5 Inspirational TED Talks About Higher Education

Higher Education TED Talks

  • Liz Coleman
  • Shai Reshef
  • Freeman Hrabowski
  • Daphne Koller
  • Ray Kurzweil

When considering higher education options it’s not uncommon to look for inspiration and information online. The internet provides us with many reliable resources, including the video archives at TED Talks. TED provides us with instant access to speaking events given by some of the world’s most renowned experts in a variety of fields. Read on to learn about five of the greatest, life-changing, and inspirational TED talks about higher education.

1. Liz Coleman

A call to reinvent liberal arts education.
Many experts think that students should study very narrow fields and pick just one area to work in for the rest of their lives. The president of Bennington College, Liz Coleman, thinks differently. Instead of forcing students into one narrow field for the rest of their learning and working lives Coleman feels that students should be able to study more than one discipline with access to higher education that combines many or all areas of study. This will allow graduates to able to address the issues are World faces in modern times. Coleman’s talk about the problems with higher education and how to fix them are very refreshing!

2. Shai Reshef

An ultra low cost college degree.
When prospective students consider college, one of the first things that comes to mind is probably cost. Shai Reshef talks about the University of the People, an online program that offers tuition free classes in computer science and business administration to anyone with a high school diploma. Students simply work hard and pay to take exams. This TED Talk about higher education displays how innovative minds can make a college education in a competitive field is something that everyone can have access to.

3. Freeman Hrabowski

4 Pillars of college success in science.
Even before his 20 year tenure as the president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County began, Freeman Hrabowski knew he wanted to make a difference,. Hrabowski discusses how he helps minority students overcome the many challenges of higher education, and life in general, to earn degrees in competitive fields. This talk will inspire even the hardest struggling people to persevere and work through their challenges to find the success they desire and deserve.

4. Daphne Koller

What we’re learning from online education
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to study at one of the world’s top colleges and universities? Daphne Koller speaks about how that dream may be a reality in this talk about Coursera, the program that allows people all over the world to study for free in the name of research.

5. Ray Kurzweil

A university for the coming singularity
Many Industries and fields have receded because of the world’s struggles. Information technology however, is not one of them. IT grows exponentially and can be used to improve even some of the greatest problems the world faces. In his TED Talk about higher education Ray Kurzweil discusses his innovative new project called Singularity University a project that is backed by Google and NASA as well as other leaders in the high-tech and science world. What is singularity University? Watch this amazing nine-minute talk to find out!

What are you waiting for?

Satiate some of your curiosity with these 5 TED Talks about higher education and feel the excitement about jump starting your future grow!

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