UIIN Podcasts

Épisodes

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  Future | What if we designed the university from scratch? Lessons from Minerva 28.07.2026 36min

  What would a university look like if every element were designed around what graduates should be able to do?For this episode, we invited Ben Nelson, Founder and CEO of Minerva Project and Founder of Minerva University, to explain how Minerva designed a university around transferable learning, shared assessment, and graduates’ ability to act wisely in unfamiliar situations. We also delved into why institutional purpose, community participation, and sustained commitment are essential to meaningful reform across established universities.
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  Entrepreneurship | The AI-enabled entrepreneurial university: How GenAI could transform venture creation 21.07.2026 30min

  For this episode, we sat down with Scott Shane, Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies and a professor of economics at Case Western Reserve University, to explore how generative AI could reshape university research, teaching, venture creation, governance, and institutional productivity at scale.
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  Future of Universities | What if universities led the future? Insights from Dubai Future Foundation 09.06.2026 31min

  In this episode, we examine how universities can move beyond reacting to disruption and become institutions that actively shape the future with Heba Chehade, Head of Foresight Research at Dubai Future Foundation.We unpack how universities can use foresight to rethink their value proposition, strengthen partnerships, and design more resilient approaches to learning, research, policy, and public value. From AI and funding pressures to lifelong learning, modular education, and future-focused collaboration, the conversation explores how universities can become more intentional engines of progress in a rapidly changing world.
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  Entrepreneurship | Edinburgh’s Innovation Career Pathway: Building an entrepreneurial culture 02.06.2026 27min

  In this episode, we explore how academic innovation can be recognised, rewarded and embedded in university career structures with Kirsty Collinge, Head of Research Strategy at the University of Edinburgh.We unpack how the University of Edinburgh is rethinking academic career structures to recognise and reward innovation more explicitly. From developing an innovation career pathway across recruitment, promotion and learning development to creating a shared language for innovation across disciplines, the conversation examines how universities can move beyond rhetorical support for entrepreneurship toward a more embedded, equitable and institution-wide model for academic innovation.
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  Partnerships | Inside Macquarie’s External Engagement Strategy: Research, Innovation and Enterprise in Practice 19.05.2026 28min

  In this episode, we explore what it takes to make external engagement more strategic, coordinated and impactful with Professor Dan Johnson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Enterprise at Macquarie University.We unpack how Macquarie’s history, location within the Macquarie Park Innovation District and strong industry-facing culture have shaped its approach to partnerships. From building “sticky” relationships with multiple connection points to aligning research, innovation, commercialisation, entrepreneurship and enterprise under one portfolio, the conversation examines how universities can move beyond fragmented engagement activity toward a more joined-up, partner-friendly model.
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  Entrepreneurship | Rewiring tech transfer: How UTSA is building a commercialisation pipeline 12.05.2026 36min

  In this episode, we explore what it takes to rethink technology transfer for real-world impact with Anthony Francis, Associate Vice President of Innovation, Commercialisation, and Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at San Antonio.We unpack why traditional, IP-first approaches continue to limit the flow of innovation from universities into society, how institutions can move beyond linear, patent-driven models, and what it means to build a true commercialisation pipeline. From reframing the “valley of death” to working backwards from market demand, the conversation examines how universities can shift from fragmented processes to more intentional, market-aligned systems that unlock the full value of research.
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  Partnerships | Building a corporate engagement office: Insights from Georgia Tech and beyond 05.05.2026 28min

  In this episode, we explore what it takes to build a corporate engagement function that truly works across the whole university with Mark Nolan, Associate Vice President of Corporate Engagement at the Georgia Institute of Technology.We unpack why fragmented structures and siloed interactions with industry often lead to missed opportunities, how universities can move beyond disconnected touch points, and what it means to create a coordinated, institution-wide approach to corporate partnerships. From rethinking relationship ownership to designing processes that expand engagement across multiple channels, we examine how institutions can shift from transactional interactions to more strategic, resilient collaborations.
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  Future | From quick fixes to adaptive evolution: Rethinking university transformation 28.04.2026 32min

  In this episode, we spoke with Cameron McCoy, founder of the Adaptive Group, about why many transformation efforts in higher education fall short and what it really takes to create lasting change.We unpacked the idea of adaptive evolution: Moving beyond quick fixes to address root causes, rethink core systems, and build institutions that are truly change-ready, learner-centred, and capable of evolving in a rapidly shifting world.
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  Entrepreneurship | The entrepreneurial PhD: A new paradigm for higher education 31.03.2026 28min

  In this episode, we dive into the future of doctoral education with Hélène de Burgh-Woodman, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research Training at the University of Western Australia.Drawing on her work on entrepreneurial doctorates and her contribution to our latest Future of Universities Thoughbook, we explore why the traditional PhD model is under pressure, how universities can better prepare researchers for complex, real-world challenges, and what it takes to expand doctoral pathways without compromising rigor or the core principle of original knowledge.
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  Entrepreneurship | How Wageningen redefines impact: From patent to purpose 24.03.2026 24min

  For this episode, we spoke with Sebastiaan Berendsen, Director of Value Creation and Impact at Wageningen University & Research, about how universities can move beyond traditional measures like patents and spinouts to focus on real societal outcomes.Drawing on his contribution to the Future of Universities Thoughtbook | Entrepreneurial Edition, we explored what it takes to build mission-driven partnerships, how co-creation with stakeholders shapes research and innovation, and why long-term, trust-based collaboration is key to creating impact that truly moves the needle in society.
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  Entrepreneurship | Securing the future: Why universities need to stay innovative and engaged 17.03.2026 36min

  In this episode, we speak with Andrew Petter, former President and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University, about the challenges universities face today and why staying innovative and engaged with society is critical for their future.Drawing on his contribution to the Future of Universities Thoughtbook | Entrepreneurial Edition, Andrew reflects on why universities risk isolating themselves when they retreat to traditional models, and how engagement, entrepreneurship, and community partnerships can strengthen both their societal impact and their core academic mission.
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  Partnerships | How Innovate UK drives business growth through knowledge transfer 10.03.2026 28min

  For this episode, we spoke with Richard Lamb, Programme Manager for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships at Innovate UK, about one of the UK’s longest-running innovation instruments. For 50 years, KTP has embedded university expertise directly into businesses to solve strategic challenges and build lasting capability.We unpacked what makes the model distinctive, the pivotal role of the associate bridging academia and industry, and what other countries can learn from the UK’s experience in structured, impact-driven collaboration.
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  Entrepreneurship | How ASU London designs interdisciplinary, industry-connected education 03.03.2026 25min

  In this episode, Todd Davey, A/Prof. of Entrepreneurship at IMT-BS and Associate Partner at UIIN, speaks with Judy Raper, former CEO and Dean of ASU London, about what it really takes to design interdisciplinary, industry-connected education from the ground up. Drawing on her experience launching a brand-new university model, Judy reflects on how project-based learning, curiosity-driven education, and real-world challenges can reshape how engineers, and universities, are formed.From banning traditional lectures and embracing “just-in-time” learning, to navigating accreditation constraints, this conversation offers honest insights for anyone questioning whether today’s university models are fit for the future.
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  Partnerships | Inside Oregon State’s partnership model for industry and community engagement 24.02.2026 22min

  In this episode, Balzhan Orazbayeva, Manager Strategic Initiatives at UIIN, is joined by Rebecca Robinson, Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Industry Relations at Oregon State University, to take a close look at what it really takes to design partnerships that work at scale. Moving beyond one-off collaborations, Rebecca shares how Oregon State has built a more coordinated, sector-based approach to engaging with industry and community partners.From creating a clear “front door” for engagement, to aligning internally across colleges and central units, this conversation offers practical insights for universities looking to strengthen their partnership models.
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  Entrepreneurship | Rewiring the system: How UCalgary rethinks entrepreneurial education 17.02.2026 27min

  In this episode, we are joined by Oleks Osiyevskyy and Guy Levesque from the University of Calgary to unpack what it really means to rewire entrepreneurial education. Drawing on the work done at the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, they challenge the idea of entrepreneurship as just startups and commercialisation, and make the case for entrepreneurial thinking as a mindset for creating change across systems.From intrapreneurship to building inclusive pipelines that serve students, researchers, and communities alike, this conversation offers a grounded look at how universities can design education that leads to real-world impact.
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  Partnerships | From outreach to alliance: How Karolinska designs partnerships with pharma and medtech 03.02.2026 30min

  In this episode, Richard Cowburn, Head of Strategic Collaborations at Karolinska Institutet, joins us to explore how one of the world’s top medical universities navigates partnerships across pharma, medtech, and public health.From building long-term alliances with companies like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, to supporting researchers through decentralised systems, Richard offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Karolinska balances academic values with industry demands.
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  Entrepreneurship | A living lab for entrepreneurship: Inside H-FARM’s Innovation Campus 27.01.2026 25min

  In this episode, Timothy O’Connell, Senior Partner and Director of the Entrepreneurship and Startup Center at H-FARM, takes us inside one of Europe’s most unique innovation campuses. Based just outside Venice, H-FARM blends education, startups, and corporate partnerships into a living lab where ideas turn into ventures—and students become founders, innovators, and intrapreneurs.Whether you're designing a startup hub or rethinking your university's approach to entrepreneurship, this episode offers practical insights and plenty of inspiration.
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  Impact | The impact realities for early-career researchers 20.01.2026 26min

  In this episode, Wade Kelly, Senior Lecturer at Deakin University’s Researcher Development Academy and a leading voice in research development and community engagement, unpacks what it really means to be an “impactful academic” today.Drawing on his background in education, public engagement, and researcher development, Wade reflects on why impact is not simply about metrics or outputs, but about how knowledge lives — or dies — beyond the page.From speaking to academics in bars through Nerd Night, to shaping national conversations on community engagement, one question roots his journey into impact work: What responsibility do researchers carry toward the communities they serve?
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  Entrepreneurship | How interdisciplinary thinking fuels meaningful entrepreneurship and innovation 16.12.2025 30min

  In this episode, we are joined by Joe Steensma, Professor of Public Health and Social Entrepreneurship at Washington University in St. Louis, to discuss the value of interdisciplinary thinking, the lessons science can offer entrepreneurship, and why imagination belongs at the centre of education.Through powerful storytelling and raw honesty, Joe reflects on what it really means to learn, teach, and lead in higher education today. An insightful, provocative, and at times philosophical episode you won’t want to miss.
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  Entrepreneurship | Entrepreneurial education: The four transitions to start-up success at CSE 09.12.2025 30min

  In this episode, we are joined by Amy Wilson, Head of Student Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship (CSE).With over 400 startups in its orbit and a strong emphasis on experimentation over perfection, CSE is redefining what entrepreneurial education looks like, especially in abusiness-only university context.Tune in to this conversation about mindset, multidisciplinarity, and creating safe spaces for students to explore innovation in all its forms.