{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/8457b14f-24d4-4f1a-a274-e6188315170b/6a437b0681f451b905476495?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"University standards have slipped too far","description":"<p>A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of <em>The Economist</em>. Measures of academic competency are falling among young people in America. In response, <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/06/25/university-for-all-harms-poor-students-the-most?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=editorspicks&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">universities</a> are dumbing things down. It’s time they raised their standards of both instruction and admission.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Topics covered:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Higher education</li><li>Grade inflation</li><li>Apprenticeships</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href=\"https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>subscribe&nbsp;</em></a></p><p><br></p><p><em>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our</em><a href=\"https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em> FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch</em><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em> our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account.</em></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"The Economist"}