Talent Is Everywhere. Opportunity Is Not. | BYU-Pathway Worldwide, Part 1

What would higher education look like if it were designed from the beginning for students who need education to be affordable, flexible, relevant, and immediately useful?In Part 1 of our conversation with Brian Ashton, president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide, and Boyd Baggett, associate academic vice president for curriculum at BYU-Idaho, we explore a model now serving nearly 100,000 students around the world.Brian and Boyd explain how BYU-Pathway combines online-first design, dramatically different tuition models, student support, and job-ready stackable certificates to create pathways into meaningful work and bachelor's degrees. We also discuss how designing specifically for online education changes the economics of higher education—and how BYU-Pathway uses data, instructional design, and AI to support students at scale.Along the way, Brian shares the story of a student in Argentina whose first certificate helped launch a career that eventually led to a vice president role at JPMorgan Chase.In this episode:Why talent may be equally distributed while opportunity is notHow BYU-Pathway serves students in nearly 200 countriesDesigning for online learning rather than adapting a campus modelKeeping education affordable while maintaining qualityWhy students begin with job-ready certificates instead of general educationHow stackable certificates lead toward associate and bachelor's degreesUsing data and AI to provide better student support at scaleDesigning curriculum around changing labor-market needsPreparing students not simply to use AI, but to develop judgment and become lifelong learnersThis is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. In Part 2, we explore one of BYU-Idaho and BYU-Pathway's most significant innovations: the three-year bachelor's degree.Guests: Brian Ashton, President, BYU-Pathway Worldwide; Boyd Baggett, Associate Academic Vice President for Curriculum, BYU-IdahoJoin us at www.engagedbydesign.com to learn more aboutThe Course Design Accelerator Faculty-in-the-Loop AI in Higher Education