Education Policy Updates

Common Sense Media recently released a comprehensive risk assessment of AI teacher assistants/lesson planning tools. Their findings reveal that while these tools promise increased productivity and creative support, they're also creating "invisible influencers" that could fundamentally undermine educational quality. Unlike GenAI foundation model chatbots, these tools are specifically designed for instructional planning and classroom use and are rapidly being adopted across districts. Key Concerns from their report: • "Invisible Influencers" in Student Learning: AI-generated content directly shapes what students learn through potentially biased perspectives and historical inaccuracies that teachers may miss; evidence also shows these tools suggest different approaches and responses based on student race/gender • “Outsourced Thinking" Problem: Tools make it dangerously easy to push unreviewed AI instructional content straight to classrooms, while novice teachers lack experience to spot subtle errors and biasses • High-Stakes Outputs: IEP and behavior plan generators create official-looking documents that could impact student educational trajectories even though these plans should be human-generated (and in the case of IEP goals are mandated to be human generated) • Undermining High-Quality Instructional Materials: Without proper integration, these tools fragment learning and can undermine coherent, research-backed curricula Recommendations from the report: • Experienced educator oversight required for all AI-generated educational content • Clear district policies and guidelines for AI teacher assistant implementation • Integration with existing high-quality curricula rather than replacement of established materials • Robust teacher training on identifying bias and evaluating AI outputs • Careful oversight of real-time AI feedback tools that interact directly with students We'd also recommend foundational AI literacy for teachers before they begin using GenAI teacher assistants, so that they are aware of the potential limitations. While AI teacher assistants aren't inherently problematic, they require the same careful implementation and oversight we'd expect for any tool that directly impacts student learning. The potential for enhanced productivity is real, but so are the risks to educational equity and quality. This report underscores the urgent need for GenAI EdTech tool makers to provide evidence of how their tools mitigate these issues along with evidence-based policies and professional development to help educators navigate AI tools responsibly. All of which underline how important AI Literacy is for the 2025-2026 school year. Link in the comments to check out the full report. Also check out our 5 Questions to Ask GenAI EdTech Providers resource in the comments if you are planning to implement any of these tools in your school or district. #AIinEducation #ailiteracy #Education #K12 AI for Education

Education in the 21st century has been a journey marked by inflection points, and we are standing at one right now. In the 2000s, education's focus was on knowledge, particularly in STEM fields, as we prepared for a rapidly changing technological world. Then, in the 2010s, we realized that mastering information wasn’t enough—soft skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and fostering a growth mindset became key to success. Now, as we approach the next great inflection point, the emphasis will shift once again. This time, the focus will be on values—and it is the arts, humanities, and social sciences that will be in the spotlight. These disciplines can help the next generation navigate the ethical dilemmas and social implications of an AI-powered world, providing them with a framework to ensure that progress serves everyone, not just a privileged few. Leadership in this era will demand more than technical expertise—it will require a deep understanding of the human condition. The next generation must be equipped with strong principles and a moral compass to make decisions with a sense of empathy and fairness, even when the answers aren't always clear. Education will no longer be solely about acquiring knowledge and skills —it will be about building a generation that can shape a future that reflects humanity’s highest values. A future where innovation goes hand-in-hand with responsibility, and where technological progress helps build a better and more equitable world. #education #knowledge #skills #values #technology #AI #GenAI #innovation

International undergraduate and master’s students who apply to study in the UK after 1 January 2027 will no longer be eligible for a two-year post-study visa and will instead be limited to an 18-month visa. International recruitment giant IDP Education Ltd has told Times Higher Education that the UK “now has the lowest proportion of students planning to apply within six months compared to other major destinations”. “The effects of these changes in policy are well and truly here,” said Rachel MacSween, IDP’s director of partnerships and stakeholder engagement. “While we don’t yet have the full picture on applications, we know students are sensitive to visa uncertainty and many are making decisions earlier in the cycle to feel secure.” #StudyUK #intled #internationaleducation #UKvisas #studentvisas https://lnkd.in/e5WBPgsW

Higher education is facing another major shift. Congress just amended the Higher Education Act of 1965. And while the headlines focus on loan reform, the real impact may be in new accountability rules and its impact on graduate programs. 𝗡𝗲𝘄 “𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆” 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 : -- Master’s alumni must earn more than someone with a bachelor’s degree in a similar academic discipline 𝟲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 after graduation. -- PhD alumni must earn more than someone with a bachelor’s degree in a similar academic discipline 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 after graduation. Programs that fail to meet these standards will lose eligibility for federal student loans. This updated legislation is simpler and more punitive than the Financial Value Transparency Framework created by the Biden administration. Most likely, the new legislation will be the de facto criteria for graduate programs, and the FVT will apply to undergraduate programs. Only time will tell. What we do know: the wage premium for master’s degrees has been declining, and salaries for mid-career professionals are increasingly based on skills and experience rather than credentials (https://lnkd.in/g_sR3Beq). A study by Third Way found that 43% of in-person master’s programs did not leave alumni able to out-earn someone with a bachelor’s degree in their state. Many PhDs who exit academia tend to work in careers they could have entered with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Humanities and Social Science programs, where too many alumni remain in adjunct positions after graduation, will be impacted, as will STEM programs where PhD spend significant years in low-pay postdoc positions. ➡️𝗜𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁, 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿. Programs that depend on federal students loans will need to ensure their alumni out-earn someone with a bachelor’s degree. Which means they’ll need to be able to be able to articulate the value of their graduate degrees to employers. For partners: Keep an eye on an email I’m sending out shortly with what’s happening in Beyond Prof & Beyond Grad School and resources to continue to support you. For all of us in grad education: Job searching is not intuitive, and grad students need to learn proven strategies to be successful. The job market has changed drastically in the last few years, and your students need your support in navigating this unprecedented terrain. 

In 15 years, I have never dived into the politics of this space, but this article has prompted me to do so. The move to increase thresholds to $4.5 million in assets could severely impact the funding of Innovation in Australia. It could set Australia's funding of innovation back 5 to 10 years, as well as take away opportunities from investors to build their own wealth from this space. As the founder of Wholesale Investor, I've witnessed firsthand how current thresholds empower a diverse range of investors to participate in transformative ventures, especially in sectors like tech, renewable energy, and life sciences. This ecosystem has been significantly empowered by HNW Investors, far beyond what is reported in the media or acknowledged in this current proposal. From a media perspective, this space is funded by VCs and Crowdfunding because their models go hand in hand with self-promotion in the media. Your average HNW is not paying PR firms to get visibility in the media, and they are not building relationships with journalists to cover their investments. In fact, many of them like to remain private about their own dealings. It is for this reason that they will not get a voice in this issue. In reality, go and ask every Australian success story where they would be without the early stage High Net worth investment they received. Survey the High Net Worth's and ask them how they feel about not being able to access or participate in the companies they are passionate about and want to support their stories. Private Market funding is vital right now for many innovative companies! HNW investors are a cornerstone part of this funding. Raising the bar will not only restrict these opportunities for many but will also drive our innovators to seek funding overseas earlier or simply not be able to raise the capital they require. This stifles Australian innovation at a time when we should be nurturing it the most. While protecting investors is crucial, there must be a balance. The proposed changes could inadvertently harm the very ecosystem that's driving our future growth. Let's find solutions that protect without hindering progress. https://lnkd.in/ghkUa6pZ Campbell Newman AO #Investment #Innovation #PolicyChange"

Policies usually take years to shape. #Products can change the world overnight. Look at #EVs: it wasn’t regulation that made them mainstream; it was Tesla proving that electric could be aspirational. Only then did governments accelerate charging mandates and rethink fuel subsidies. #plastics: for decades, policy debates went in circles. But when compostable packaging and refillable systems scaled, regulators started having tangible blueprints for circular economy rules. Even in #agritech, precision irrigation and vertical farming technologies showed what’s possible in water-scarce regions long before governments wrote strategies. The product preceded the policy. This flips the narrative: innovation doesn’t just comply with regulation… it creates the conditions for regulation. Products reveal what the future looks like, and policies follow to codify, scale, and protect it. #GCC is very well positioned to harness this dynamic. With the ability to act as a test bed and the flexibility to adapt policies quickly, the region can accelerate global change by letting products show the way and embedding them into forward-looking regulation. That’s how sustainability can be represented at its best. That’s the real influence of #design: not just solving today’s challenges, but setting tomorrow’s rules. #sustainability #productdesign #innovation #CenterForSustainableFuture Bharat Kapoor Vishal Malik Suman J S Dominik Leisinger Marcos Mayo Vasily Khramov Dmitry Naberezhnev Dr Darren Perrin Kearney Kearney PERLab (Product Excellence Renewal Lab)

💡 What happens when a country prioritizes science and innovation? Finland and New Zealand have taken very different approaches to their science and innovation systems, with starkly different economic outcomes. New Zealand's R&D investment as a proportion of GDP is a bit more than half of Finland's, and Finland's productivity is about 50% higher than NZ's. Finland continues to increase its commitment to research and innovation. In 2024 alone, the Research Council of Finland granted a record-breaking €543 million in research funding. This was made possible by a €264 million increase in government R&D spending, with €55 million of that directed to the Research Council of Finland. This isn’t just about the amount - it’s about long-term strategy: ✅ 48% of funding goes to long-term, innovative research. ✅ 1,000 new doctoral researchers were recruited through targeted funding. ✅ €138 million was allocated to research clusters and international collaboration. ✅ The Finnish Flagship Programme integrates world-class research with business, strengthening global competitiveness. Finland sees R&D as an engine for economic growth. It’s making big bets on talent, knowledge, and global partnerships. It wants to ensure research happens, but more importantly, that it doesn’t just stay in the lab but fuels innovation. How long can NZ afford to keep underinvesting in our future? #Innovation #R&D #SciencePolicy #EconomicGrowth #Finland #NewZealand

Looking to upskill your employees or enhance your own skills on the job? Maybe the 'Qualifizierungschancengesetz' (long German word 🙈) is for you! The Qualifizierungschancengesetz (Skills Development Opportunities Act) is a German law aimed at promoting lifelong learning by providing financial support for employees to pursue further training.  It allows employers and employees to access subsidies for qualification programs, with funding provided by the Federal Employment Agency. The goal is to address the accelerated transformation of the working world, prevent unemployment caused by structural change, strengthen further training, and secure the skilled labor base. In a nutshell: - Up to 💯coverage of training costs. Companies can have the costs of employee training covered by public funding, up to 100%. The law enables companies to train their employees to remain competitive, but only for certified training programs. - 💰Companies are also supported through wage subsidies. Businesses with up to 50 employees can receive up to 75% of wage costs reimbursed, while those with up to 500 employees can receive up to 50%. Criteria for funding under the QCG: - Skills, knowledge, and abilities are imparted that go beyond exclusively job-related short-term adaptation training. - The acquisition of the vocational qualification for which a training period of at least two years is stipulated by federal or state law was generally at least two years ago (if applicable). - The employee has not taken part in further vocational training subsidized in the two years before submitting the application. - The program or course lasts more than 120 hours.  - The program or course, as well as the provider, must be AZAV-approved. I'll link some resources in the comments 👇 Are you already making use of the Qualifizierungschancengesetz? #upskilling #personaldevelopment #learning

The NSW Government scrapped the controversial proposal that would have forced workers to take bullying or harassment claims to court before seeking compensation. Here’s what’s changing: 👉🏻 A new 8-week assessment process will replace the court requirement. 👉🏻 Excessive work demands are now recognised as a cause of psychological injury. 👉🏻 Workers with <30% impairment can now settle for a lump sum earlier. 👉🏻 The threshold for weekly payments for life is being eased in over time. 👉🏻 Vicarious trauma is now clearly compensable. 👉🏻 WHS powers for prevention are being strengthened. 👉🏻 Legal cost reforms will ensure lawyers act in the best interest of injured workers. Plus, a $344M workplace mental health package has been announced - including 50 new SafeWork inspectors focused on psychological injuries and immediate wraparound support for affected workers. What will these changes mean for your workplace?