The University Network Summit 2025: shaping the future of higher education in the US

Higher education is at a tipping point. Universities face mounting pressure to grow enrolment, cut costs and improve outcomes – all while navigating an increasingly complex financial and political landscape. The stakes are high but so are the opportunities for meaningful change. 

Bringing together leaders from across the US higher education sector, the University Network Summit 2025 – co-hosted by Noodle, a strategy, services and technology partner serving higher education, and Huron, a global professional services firm – aims to address these challenges head-on, sparking bold ideas and fostering impactful partnerships beyond traditional online programme management (OPM). 

Set against the dynamic backdrop of Washington, D.C., at Georgetown University’s Capitol Campus, the University Network Summit 2025 comes at a pivotal moment for transformational dialogue. A diverse list of distinguished speakers ranging from academic innovators to edtech entrepreneurs includes Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, Van Ton-Quinlivan, CEO of Futuro Health, Rajagopal Echambadi, president of the Illinois Institute of Technology, and Chris Motz, chief partnerships officer at the University of Maryland Global Campus. 

Building on the success of its inaugural 2024 symposium, titled Exploring the Future of Higher Education Partnerships in the post-OPM Era, the 2025 event will explore how universities can collaborate at scale and work towards sustainable growth. The sessions will focus on four key themes: partnerships, recruitment, the whole student and policy. 

“The University Network Summit presents a unique opportunity to engage in deep dialogue about the critical issues facing colleges and universities and the transformative power of collaboration to advance their education, research, service and other mission priorities,” says Mark Finlan, education and research practice leader at Huron. “We are excited to bring leaders together to explore how cross-industry partnerships can help to position higher education institutions to thrive in an increasingly complex environment.”

Unlike traditional conferences, the summit takes a participant-driven approach. Attendees’ feedback during registration directly shapes the sessions, ensuring every discussion is focused on solving the sector’s most pressing issues. The event will feature engaging workshops, networking opportunities and collaborative exercises to allow delegates to explore solutions together. 

The summit will enable industry leaders to connect higher education with the business world. At the same time, policymakers will get the chance to see how their policies align with societal and economic needs, and community builders will gain insights that feed into locally relevant and inclusive programmes. John Katzman, founder and CEO of Noodle, says that the summit’s mission is to foster collaboration through such partnerships, ultimately driving positive change in the higher education landscape. 

​​“Networks are the future of higher education and allow for innovation across institutions,” Katzman says. “The future of higher education is interconnected. By pooling resources, sharing data and forming strategic alliances, universities can cut costs, improve outcomes and adapt to a rapidly changing world.”

The 2025 University Network Summit invites educators, industry leaders and policymakers to share innovative strategies and forward-thinking solutions to transform higher education in the US. The call for abstracts and proposals is open until 5 February 2025, giving attendees a chance to shape the agenda and ensure their priorities are front and centre.

Register to participate in the University Network Summit 2025.