The Risk Leader should schedule periodic 15 minute conversations with the Chair to discuss what is really worrying them. Thanks to Michelle McConnell Christina McKeon Frutuoso and everyone at RLN for making this happen.

#Transformation in #Education Over the next decade Here’s how this transformation might unfold: 1. #Personalized #Learning: Adaptive Learning Platforms: Education will increasingly leverage AI-driven platforms that tailor lessons, assessments, and feedback to individual student needs, learning styles, and paces. This will allow for more customized learning experiences, where students can progress at their own speed. Data-Driven Insights: Schools will use data analytics to track student progress more effectively and identify areas where each student needs more support or challenge. 2. #Blended and #Hybrid #LearningModels: Flexibility in Learning Environments: The pandemic accelerated the adoption of online and hybrid learning models, and this trend is likely to continue. Students will have more options to learn in a combination of in-person and virtual settings, allowing for greater flexibility and accessibility. Global Classrooms: Technology will enable more cross-cultural and international collaboration, with students participating in global classrooms and working on projects with peers from different parts of the world. 3. Focus on #Skills Over #Content: Shift to Competency-Based Education: There will be a stronger emphasis on developing critical skills like problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, and emotional intelligence rather than merely memorizing content. This shift will prepare students better for the demands of the modern workforce. Lifelong Learning: Education systems will place more emphasis on lifelong learning, encouraging continuous skill development throughout an individual’s career, rather than focusing solely on formal education during the early years. 4. Enhanced Role of #Teachers: Facilitators and Coaches: Teachers' roles will evolve from being content deliverers to facilitators of learning, guiding students in their personalized learning journeys and helping them develop the skills needed to succeed. Professional Development: Continuous professional development for educators will become more critical, with a focus on integrating new technologies and methodologies into their teaching practices. 5. #Equity and #Inclusion: Closing the Digital Divide: Efforts to ensure all students have access to the necessary technology and resources will be a priority, reducing disparities in educational opportunities. Inclusive Curricula: There will be a push for curricula that are more inclusive of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and cultures, promoting a more equitable and holistic education for all students. 6. Alternative #Credentialing: Micro-Credentials and Badges: Traditional degrees may be supplemented or even replaced by micro-credentials, certificates, and digital badges that recognize specific skills or competencies. Recognition of Informal Learning: More value will be placed on informal and experiential learning, with students able to gain recognition for skills acquired outside of traditional educational settings.

Higher ed isn’t standing still. It’s being disrupted on every front - demographics, finances, politics, and technology. Back in July, I shared a State of the Industry report with our Kanahoma Partners. With fall census numbers now coming in, I thought it was the right time to open it up more broadly. So today, I’m sharing Part One: 10 trends every higher ed leader should be watching in FY26. 👉 Tomorrow, I’ll share the next 10. These aren’t hypotheticals - they’re shifts already shaping our campuses: ➡️ Demand is down (and not evenly across regions). ➡️ Supply is up, with more programs and more marketing spend than ever. ➡️ Price pressures are intensifying. ➡️ Consumer and employer confidence in degrees continues to decline. ➡️ And the skills gap keeps growing. I recorded a 25-minute run-through of the full deck, but here’s the first half for you to dig into today. My hope is that it sparks thought, discussion, and maybe even a new perspective on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀. From classrooms to policy rooms, the pace is dizzying. ⚠️ But beneath the hype lies a deeper tension: ►Who benefits? ►Who gets left behind? ►What happens to teachers, learners, and the meaning of learning itself? Here’s what the latest insights from UNESCO book reveal and why we need to rethink how AI fits into education. ➡️ Disruptions Already Here ▪️ Generative AI blurs the line between cheating and learning. ▪️ Assessment systems risk becoming obsolete overnight. ▪️ Hyper-personalization could turn classrooms into echo chambers. ➡️ Powers & Perils of AI ▪️ AI in education must be intentional, not assumed. ▪️ Universities risk being shaped by commercial interests. ➡️ AI Pedagogies & Assessment ▪️ Machines can’t replicate human nuance. ▪️ Hyper-personalization may isolate learners—education must stay social. ▪️ Adaptive learning risks filter bubbles. ▪️ AI challenges fairness and the meaning of assessment. ▪️ With care, generative AI can enable learner-driven evaluation. ➡️ Human Teachers at the Core ▪️Teachers are irreplaceable. AI should support, not override. ▪️Compassion must be built into AI design. ➡️ Ethics & Governance ▪️Ethics must be designed in, not added on. ▪️AI governance needs democratic participation and accountability. ➡️ Coded Inequalities ▪️Inclusion must be intentional. ▪️AI should empower marginalized learners, especially young women. ▪️Risk of exclusion is real. ➡️ Reimagining Policy ▪️Human + machine = new policy frontier. ▪️Policies must be evidence-based, globally aware, locally adaptable. ➡️ The Path Forward ▪️Embed AI literacy across all levels of education. ▪️Build governance frameworks that balance innovation with ethics. ▪️Prioritize inclusion so AI lifts every learner, not just the privileged. 💥 Bottom Line Get this wrong, and we risk creating a generation more dependent than empowered. Get it right, and we unlock a future where AI scales equity, creativity, and lifelong learning. 👉 Can machines truly understand the human nuance of teaching and learning? Prof. Dr. Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes|Helen Yu|JOY CASE|Hr Dr. Takahisa Karita|Antonio Grasso|Nicolas Babin |Alberto Espinosa Machado|Dr. Ram Kumar|Phillip J Mostert| Sara Simmonds |Anthony Rochand|Prasanna Lohar|Shalini Rao #AI #ResponsibleAI #Education #EducationandTech #TechforGood

🧠 Teaching the Machine to Teach: Ministries, AI, and the Future of Learning by EdTech Hub 📘 This learning brief explores how ministries of education in low- and middle-income countries are harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen education service delivery. 🌍 It explains why AI matters—improving efficiency, equity, and data-driven policymaking—and how it’s being applied to automate administration, optimise teacher allocation, predict dropouts, and inform curriculum reform. ⚙️ 🤝 Supported by EdTech Hub, UNESCO, the World Bank, and innovation partners, these efforts demonstrate how AI can transform education governance—if guided by ethical frameworks, inclusive infrastructure, and robust local evidence. 🚀 1. 💡 What roles does AI play in education systems? 🤖 AI streamlines administration, enhances data analysis, predicts risks, and supports curriculum and policy design. It automates routine tasks, strengthens Education Management Information Systems, and enables evidence-based decisions. 2. ⚙️ Why is AI integration important for education ministries? 📊 AI improves operational efficiency, reduces costs, and offers real-time insights into student performance and institutional needs. It enables predictive analytics, optimises resource use, and drives targeted interventions—helping ministries overcome systemic barriers while promoting equitable, evidence-based. 3. 🌍 How are ministries using AI practically?   🏫 Countries use AI for attendance tracking, teacher deployment, and dropout prediction. Emerging tools like digital twins simulate education systems to test policies. 4. 🤝 Who is leading these initiatives?   🧭 Education ministries, with partners and national AI agencies, are leading adoption. Collaborations with research institutions and technology firms support pilot projects, frameworks, and ethical standards—ensuring solutions fit local needs and advance national education priorities responsibly and inclusively. 5. 🚀 What are the future priorities for AI in education?   🔍 Strengthening governance frameworks, investing in digital infrastructure, and generating robust evidence are essential. Ministries must prioritise equitable access, bias mitigation, and teacher training. Challenges ⚠️ 1. 📉 Limited empirical evidence and small-scale pilots hinder informed policy adoption. 2. ⚖️ Algorithmic bias risks reinforcing socioeconomic, gender, and regional inequalities. 3. 🖥️ Weak digital infrastructure limits scalable AI integration in LMICs. 5 policy maker recommendations 🧩 1. 🛡️ Establish ethical frameworks ensuring privacy and accountability. 2. 🌐 Invest in digital infrastructure for equitable AI access nationwide. 3. 👩🏫 Build teacher capacity for AI literacy. 4. 🔄 Promote iterative pilot testing before scaling AI applications. 5. 🤝 Foster public-private partnerships to support sustainable AI innovation. Source: https://lnkd.in/e8fu56N7

The “Six Commandments” of Effective Boards The greatest professional blessing of my life is to have been mentored for 12 years by Dr. Tom Doyle—he as president, and me as a young principal of Montgomery Catholic High School. Among his many gifts, Tom became well known for his work with school boards, and was often asked to host workshops for dioceses around the country. He concluded each session with his “Six Commandments”—brilliant in their simplicity and wisdom. ✅Boards Decide. The primary work of the Board is to make decisions—to vote, not to talk. Issues have been raised in previous meetings, they’ve been assigned to committees, committees have reported back to the Board, and now the Board either accepts, rejects or amends. Monthly meetings should take 75 minutes max for this reason. ✅Committees Work. Standing committees do the “work” of the Board. The finance committee recommends the increase in salaries, tuition and budget for next year. Building and grounds committees might do annual inspections of the school, taking note of safety issues and where cosmetic improvements can be made. Marketing committees help with recruiting plans for the upcoming year. Each brings their recommendations to the Board for a vote . The key to successful Boards is active committee work. ✅Agendas Govern. The Board meeting is directed by an agenda, and if it’s not on the agenda, it’s not discussed at that meeting. Is there a Board member who is hot-fired on the cause for something and wants to speak out about it? Then the executive committee decides whether his issue goes on the agenda for next month. This helps a Board stay future oriented and keeps it from being dragged into whatever the emotional issue of the day is. It also keeps the principal from being blind-sided at meetings. ✅Executive Committees Think. The executive committee of the Board (typically, the president, vice-president, with the president or principal) has two primary functions: To create an agenda for the meeting, deciding on which matters the Board will take up (and which ones it won’t), and to assign tasks to the committees, establishing the parameters of their work and a time-table for presenting interim and final reports to the Board. ✅Principals Share. Every board meeting, principals should inform the Board of issues at the school—successes, issues of concern, new faculty, new programs, ideas of the faculty and staff—all those things that help the Board understand the life of the school through the principal’s eyes. ✅Everyone Writes. A funny thing about our memories: we all remember differently. That’s why one of the cardinal rules of good board practice is no oral reports. Committees write down their findings. Principals write down how they’re doing. The secretary records the minutes, which are then voted as “acceptable” in the next meeting. What if a committee doesn’t have a written report that month? Their work and all discussion is tabled for the next meeting.

🗓️ The Power of Consistency: How a Simple Structured Meeting Changed the Way We Work When I was Registrar at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, I also chaired the Governing Council at Madhava Kripa School. The school was in a rapid growth phase, and we faced a barrage of issues - academic upgrades, faculty hiring, student safety, transportation, and teacher welfare. Ironically, our biggest hurdle wasn’t the issues themselves, but simply getting everyone together for meetings..!! Coordinating schedules between teachers, parents, and administrators was a constant struggle. One day, a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) member proposed a game-changing idea: fix the meeting on every third Thursday, regardless of agenda. This meant everyone could plan ahead-venue, time, start and finish, all locked in. Members could submit their topics in advance, and we prioritized discussions based on urgency and importance. Meetings became more efficient, decisions were communicated swiftly, and actions were followed up systematically. The result? We saved time and energy, and the school’s growth accelerated in every direction. Seeing the impact, I brought this structured meeting approach to the university level, MAHE. We scheduled four distinct Thursday meetings each month, each dedicated to a specific team-academics, administration, support systems, and others. The clarity and consistency transformed our discussions and outcomes. Later, as Director at Manipal Institute of Technology, and then as President (Vice Chancellor) at Manipal University Jaipur, I introduced the same practice. Today, in all these organizations, the structured Thursday meeting is an institution-wide best practice, fostering transparency, quick decisions, and open dialogue. Key takeaways for senior management in higher education: 1. Regular, predictable meetings reduce scheduling chaos and encourage full participation 2. Structured agendas and time-bound discussions maximize productivity 3. Systematic follow-up ensures decisions translate into action 4. Consistency in process builds a culture of transparency and accountability I’m curious-what meeting practices have worked best for your teams? Have you tried a similar structured approach, and what impact did it have? #LeadershipLessons #HigherEducation #MeetingBestPractices #OrganizationalGrowth #TimeManagement

AI in Education: Transforming Learning & Skills Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how we learn, teach, and prepare for the future.  It’s driving two parallel revolutions: 𝟏. 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 – 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 Personalized learning experiences for every student Real-time grading and smart feedback Predictive insights for teachers 24/7 virtual tutors reducing admin effort and freeing up time for deeper learning 𝟐. 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐈 – 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 Students gaining AI literacy as a core skill Lifelong learning becoming the new norm Focus on critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and coding rather than rote memorization 𝟕 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Define a national AI vision for schools Upgrade digital infrastructure Train teachers for AI-driven learning Add AI skills to every curriculum Fund EdTech innovation Build public–private partnerships Keep inclusion and ethics central 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬: AI tutors and adaptive classrooms Hybrid learning with real-time analytics Continuous learning ecosystems that evolve with technology 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰: Think critically, not memorially Understand data, ethics, and responsible tech use Collaborate and create with technology 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝: Risk of deepening inequality due to bias and tech access gaps Rising privacy and data security concerns Potential overuse or misuse of AI tools by students Ensuring ethics and equity drive innovation 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐩: Governments: Lead and regulate Educators: Adopt and adapt Students: Learn with AI responsibly Industry: Build trustworthy solutions 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤: Learning becomes more personal, predictive, and inclusive. Teachers are empowered, not replaced. Lifelong learning drives societal progress. Beyond education, AI is transforming other sectors too: Pharma: Accelerating drug discovery and precision medicine Travel: Smarter, more connected, and sustainable experiences Healthcare: Telemedicine, AI diagnostics, and personalized wellness AI is redefining trust, compassion, and progress across industries — starting with how we learn.The question isn’t whether AI will transform education; it’s how effectively we’ll adapt to it.

Reflection: this week AI News and the Urgent Call to Transform Education The AI headlines from this week are not just tech updates—they are signals of a global shift that education systems can no longer afford to ignore. The U.S. national AI action plan, the rise of autonomous AI agents, the cost-cutting impact of AI on hiring, and even the way Google’s AI summaries are reshaping information access—these developments point to a future where AI is not a support tool, but a decision-maker, content creator, and labor force in its own right. For education, this brings both opportunity and responsibility: 1. The Learning Model Must Evolve We can no longer rely on knowledge delivery as the core function of education. When AI can summarize, explain, and even tutor, our role is to teach students how to navigate ambiguity, ask the right questions, and make ethical decisions. Learning must become exploratory, critical, and human-centered. 2. Critical Thinking is the New Literacy As AI shapes what learners see online (e.g., Google summaries), we risk raising a generation that consumes filtered knowledge passively. We must actively teach how to question AI-generated outputs, seek original sources, and recognize bias in algorithmic decisions. 3. AI Fluency Will Define Employability With companies like ServiceNow reducing hiring thanks to AI, the message is clear: jobs that can be automated will be. Educators need to help students develop complementary skills—creativity, ethical reasoning, system design, and AI-human collaboration. 4. Equity and Governance Must Be Taught Today’s AI policy changes and the BRICS call for global AI governance show that who controls AI matters. Students must be exposed to conversations around digital rights, sovereignty, and global inclusion, especially in developing regions. Final Thought We often speak of “preparing students for the future,” but today’s news reminds us the future is now. Education must not lag behind policy and enterprise—we must lead, question, and shape the role of AI in society. If we get this right, we don’t just adapt to change—we equip students to drive it.