Yann Zopf, Director, Media, Public Engagement, Tel.: +41 (0) 22 869 36 18, E-mail yann.zopf@weforum.org
Geneva, Switzerland, 17 September 2014 – The World Economic Forum has named Susan Hockfield, President Emerita, Professor of Neuroscience and member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as Chair of its online learning initiative, Forum Academy.
Dr. Hockfield will provide strategic guidance to Forum Academy, helping facilitate engagement and collaboration with the world’s top universities. She will guide the development of Academy content, curriculum and pedagogical framework.
“Discovery and innovation are key pillars of my work in academia and as Forum Academy explores new approaches to life-long learning it will draw on the critically important mix of insights from the academy, industry and government. The World Economic Forum has always provided a platform to gather with like-minded people from different sectors,” said Hockfield. “I am honored to be part of a program that fosters cross-sector, cross-disciplinary exchanges to deliver new approaches for professional development. Meeting the challenge of life-long learning as the pace of discovery accelerates requires us to innovate for positive global change.”
Dr. Hockfield brings a distinguished background in advanced scientific research and academic leadership. She served as the 16th President of MIT from December 2004 to July 2012, and was the first life scientist as well as the first woman to lead the institution. Her accomplishments were many in this role and include the launch of edX, a non-profit online education initiative in partnership with Harvard University that is now also partner to Forum Academy.
“Dr. Hockfield has pioneered many new ideas and bold initiatives in her life, evident throughout her tenure at MIT and in all her other functions. She has always shown a great innovative spirit, and I am therefore confident that under her leadership, Forum Academy will make a significant contribution to the mission of the World Economic Forum – committed to improving the state of the world – by providing strategic insights to enhance life-long, professional learning,” said Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.
Dr. Hockfield has previously served as co-chair, moderator and discussion leader at a number of World Economic Forum meetings. She is also a member of the Forum’s Foundation Board, where she contributes to the overall strategic development of the World Economic Forum.
Launched in January 2014, Forum Academy is designed to provide online strategic updates for professionals and organizations to enhance their leadership and strategic knowledge. Forum Academy differs from the many existing online learning initiatives by focusing on specific industries, providing decision-makers with the updates and in-depth perspectives to help them better understand the tremendous forces transforming every industry today.
Notes to Editors
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