By Ilana Redstone Many instructors of social science research methods caution students that correlation doesn’t equal causation. In other words, just because two factors are related to one another doesn’t mean that one caused the other. As important as this reminder is, it doesn’t go far enough. Rather than passively bearing this instruction in mind, students … Continued
By Kevin Vallier Free societies need social trust — the faith that strangers will follow established norms. Researchers have found that social trust advances human well-being. It helps create markets and wealth, manage corruption, and spur a robust civil society. It can even improve our psychological health. But social trust has an under-appreciated feature: it … Continued
What are the factors adult learners weigh when considering a postsecondary education program? What barriers keep them from enrolling, and how can universities, community colleges, and training programs better attract and retain adult workers? The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) has provided some potential answers. CAEL’s research offers actionable insights postsecondary education programs … Continued
Joel Mokyr is the Robert H. Strotz Professor of Economics at Northwestern University. He also is a professor of history and co-directs the university’s Center for Economic History. Mokyr conducts research on the economic history of Europe, specializing in the period from 1750 to 1914, or what has been coined The Great Enrichment. We sat down … Continued
By Deirdre McCloskey This essay is adapted from “Liberalism Caused the Great Enrichment,” a paper by McCloskey published by the University of Chicago. Find the full paper here. Any innovation — mechanical, biological, institutional, scientific, artistic, personal — begins as a new idea in a liberated human mind. That point is obvious. But it has not … Continued
The competition for teachers is fierce, particularly in rural areas. By offering individuals like Eveon Rivers better pathways toward a job, Reach University is solving this problem. As The74 explained, Rivers had 18 years of experience as a paraprofessional in pre-kindergarten. She wanted to lead a classroom, but didn’t have a bachelor’s degree. Through Reach … Continued
As Charles Koch Foundation Executive Director Ryan Stowers writes in a new editorial series, history has shown that the right combination of principles need to be applied for humans to flourish. Freedom is one of them. Erica Royer from Utah State University’s (USU) Huntsman School of Business recently sat down with Stowers, a USU alum, to … Continued
Our ability to ask questions, exchange knowledge, and advance new theories gives humans the extraordinary opportunity to create the conditions necessary for all people to find purpose and unlock their potential. History has shown some principles are especially important ingredients in facilitating this progress. As economist, historian, and philosopher Deirdre McCloskey explains in this video, economic … Continued
According to journalist and higher education author Jeff Selingo, there are 95 million adult learners in the United States who never went to college or did not finish. Many of them will need to acquire new skills to find new opportunities for fulfilling, exciting work — and most may be interested in postsecondary education even if they … Continued
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there was an urgent need to help Americans upskill and reskill. The Charles Koch Foundation joined the SkillUp Coalition in July 2020 to connect workers with learning opportunities that equip them with new skills and secure quality, fulfilling in-demand jobs. SkillUp recently celebrated an important milestone: one million workers supported. These adult learners have received scholarships, worked with regional … Continued
