Daphne Koller, a professor at Stanford University and an internationally known expert on massive open online courses (MOOCs), will serve as the opening speaker at a two-day symposium on the future of higher education at California State University, Northridge.

The event, scheduled for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 in CSUN’s University Student Union’s Northridge Center, will serve as a forum for faculty, staff, legislators, community leaders, students and others to come together to discuss “Higher Education in the Brave New World: How Students Learn in the Context of How Professors Teach.” The symposium will go from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 30 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 1

“The dynamic, fast-changing times and current economic circumstances motivate us all to be proactive in embracing the necessary dialogue for determining a vision of a new model of higher education, particularly public higher education that can meet the needs of the state for the next 50 years,” said Michael Hoggan, cinema and television arts faculty member and event committee chair. “This effort will take all of us.”

Koller, co-founder of Coursera, an education company that partners with the top universities and organizations in the world to offer courses online for free, is one of several experts on education scheduled to speak during the symposium. The other speakers include William C. Allen, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.; Matthew Moen, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Dakota; Debra Humphrey, vice president of policy and public engagement at the Association of American Colleges and Universities; and Clifford Nass, a professor at Stanford University.

CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison and Provost Harry Hellenbrand will also address attendees.

The symposium is part of a faculty initiative launched in 2011 in response to concerns about the future of public education. The event will include panel discussions and breakout groups.

The first day of the symposium, Sept. 30, will focus on “Models for Delivery: Online vs. Brick and Mortar.” On Oct. 1, the second day, attendees will explore, “The Future of Education: Functional Education vs. the Liberal Arts.”

Registration for the event is closed. For more information, call (818) 677-3263 or visit the CSU Future website for speaker biographies or event details.

faculty, MOOCs