Campus interview: Susan Aldridge, president of Thomas Jefferson University on educating career-ready graduates

Campus interview: Susan Aldridge, president of Thomas Jefferson University on educating career-ready graduates

Author: Campus by Times Higher Education September 15, 2025 Duration: 32:21
How can universities equip students with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in a job market that is ever changing and increasingly difficult to forecast? The answer, Thomas Jefferson University president Susan Aldridge says, lies in an interdisciplinary and applied approach to learning. In this video podcast, she describes how the institution has achieved a 98% success rate for graduates in employment or further study, the benefits of bringing students from different disciplines together, upskilling everyone in the use of AI and why US university leaders need a joined-up strategy for communicating the value of higher education. Thanks to Thomas Jefferson University for sponsoring this episode.  

What does it really take to run a modern university? Campus Talks by Times Higher Education moves beyond the headlines and policy papers to explore the human stories and practical challenges shaping colleges and universities today. Each episode features candid conversations with the academics, administrators, and staff on the front lines, offering a ground-level view of the forces transforming education globally. You’ll hear nuanced discussions about reinventing teaching methods, navigating the complexities of international partnerships, pursuing meaningful research, and building institutions that are both excellent and sustainable. This isn’t a series of abstract lectures; it’s a forum for genuine problem-solving and shared experience. The podcast draws on the extensive network and editorial expertise of its host, Campus by Times Higher Education, to connect listeners with diverse voices from campuses worldwide. Whether you’re a faculty member, a university leader, or simply fascinated by the inner workings of higher education, these dialogues provide actionable insights and a deeper understanding of the academy’s evolving role in society. Tune in for thoughtful analysis that respects the complexity of the issues while searching for tangible solutions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Campus Talks by Times Higher Education
Podcast Episodes
Campus interview: Jonathan Koppell, president, Montclair State [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:00
Watch the video recording of this podcast on Campus Findings from a recent Gallup survey of Americans found that only 36 per cent have a "great deal" or "quite a lot of" confidence in higher education. That’s about 20 pe…
Campus: How to use generative AI in your teaching and research [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:03
In this episode of the Campus podcast, we’re embarking on a journey into a realm of the unknown. A world full of possibilities and creative opportunities but not without risks and ethical quandaries. Three intrepid pione…
Campus: When pop culture meets academia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:15
In this episode of the Campus podcast, Michael Dennin, a professor of physics and astronomy in the School of Physical Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, talks about using superheroes (and zombies) to bring…
Campus: How the university library is an agent of change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:26
On this episode we’re talking about every campus' connector, collector and collaborator – the university library. Often overlooked, university libraries are critical to the teaching and research missions of institutions.…
Campus: How to deal with the legacy of empire in higher education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:24
Decolonisation has become a lightning rod for critics who accuse universities and colleges of being full of liberal ideologues, with a number of pundits up in arms about efforts to decolonise reading lists and the curric…
Campus: How to navigate higher education as a woman of colour [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:48
For international women's day, we spoke with two academics of colour about their experiences of being minority women in academia. Henrika McCoy is the Ruby Lee Piester Centennial Fellow in Services to Children and Famili…