If Higher Ed Wants Experiential Learning at Scale, It Needs a Broader Playbook

The ground is shifting under higher education. AI is changing how people learn almost overnight—and at the same time, more than half of graduates are underemployed after finishing their degrees. That’s forcing a more uncomfortable question into the open: what is a college credential really worth today? As employers and governments shift their focus toward skills, experience, and job readiness, institutions are under growing pressure to adapt—or risk falling behind.So what comes next for higher education—and how can it adapt quickly enough to meet the demands of students, employers, and society?Welcome to Signals in Higher Ed. In this episode, guest host Dr. Nicole Crevar convenes a founders roundtable on experiential learning with Jason Blackstock of How to Change the World, Dana Stephenson of Riipen, and Jeffrey Moss of Parker Dewey. Together, they unpack how experiential learning—hands-on, real-world problem solving—is shifting from the margins to the core of higher education, and what it will take to scale it across institutions.Top insights from the talk…Experiential learning is no longer optional—it’s becoming the central pillar of higher education, driven by AI and workforce demands.The biggest gaps in today’s system are relevancy, signaling, and trust, with employers increasingly skeptical of traditional credentials.Scaling experiential learning requires a mix of models—curricular, co-curricular, employer-led, and community-based—rather than a single standardized approach.Jason Blackstock is a social entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of How to Change the World, with a career spanning quantum physics, technology innovation, and higher education leadership. He has taught and led research at leading institutions including Harvard, Oxford, and University College London, where he founded and led the STEaPP department, and has authored over 100 publications and multiple patents. Today, he works at the intersection of education, policy, and innovation, advising global organizations and driving large-scale experiential learning initiatives through his ventures.Dana Stephenson is the co-founder and CEO of Riipen, the world’s largest experiential learning marketplace, focused on connecting students with real-world industry projects to bridge the gap between education and employment. He has spent over a decade building partnerships between employers and academic institutions, enabling businesses to access pre-vetted emerging talent while helping learners develop in-demand skills, including those shaped by AI and new technologies. His work centers on scaling work-integrated learning, driving innovation in talent pipelines, and improving career outcomes through hands-on, project-based experiences.Jeffrey Moss is the founder and CEO of Parker Dewey, where he pioneered micro-internships as a model for experiential recruiting and improving the college-to-career transition. With a background spanning venture capital and senior leadership roles at organizations like Educational Testing Service (ETS), he has driven innovation at the intersection of employer branding, skills-based hiring, and workforce development. His work focuses on helping employers better assess early-career talent while expanding access to meaningful work opportunities for students and recent graduates.