Innovative Approaches to Resource Allocation in Education

I’m pleased to share this TEDx talk (link in comments) on the topics I’ve been working on for the past decade. How can we... - Finance high-quality education to the hundreds of millions worldwide who don’t have access? - Have as much impact as scholarships but with far more scalability? - Eliminate student debt in a fiscally responsible manner? - Improve retraining & workforce development? - Better align social impact & financial returns? - Build upon and solve the challenges with Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) & Income Share Agreements (ISAs)? - Create a world where “opportunity is everywhere” and not just “talent is everywhere”?   These are the questions I focused my Oxford DPhil/PhD on.   As part of that, I developed a new approach that I became convinced should exist. I called this new approach the FORTE Model, standing for Financing Of Return To Employment. Rather than letting the research sit in the Bodleian Library collecting dust, I decided to do what I could to bring this new approach to life.   I’m proud of the fact that over the past few years, we’ve successfully piloted this approach in five countries around the world, helping those who were previously unemployed and without access to education, to get back on their feet, gain financial freedom, and achieve their full potential.   The FORTE Model is not only a new way to finance education that doesn’t burden individuals or governments. It’s also a new way of doing impact investing, a new type of public-private partnership, a better way to drive quality in education, and a way to make philanthropy more effective. I view it as trickle-up economics – let’s help those who are struggling and disadvantaged, and then benefits flow up through the system.   For a long time, the social impact sector has wanted a way to perfectly align social impact and financial returns at a systems level, without a trade-off, so we can mobilize the world’s greatest resources to help the world’s most vulnerable. I believe this is how we can do it.   The work of making high-quality education accessible at scale really matters. It demands large-scale change and doing things differently, not just incremental improvements. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has joined as partners in this important work, and together been pioneers of this new approach. To the governments, investors, foundations and training partners worldwide that have been involved so far – thank you. The greatest impact of this work is still to come. But it needs to be a collective effort. I’m not protective of this idea – I'd love for others to adopt it and implement it too. There’s strength and scale in working together. It'd be great if you can share this TEDx talk with those you think may be interested – whether foundations, philanthropists, impact investors, government representatives, or public policy advisors. Please reach out to me if you want to learn more, get involved, or support this in whatever capacity!

I am excited to share our new publication on Pernambuco's groundbreaking approach to school leadership training through its School Strategic Fiscal Management Training Program (PROGEPE). The program, which began in 2012, recently expanded from 60 to 72 hours and now includes specialized modules on spending efficiency. The initiative was funded by the Japanese Fund at IDB and co-designed by the IDB's education division. This is the first attempt to include school finance competencies in principal training in Brazil.  The program's innovative approach positions school leaders as key decision-makers in budget allocation, teaching them practical skills in equity and efficiency.  It includes hands-on activities involving school-level budgetary decisions and teacher assignment practices. We conducted this pilot module with over 5,000 aspiring school principals in Pernambuco. Inspired by the Georgetown Certificate in Education Finance—developed by Marguerite Roza at the Edunomics Lab—PROGEPE adapted these principles to Brazil's local context. The Georgetown program uniquely combines finance, economics, leadership, and public policy to build practical fiscal management skills. Our technical note evaluates the program's effectiveness in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application of financial management skills.  It examines how participants apply concepts of spending efficiency and resource allocation in their school leadership roles. Notably, Zara Figueiredo, now Secretary of SECADI in the Ministry of Education of Brazil, taught the course before entering government service.  Brazil's Ministry of Education is now exploring the possibility to develop a national expansion of PROGEPE through a virtual platform. Read the full publication in English, Spanish or Portuguese: Training leaders in school management in Pernambuco: https://lnkd.in/d7mgPbhb Gregory

India’s budget for 2024-25 marks a significant shift in fiscal strategy, moving from traditional input-based budgeting towards outcomes that tangibly improve citizens' lives. This year, the Union government plans to spend around ₹48 trillion, focusing on results rather than just outputs. From Inputs to Outcomes Traditionally, government budgets focus on inputs—like salaries and equipment—without directly linking these expenditures to the outcomes they aim to achieve. The shift to an outcomes-based budgeting model represents a transformative change, ensuring that every rupee spent is accountable for a specific, positive impact on society. The 'Pay for Results' Model This innovative approach means the government only pays for services if they meet or exceed pre-set targets. This model is being piloted in various sectors: 1.⁠ ⁠Education: Payments to tech providers for setting up school computer labs are now linked to improving student learning outcomes. 2.⁠ ⁠Skill Development: The National Skills Development Corporation's Skill Impact Bond ties financial incentives to job placements and retention, not just training completion. Early results from these pilots show promising signs, with service providers motivated to exceed minimum standards to achieve measurable outcomes. This shift optimizes resource allocation and ensures that investments translate into real educational and economic advancements. (1/2)

Over the past decade, multi-campus systems of higher education have undergone significant restructuring to adapt to changing demographics, financial constraints, and student needs. While these restructuring efforts traditionally focus on efficiency and resource allocation, now is the time to also consider how we can leverage these systems to create a more resilient, inclusive, and innovative higher education sector. What are some cross-institutional innovations to better serve our student populations? Here are some bold ideas: 1. Shared Academic Programming: Encourage students to take courses from multiple institutions and foster joint academic programs to leverage expertise across campuses. 2. Seamless Transfer: Design systems that allow students to transfer credits seamlessly between institutions, reducing loss of credits and time to degree completion. 3. Multi-Campus Stackable Credentials: Recognize diverse forms of prior learning and offer stackable credentials and flexible degree pathways that cut across institutions. 4. Multi-Campus Coaching: Provide consistent advising and support services for students regardless of their enrollment location within the system. 5. Single Point of Entry for Financial Aid: Simplify financial aid processes by aggregating credits from multiple institutions to determine aid eligibility. 6. Unified Academic Portfolios: Develop mechanisms for students to aggregate academic records across institutions, facilitating credit transfer and degree completion. These ideas challenge us to think beyond traditional structures and prioritize student success. In the face of evolving pressures, higher education must embrace transformation and collaboration. Multi-campus systems, with their broad reach and diverse resources, are well-positioned to lead this cultural shift. These are from a post I wrote a couple of years ago in The EvoLLLution: A Modern Campus Illumination. What other multi-campus innovations are you seeing? https://lnkd.in/gmcxpQip #Innovation #HigherEdTransformation #StudentSuccess #systemness #highered #highereducation 🚀📚