Podcast
World Bank EduTech Podcast
Hosted by World Bank EduTech · EN
Conversations from the World Bank Education Technology team.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
AI and Tertiary Education: Building Skills and Resilience for a Changing World
4w ago00:32:31Tap to summarizeIn today's episode, Roberta Malee Bassett (World Bank) speaks with Jason Morphew (Purdue University) and Jesús Rosario (Coursera) about what generative artificial intelligence means for tertiary education and the future of work. Building on the AI in Education Global Community of Interest session held in January, and drawing on related World Bank work in this space, including initiatives supported by the Mastercard Foundation, they discuss how institutions are approaching AI literacy, from understanding how these systems work to addressing their limitations and ethical implications.The conversation also looks at how teaching and assessment are evolving, the growing demand for AI-related skills, and the challenges universities face in putting strategies into practice. With examples from Purdue and insights from Coursera, it highlights the importance of balancing technical knowledge with human skills and keeping AI systems human-centered and inclusive.Links:About the AI in Education Global Community of Interest: https://edtechhub.org/world-bank-ai-in-education-global-community-of-interest/About Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/About Purdue University (Engineering Education): https://engineering.purdue.edu/ENELASSO Education (adaptive testing systems)https://lassoeducation.org/The World Bank Group and Mastercard Foundation partnership: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/tes/partnersA podcast produced by Lucía Blasco.
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AI, Creative Skills and Youth Opportunities in Zimbabwe through Evoke
Mar 2600:43:48Tap to summarizeIn today's episode, Bob Hawkins (World Bank) speaks with Tatenda Marshall (Impact Hub Harare), Eugene Ramirez Mampondera (Lightbulbs and Lazers), and Spencer Jaka, a participant in the EVOKE pilot in Zimbabwe. The conversation explores how AI is helping young people develop creative and digital skills, apply them to real-world challenges, and access new opportunities within the creative economy.Links:About Evoke: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/edutech/brief/evoke-an-online-alternate-reality-game-supporting-social-innovation-among-young-people-around-the-worldAbout the Mastercard Foundation: https://mastercardfdn.org/en/Impact Hub Harare: https://impacthubharare.net/Lightbulbs and Lazers: https://lightbulbsandlazers.com/A podcast produced by Lucía Blasco.
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Building EdTech Systems: Lessons from Ethiopia and Mauritius in the World Bank–Mastercard Foundation Partnership
Mar 600:34:21Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Bob Hawkins speaks with Muluneh Atinaf, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Education in Ethiopia, and Ashvina Parboteeah, ICT Manager at the Ministry of Education in Mauritius. Recorded during the World Bank EdTech Policy Academy, the conversation explores how ministries are developing EdTech strategies, expanding digital infrastructure, and integrating AI into education systems through the World Bank–Mastercard Foundation partnership. Production note: The song at the end of the episode was created with AI using Suno.Links:About the Mastercard Foundation:https://mastercardfdn.org/en/Three mindset shifts to build digital and AI-empowered education systems:https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/education/three-mindset-shifts-to-build-digital-and-ai-empowered-educationA podcast produced by Lucía Blasco.
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AI, Assessment & 21st Century Skills: What Should Students Learn in the Age of AI?
Dec 1100:38:44Tap to summarizeToday, Bob Hawkins speaks with Nawaz Aslam from the EdTech Hub and Roy Manzi of Manzia AI to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping what students need to learn and how education systems can assess those skills. Building on themes from the recent AI for Assessment webinar hosted by the EdTech Hub and the World Bank, the discussion highlights the growing importance of 21st century competencies such as critical thinking, problem solving and information literacy as AI becomes part of everyday learning.We also examine emerging approaches to AI-supported assessment, including tools that can generate timely feedback and help teachers measure complex skills at scale. Early pilots, including work in Zimbabwe, offer a glimpse of what responsible AI integration might look like in low resource settings and reinforce why human judgment, clear standards and strong evidence must remain at the center of any education system adopting these technologies.Links:Learn more about the EdTech Hub's AI Observatory and Action LabLearn more about the World Bank’s work on digital and 21st century skills Learn more about Manzia AIA podcast produced by Lucía Blasco.
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How a Student in Ethiopia Is Using AI to Personalize Learning for Students Across Africa
Nov 2800:36:28Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Bob Hawkins speaks with Emanudin Amin, a student at Misrak Polytechnic College in Ethiopia, whose own experience moving through different school systems motivated him to create Mindshift, an AI-powered platform designed to help teachers personalize learning. Emanudin explains how Mindshift uses student data to support teachers, generate lesson plans and assessments, and identify struggling learners before they fall behind. He also shares how teachers at Misrak reacted when they tested the tool, what features they valued most, and what challenges remain as Ethiopia expands its digital infrastructure.The conversation explores the opportunities and risks of bringing AI into classrooms in Ethiopia and across Africa, and reflects on the potential of young innovators on the continent. Bob first met Emanudin during a visit to Misrak under the Ethiopia Education and Skills for Employability (EASE) Project.Links:About EASE (Ethiopia Education and Skills for Employability Project): https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099114202152418991About the Mastercard Foundation: https://mastercardfdn.org/en/Three mindset shifts to build digital and AI empowered education systems: https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/education/three-mindset-shifts-to-build-digital-and-ai-empowered-educationA podcast produced by Lucía Blasco.
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AI in Education: Rethinking Content and the Teacher’s Role
Aug 2800:41:30Tap to summarizeToday, we dive into how artificial intelligence is reshaping classrooms and learning experiences around the world. Bob Hawkins, Global Lead for Technology and Innovation in Education at the World Bank, speaks with Joleen Liang, Co-founder of Squirrel AI, Srikanth Talapadi, Managing Director at Chimple, and Daniel Plaut, Innovation Learning Lead at the EdTech Hub. Together they unpack some of the big questions: Can AI-generated content be adapted to local contexts? What role should teachers play when AI takes over parts of instruction? And how can education systems harness these tools to expand equity rather than widen divides?Learn more:About Squirrel AI: https://squirrelai.com/About Chimple: https://chimple.org About the EdTech Hub; https://edtechhub.org/About the World Bank: Education is a key to jobs, growth, and lifelong learningA podcast produced by Lucia Blasco.
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Will AI Make Higher Education More Inclusive in Latin America?
Aug 700:31:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we explore whether artificial intelligence can truly help close the higher education gap in Latin America and the Caribbean, or if it risks leaving more students behind. Jaime Saavedra, Director for Human Development in Latin America and the Caribbean at the World Bank, speaks with Ezequiel Molina, Senior Economist at the Bank and co-author of a new report on AI Revolution in higher education, and Christopher Neilson, Professor of Economics at Yale University and founder of Tether Education and ConsiliumBots. They discuss real-life innovations that are already reshaping university access in the region—from AI-powered chatbots guiding students through complex admissions processes to tools that detect early signs of dropout risk. The episode also delves into what governments need to do to ensure these technologies promote inclusion rather than deepen existing inequalities.Links:https://www.consiliumbots.comwww.tether.educationReport: AI Revolution in Higher EducationWBG Education in Latin America and the CaribbeanIf you want to learn more about Latin America and the Caribbean, subscribe to our newsletter.A podcast produced by Lucía Blasco.
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Transformación digital en la educación superior: UniAndes y el impacto de D4TEP
Jul 1000:35:07Tap to summarizeEn este episodio, presentado por Lucía Blasco del equipo de EdTech, conversamos sobre cómo la Universidad de los Andes en Colombia ha logrado avanzar en su proceso de transformación digital. Nos acompañan Leonardo Lima (IFC) y Harold Enrique Castro Barrera, vicerrector de Transformación Digital de UniAndes. Hablamos de los aprendizajes institucionales tras cinco años de implementación del programa D4TEP, apoyado por la Corporación Financiera Internacional (IFC), y de cómo este proceso ha contribuido no solo desde la tecnología, sino también desde la innovación docente, el cambio cultural y el uso estratégico de datos para mejorar los aprendizajes. A nivel global, el programa D4TEP ha mejorado los servicios digitales para 950.000 estudiantes de 25 instituciones de educación superior en 14 países, y ha movilizado 230 millones de dólares en inversiones a través de IFC para apoyar el crecimiento institucional y la digitalización.Más información:IFC – Digital for Tertiary Education Program (D4TEP)Universidad de los Andes (Uniandes), ColombiaUn podcast producido por Lucía Blasco.
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Reshaping the Global Workforce: A Conversation with IFC and Andela on AI and Skills
Jun 2600:39:57Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Carrol Chang, CEO of Andela, and Juliana Ospina, Global EdTech Lead at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), join Bob Hawkins from the World Bank to explore how digital skills and AI are unlocking new job opportunities for youth, especially in Africa. They unpack the rise of demand-driven, scalable training models, the power of global talent marketplaces and the importance of public-private collaboration. From coding in remote villages to the future of work shaped by AI, this conversation looks at how to build more inclusive, connected, and future-ready education systems.Learn more:Andela – Global Talent MarketplaceInternational Finance Corporation (IFC) – Education Open Talent by John Winsor (book)The Worlds I See by Fei-Fei Li (book)World Bank Podcast: Ethiopia’s Education and Skills for Employability (EASE)A podcast produced by Lucia Blasco.
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Learning in Crisis: EdTech Solutions for Challenging Contexts
May 29, 202500:40:49Tap to summarizeIn this episode, World Bank’s Bob Hawkins speaks with three EdTech leaders working to deliver quality education in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Luke Stannard (Can’t Wait to Learn – War Child Alliance), Claire Mongeau (M-Shule), and Kate Radford (EdTech Hub) share how their organisations are using innovation and collaboration to support refugee learners and out-of-school children. The conversation highlights practical lessons on cost-effective scaling, hybrid learning in emergencies, human-centred design, and the power of co-creation with local communities — with insights from Ukraine, East Africa, and beyond.Learn more:Can’t Wait to Learn: Can’t Wait to Learn M-Shule: M-ShuleEdTech Hub: EdTech HubDigital Pathways for Education: reportRefugee education: Financing what matters: blogA podcast produced by Lucia Blasco.
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