Major HEA / MIT Summit on the Future of Work at Dublin Castle

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Sloan School at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are today (Thursday 10th January) partnering on a major conference at Dublin Castle on the Future of Work and how Education providers, business and government can ensure our graduates and citizens are prepared for the challenges ahead. The event will focus in particular on the impact of technological advances including Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI), but also how changes in management practice and in the global political and financial worlds will effect change. MIT is regarded as one of the world’s leading universities, particularly in looking at future technologies.

In opening the event, Higher Education Minister, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, said,

“This significant event represents a real opportunity for the Irish higher education system, as well as business and government, to look at how we equip all our citizens to be ready for the workplace of the future. The HEA/MIT partnership is a very welcome development.”

Speakers from MIT include Prof. John Van Reenan, Professor of Applied Economics at MIT; Prof. Tom Kochan, co-director of the MIT Sloan Institute for Work and Employment Research; and Gary Gensler, Senior advisor to the MIT Media Lan’s Digital Currency Initiative and the Ethics and Governance of AI project.

Stuart Krussell, Senior Director at MIT Sloan Global Programmes said,

“We want to explore how Ireland’s young, well-educated workforce will meet the dynamic challenges and opportunities the impact that technology and entrepreneurship will have in defining our collective future.”

Paul O’Toole, HEA Chief Executive, added,

“This event is timely given the rapid changes occurring in technology and education. It builds on the strong history of collaboration between Ireland and Massachusetts.”

There will also be a student event on Friday at Dublin Castle, exploring these issues.