The TechEd Podcast

• Moving from “Just-in-Case” Education to a Demand-Driven, Industry-Led Model — Paul Lavoie, VP of the University of New Haven

  Higher education can’t keep teaching “just in case” knowledge. In an era where technology evolves faster than curriculum, universities must align directly with industry needs — and that’s exactly what Paul Lavoie is doing at the University of New Haven.In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner sits down with Paul, the university’s Vice President of Innovation and Applied Technology and former Chief Manufacturing Officer for the State of Connecticut. Together, they explore what it means to build higher education that works like industry: agile, applied, and focused on real development rather than theory.From the creation of the new Center for Innovation and Applied Technology to rethinking how students, employers, and universities collaborate, Lavoie shares a bold vision for transforming education into an engine for workforce growth and innovation that doesn't require reinventing the wheel.In this episode:Why “just-in-case” education no longer delivers ROI for students or employersWhat happens when universities start acting like R&D partners instead of ivory towersWhy educators need to stop reinventing solutions when proven models already existWhy every institution of education should be clear on its unique value propHow the University of New Haven is creating students who are “better than ready” for the future of work3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. Higher education must shift from “just-in-case” to demand-driven, industry-led learning. Paul Lavoie argues that curriculum taught “just in case” students might need it no longer delivers value. Instead, universities must align programs with real industry demand and measurable workforce outcomes.2. Education must stop reinventing the wheel and instead, leverage proven models to solve common problems. Too often, educators spend time rebuilding solutions that already exist instead of adopting proven models. By learning from industry and collaborating across institutions and states, schools can accelerate innovation and maximize impact.3. The new Center for Innovation and Applied Technology is a unique focus on the development side of R&D, using students to solve business problems. This hands-on R&D hub is designed to give students real-world experience in advanced manufacturing, robotics, AI, cybersecurity and other emerging tech. But instead of researching these technologies, students will be applying them to solve real challenges faced by industry partners.Resources in this Episode:Learn more about the University of New Haven's Center for Innovation and Applied TechnologyNational Center for Next Gen ManufacturingFind more on the episode page! https://techedpodcast.com/lavoie/We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

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• How to Get Started with AI in Your Business (Practical Tips & Real Technologies) - Part 2

  Watch this episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/UbNr7vF4CC8?si=VqX2owW86GNq7OdsWhat does it really take to get started with artificial intelligence in a small or mid-sized company right here in the U.S.?In Part 2 of this two-part series, Matt Kirchner continues breaking down A Manufacturer’s Guide to AI Tech — exploring the final 7 technologies reshaping how organizations operate, automate, and make decisions.From autonomous mobile robots and smart drones to AI-powered industrial robots, next-gen metrology, and smart materials, Matt explains how these tools are already being used across industries. He also connects these innovations to larger questions about the workforce, education, and the future of human capability in an AI-driven economy.Listen to learn:How autonomous mobile robots and drones are transforming logistics and manufacturingWhat next-gen metrology and 3D scanning mean for quality, speed, and precisionWhy AI-powered robotics is redefining human-robot collaborationHow AI is accelerating material discovery and sustainabilityWhat these technologies reveal about the future of the workforce and human ingenuityIncluding…the final 7 technologies from A Manufacturer’s Guide to AI Tech.FULL SHOW NOTES (plus links & resources): https://techedpodcast.com/appliedaiWant to see all the videos and data? Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UbNr7vF4CC8?si=VqX2owW86GNq7OdsWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

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• How to Get Started with AI in Your Business (Practical Tips & Real Technologies) - Part 1

  What does it really take to get started with artificial intelligence in a small or mid-sized company right here in the U.S.?We're breaking it down in this two-part series.In part 1, Matt Kirchner shares lessons from his recent trip overseas and what he learned visiting 26 advanced tech companies in six days. From open-source innovation and mandatory AI education to the work ethic driving global competition, Matt explains why the time to act on AI is now, and how American business leaders can take practical steps to stay ahead.He connects global insights to the realities of U.S. manufacturing and education, explores what it means to see before others see in the age of AI, and outlines the first practical technologies every organization should understand, from AI agents and MCP servers to embedded smart technology and digital twins.In this episode:What China’s open-source approach to AI is teaching the world about speed and innovationWhy small and mid-sized U.S. businesses can’t afford to wait on AI adoptionThe two traits every leader needs to thrive in the AI era and how to apply them todayHow manufacturers are already using AI for predictive maintenance, analytics, and smart equipmentThe real-world technologies, like MCP servers, AI agents, and digital twins, that can start transforming your operations nowIncluding...the first 5 technologies from A Manufacturer’s Guide To AI Tech.FULL SHOW NOTES (plus links & resources): https://techedpodcast.com/appliedaiWant to see all the videos and data? Watch this episode on YouTube.We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

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• The $1 Trillion Workforce Opportunity for Rural Education - Duwain Pinder, Partner at McKinsey & Company

  Rural America is on the brink of an economic transformation. With more than $1 trillion in advanced manufacturing investments (and nearly two-thirds of that flowing into rural regions) this moment represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revitalize local economies, strengthen school-industry partnerships, and empower students with career pathways in advanced manufacturing.Matt Kirchner sits down with Duwain Pinder, Partner at McKinsey & Company and a leader of the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility to explore the institute’s new report: Manufacturing in rural America: A plan for K–12–industry partnershipsThis conversation examines the gap between the career-connected learning students want access to, and the opportunities afforded them in rural districts. Matt and Duwain discuss how manufacturers and school districts can work together to close this gap and prepare the next generation for the influx of jobs coming to rural America.Listen to learn:Why 63% of $1 trillion in new U.S. manufacturing investment happening within 15 miles of rural communities means for K-12 educationHow we solve the problem of 8 in 10 students wanting access to career-connected learning, but only 3 in 10 having itThe $34 billion annual wage impact advanced manufacturing could create for rural Americans, and what must happen to realize itWhy employers should think about school districts like they do about their suppliersWhat success could look like in 2035 if schools and industry build long-term, evidence-based partnerships that sustain economic mobility3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. Rural America is the new frontier for advanced manufacturing. McKinsey’s analysis found that 63 % of $1 trillion in announced U.S. manufacturing investments are being built within 15 miles of rural communities. Pinder explains that these projects will define America’s manufacturing future and bring high-quality jobs to places that have long been left behind.2. The skills gap solution isn’t either-or...students need basic academic and technical skills. McKinsey’s research shows that foundational reading and math scores are eroding across the U.S., especially in rural communities, even as demand grows for advanced manufacturing talent. Duwain and Matt agree that employers shouldn’t accept this trade-off. Students must graduate ready to read, calculate, and communicate and understand robotics, PLCs, and other manufacturing tech, which requires schools and employers to work together on both fronts.3. Using existing successful models (not always reinventing the wheel) will help rural K-12 accelerate and scale career-connected learning. Nearly 8 in 10 rural students want apprenticeships and hands-on learning, yet only 3 in 10 can access them, a gap that represents a massive opportunity. Evidence-based models like youth apprenticeships, dual-enrollment, and early-college high schools already exist. If districts embrace these, plus partner with employers and workforce associations, they can create career-connected learning more quickly.Visit the show notes page for more We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

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• A Vision Built on Alignment: Wanek Center of Innovation Reinvents the Path to Industry 4.0 Careers

  When the founder of the world’s largest furniture manufacturer partners with one of the nation’s most innovative technical colleges, you get one of the most unique learning centers in the world. This week, host Matt Kirchner is joined by the visionaries behind the landmark Wanek Center of Innovation at Western Technical College: Ron Wanek, Founder of Ashley Furniture Industries, Dr. Josh Gamer, Associate Vice President of Workforce Partnerships and Innovation, and Dr. Roger Stanford, President of Western Technical College.The conversation is a masterclass in industry partnerships, future-forward educational technology, and building a true pipeline from K-12 education to technical colleges to a four-year degree.This episode is a must-listen for any educator, employer, or policymaker committed to a skills-based, adaptable future workforce.Listen to learn:Why the 50-year partnership between Ashley Furniture and WTC was the core ingredient for this innovation.How a manufacturing leader defines the handful of ways to build true wealth in the United States today.The Digital Twin technology that allows students to digitally perfect process changes before implementing them on physical robotic assets.Western’s new strategy to use a full-time position to bridge the operational gap between K-12 schools and local manufacturers.How the college is developing an enterprise AI strategy to use data from the center for operational efficiency and curriculum change.3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. U.S. education must refocus on technical skills to compete globally. Ron Wanek warns that the U.S. is falling behind countries like Germany and China because it has deprioritized technical education in favor of liberal arts. His partnership with Western is designed to reverse that trend through STEM and workforce training.2. The Wanek Center is a national model for Industry 4.0 integration in education. The facility includes 39 networked robots, a live IoT data infrastructure, and the first educational Digital Twin of its kind. The Digital Twin allows students to simulate manufacturing process changes in a virtual environment before applying them to the physical robotic cells. Students and employers alike now use the space to prototype real-world innovations.3. Western has built a full pipeline from middle school to a 4-year Automation Leadership degree. Through dual credit programs, high school students in the district now earn thousands of Western Technical College credits annually. A full-time K-12 liaison connects schools and employers, supporting everything from field trips to FIRST Robotics. Dr. Roger Stanford also signed 13 new transfer agreements with UW-Stout—including a direct 61-credit transfer into the new Automation Leadership bachelor’s degree, which stacks seamlessly from credentials like SACA into advanced career pathways.Resources in this Episode:Learn more about the Wanek Center of Innovation: westerntc.edu/WanekCenterWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

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