Agenda

Join us for the opening networking reception of the 2025 Back-to-School Summit in New York, as we celebrate the 24th annual gathering of education, innovation, and impact leaders from around the world. Set against the iconic backdrop of New York City, this evening offers a unique opportunity to connect with higher education leaders, philanthropists, government officials, investors and economic development professionals shaping the future of learning and workforce transformation. Raise a glass to 24 years of collaboration and leadership.

Join QS and fellow university leaders for an exclusive, invitation-only breakfast briefing to kick off the conference. This informal session will provide a high level overview of the market, highlighting key dynamics, challenges, and strategic opportunities for U.S. institutions. Attendees will receive the event agenda, with tailored recommendations on high-impact sessions, and have a chance to network with peers before the day begins. Designed to help you navigate the next two days with purpose and insight, this briefing sets the tone for a productive and engaging experience.

HolonIQ's signature interactive and data-driven briefing on the global education landscape. Kick off the event with a vision of the future. Join HolonIQ's Founders on a journey to envision the exciting possibilities and challenges that lie ahead for education and workforce development. Explore groundbreaking trends, innovative technologies, and transformative learning models that will shape the future of education.

Jeff will share a broad overview of the state of Capital Markets and how institutional investors are thinking about the Education Sector. Jeff is a senior analyst in BMO Capital Markets Equity Research, covering education and related sectors and served as the host and moderator of BMO’s former Back to School Conference.

In this fireside conversation, Western Governors University President Scott Pulsipher explores the shifting value of education and credentials in a rapidly changing world. From questioning legacy systems to advancing learner-centered, workforce-aligned models, the session will challenge conventional thinking and offer a forward-looking perspective on how learners, institutions, and employers can thrive today and shape the future with confidence.

This briefing on the K-12 policy landscape will explore key regulatory changes, shifts in school funding, and emerging strategic priorities for state and federal policymakers shaping preK-12 education in the U.S.

Research shows that nearly half of U.S. workers believe their education doesn’t reflect what they can actually do. Despite advances in technology, employers still struggle to find candidates with the right mix of skills. In this Roundtable, Western Governors University will showcase how the Achievement Wallet helps learners own, signal, and build on their skills over a lifetime. Explore how open standards and strategic collaboration are advancing equity, transparency, and alignment between education and employment—and how funders can accelerate this work by scaling impact, strengthening ecosystems, and enabling more direct, data-rich pathways from learning to opportunity.

Join Valerie Singer, head of Global Education at AWS, for a conversation on the future of technology in education. With deep experience across the public sector, education, and technology, Valerie will share insights on how AI is shaping learning and workforce pathways—and what might come next for schools, systems, and learners around the world.

As financial pressures intensify across the higher education sector, institutions are seeking new approaches to ensure long-term sustainability while expanding access and impact. This session will explore practical, scalable strategies for diversifying revenue streams and enhancing financial resilience, ranging from growing high-margin online and continuing education programs, to leveraging data for smarter student acquisition, optimizing resource allocation, and forging new industry and community partnerships. Learn how forward-thinking universities are innovating with business models, digital delivery, and performance analytics to align mission with margin, building financial strength without sacrificing quality or access.

This briefing on the higher education regulatory landscape will explore key changes, emerging trends, and the strategic focus areas where government action is set to shape the next phase of postsecondary education in the U.S.

Edtech VC is back to pre-pandemic levels—but what’s next? This session brings together leading investors to unpack market shifts, key trends, and where they see the next wave of value creation in education and workforce training, with an eye on sustainable growth and long-term impact.

What’s behind the teenage disengagement crisis—and how can we fix it? Journalist Jenny Anderson and Brookings’ Rebecca Winthrop explore how re-engaging teens is critical not only for education, but for building skills, expanding social capital, and unlocking economic mobility. Drawing on their new book The Disengaged Teen, they’ll unpack how relevance, agency, and real-world learning can reconnect young people to school, work, and opportunity.

In an increasingly competitive global education landscape, effective benchmarking is vital for institutional growth and differentiation. This session explores how universities can use comparative performance data to enhance academic quality, guide strategic priorities, and improve student outcomes. Learn how data-informed benchmarking supports institutional accountability, global positioning, and continuous improvement.

What’s behind the teenage disengagement crisis—and how can we fix it? Journalist Jenny Anderson and Brookings’ Rebecca Winthrop explore how re-engaging teens is critical not only for education, but for building skills, expanding social capital, and unlocking economic mobility. Drawing on their new book The Disengaged Teen, they’ll unpack how relevance, agency, and real-world learning can reconnect young people to school, work, and opportunity.

The Responsible AI Consortium (RAIC) is a global initiative, connecting a network of forward-thinking institutions dedicated to promoting the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Higher Education. It serves as a platform for collaboration among universities and business schools worldwide, fostering thought leadership, practice-sharing, and research on AI integration in higher education. Join this session to hear from founding members about the initiatives and impact of the Consortium.

This session unpacks proposed federal risk-sharing regulations that would hold colleges financially responsible for student loan defaults. With early data analyses and sector-specific forecasts, panelists will explore how these shifts could reshape incentives, funding structures, and institutional strategy ahead of Fall 2025. Who benefits, who’s at risk, and what decisions need to be made now?

The Back to School CEO Roundtable is an exclusive, invitation-only forum for chief executives from leading global education organizations. This focused session facilitates meaningful peer exchange on the most pressing issues shaping the sector, including capital markets, policy shifts, M&A activity, and emerging technologies. Designed to encourage candid dialogue, the CEO Roundtable offers a unique space for CEOs to share perspectives, test ideas, and explore new opportunities for growthm innovation and partnership. From navigating regulatory complexity to rethinking global expansion and AI integration, participants engage in high-impact conversations that go beyond headlines. The Roundtable’s intimate format fosters trust, collaboration, and long-term thinking, helping leaders align on future directions for the education economy. The two-hour session is followed by an intimate dinner for participants.

This session examines the evolution of U.S. apprenticeships amidst shifting labor market dynamics and federal policy reforms. Experts will explore scalable models that integrate digital innovation, expand sectoral reach, and address systemic barriers. Discussion will focus on performance-based funding, intermediary roles, and apprenticeships as a strategic response to talent shortages and economic mobility.

This session explores cutting-edge approaches to aligning education with labor market demands through cross-sector collaboration. It highlights state-level reforms, data-driven credential transparency, and employer-led program design. Panelists share insights into initiatives transforming workforce systems, from credential registries to skills accounts, aiming to create a more responsive and equitable talent pipeline.

The 2025 Private Equity Roundtable will convene an exclusive group of investors and analysts to explore the future of education and technology markets. The agenda will feature Capital Markets and Industry Briefing, K-12 and Higher Education Policy, AI & Technology Trends, the Private Equity Leaderboard, and an overview of Investment Trends across venture capital, private equity, and M\&A. Designed for forward-looking investors, this invitation-only event will offer strategic perspectives on capital deployment and emerging market opportunities.

This panel brings together leading experts to explore the landscape of AI literacy in education. Panelists will discuss national policy efforts, institutional strategies for integrating AI into the curriculum, and how educators are rethinking the mix of skills needed to prepare students for an AI-integrated future.

Career navigation is increasingly becomming central to educational systems. This session brings together leading foundations, forward-looking school districts, and innovative intermediaries to chart a path forward for 14–24-year-olds. From local pilots to national models, American Student Assistance hosts this roundtable to explore how to build coherent, equitable systems that help young people discover who they are, what they care about, and where they’re going. No more fragmented pathways-just real support, real skills, and real futures.

Explore the latest insights from QS on global student recruitment trends, behaviors, and motivations. This session will unpack fresh data from millions of prospective international students, offering practical strategies for U.S. universities to refine their outreach, messaging, and engagement. Learn how to navigate shifting demand, leverage reputation drivers, and build competitive advantage in key markets. Ideal for enrollment leaders seeking data-informed approaches to boost international recruitment and diversify their student pipelines.

This panel explores how business schools must evolve to remain relevant amid technological disruption, shifting employer expectations, and global economic change. Speakers discuss essential strategies, from embracing interdisciplinary learning and fostering lifelong skills development to deepening employer partnerships, exploring new markets, and embracing AI, to ensure business schools lead in shaping the future of work and leadership.

As momentum grows for a skills-first approach to workforce development, this panel examines the critical role of policy in enabling systemic change. Drawing on insights from Jobs for the Future and leading policy innovators, the session will explore federal, state, and institutional levers that support skills-based hiring, interoperable credentialing frameworks, and inclusive talent pipelines. Panelists will highlight strategies to realign education and training systems with emerging industry demands and economic mobility goals.

Explore the evolving landscape of M&A in the global education sector. This session features expert insights on key drivers, emerging patterns, and future outlooks shaping education M&A activity. Hear more about how market consolidation, digital transformation, and investment strategies are redefining institutional growth and innovation across K-12, higher ed, and workforce sectors.

As global student mobility rebounds and reshapes in the wake of shifting policies, geopolitics, and AI-enhanced recruitment, institutions face mounting pressure to grow enrollments, ensure quality, and build more diverse, future-ready student populations. This session explores how leading universities are evolving their international strategies, leveraging transnational models, hybrid delivery, and partnerships to stay ahead. We’ll dive into the data behind new student flows, explore how recruitment tactics are changing in real time, and unpack the trade-offs institutions are navigating as they compete on a global stage.

Despite decades of disruption, student debt remains high and traditional degrees still carry significant weight. WGU Labs is now launching an AI-powered moonshot: a fully accredited degree for the cost of a gym membership. Will this be the breakthrough higher ed needs—or just another rerun? Leaders from AI-EdTech, higher ed, and media debate whether this moment marks real change or more of the same.

A growing disconnect between higher education and the modern workforce demands a proactive response. In this session, join the University of Virginia and explore new models designed to meet students where they are, supporting those balancing work, caregiving, athletics, or navigating unexpected changes in career plans.

As AI accelerates across classrooms, foundations have a critical role to play: ensuring innovation closes gaps, not widens them. This session unpacks new research and real-world strategies—from flexible funding to cross-sector partnerships—that help build equitable, future-ready education systems.

This session examines how employer perceptions influence graduate outcomes, institutional credibility, and international competitiveness. Drawing from global employer surveys and labor market trends, it highlights the role of employer reputation in shaping university strategies, aligning curricula with workforce needs, and fostering sustainable partnerships between academia and industry across regions.