Location: United States of America (USA)

Inspired by Dr. Susan Blumenthal, Arizona State University’s Public Health Technology Innovation Initiative aims to revolutionize public health infrastructure through cutting-edge technology. The initiative, highlighted at a recent summit in Washington, D.C., focuses on education, research, and community empowerment to tackle public health challenges and enhance decision-making.

Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, President Emeritus, UMBC joined the University Design Institute and Arizona State University in Fall 2023 for our annual Frank Rhodes Lecture Series. Dr. Hrabowski's lecture, titled “Leadership, Empowerment and Resilience in Higher Education: Reflections on the Past Fifty Years", discussed the importance of public universities in American society and around the world.

The Launching Leaders Program (LLP) at Arizona State University is an intensive eight-month initiative designed to empower faculty members in new administrative roles through tailored support and comprehensive workshops. Led by experienced academic personnel, LLP aims to nurture leadership competencies and ensure successful transitions for its participants.

ASU’s Academic Enterprise, Enterprise Technology, and Learning Enterprise collaborated with UDI to host a groundbreaking conversation on generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in higher education. The event engaged over 70 participants, fostering a dynamic environment to explore and advance GenAI practices, resulting in a comprehensive road map for future initiatives.

In Summer 2023, UDI launched its first Student Design Corps (SDC) to amplify student voices in university teaching and learning. Over 12 weeks, a diverse team of four students researched, designed, and tested innovative prototypes to enhance student participation in academic decision making, supported by comprehensive UDI training and international education leaders' guidance.

The University Design Institute worked with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) as part of a year-long Design Accelerator to address challenges that included student success initiatives, programmatic design and pathways to completion, and organizational design and culture.