World Bank EduTech Podcast

Today, 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.

In 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.

Today, 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.

In 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.com​www.tether.education​Report: AI Revolution in Higher Education​WBG 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.

En 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.