Established in 2010, the Center for 21st Century Universities (C21U) is Georgia Tech's living laboratory for fundamental educational change.
Serving as a research arm of the College of Lifetime Learning, C21U's technologists and researchers support the Institute's innovation mission by pushing the boundaries of what is already done in higher education to bring learners the most impactful resources and technologies.
We serve as a nexus of collaboration and communication and a catalyst for innovation, bringing together an array of internal and external partners across various disciplines.
Through a sustained and systemic program of research, experimentation, design, prototyping, and implementation, C21U serves the Institute in thought leadership, educational technology design, community building, and support of Georgia Tech stakeholders of all ages.
Are you a Georgia Tech academic professional, lecturer, professor of the practice, or tenured faculty with a bold vision for the future of AI in education with a bold vision for the future of AI in education? C21U invites you to apply for the 2025 Bill Kent Family Foundation AI in Higher Education Fellowship. This initiative will focus on two main areas: developing class materials, implementing AI in the classroom, and ensuring that students learn to use AI responsibly.
Featured Research
This study examines how students' AI literacy and prior exposure to AI technologies shape their perceptions of Socratic Mind, an interactive AI-powered formative assessment tool. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory and user experience research, the researchers analyze relationships among AI literacy, perceived usability, satisfaction, engagement, and perceived learning effectiveness. They collected data from 309 undergraduates in computer science and business courses through validated surveys.
Recent News
When AI asks: ‘Why?’ and Facilitates Critical Thinking
At C21U, we’re investigating how generative AI can actively engage learners, rather than deliver information. In this Campus Times Higher Education article, Research Scientist Meryem Yilmaz Soylu explores how AI can foster reflection and more profound understanding by prompting meaningful dialogue and intellectual exploration.
Georgia Tech Selected for National LER Accelerator Cohort
Georgia Tech College of Lifetime Learning is proud to announce its selection to join the inaugural cohort of the LER Accelerator. As one of just 25 projects nationwide chosen for participation, the project will help pioneer innovative approaches to digital credentialing that enhance opportunities, learner agency, and skills-based recognition.
Georgia Tech Shines at the USG Teaching & Learning Conference
At the recent University System of Georgia Teaching and Learning Conference, C21U's research scientist, Meryem Yılmaz Soylu, presented our work on integrating creativity into advanced STEM education and introduced "Socratic Mind," an AI-driven oral assessment tool. Yilmaz Soylu was part of a Georgia Tech group of presenters who shared their knowledge about course-based undergraduate research experiences, communities of practice, and more.
GT Atrium Opens, Innovating Education at Peachtree Corners
The Georgia Tech Atrium, inaugurated on April 21 at Peachtree Corners Curiosity Lab, is a pioneering space designed to advance research, collaboration, and community engagement. It offers learners of all ages access to hands-on workshops, specialized research facilities, industry partnerships, and networking opportunities.
1EdTech Consortium Elects New Members to Board of Directors with Increased Commitment to Collaboration
New members Warren Goetzel, director of External and Faculty Engagement at C21U, and Daryl Diamond, director of Planning, Implementation, Transition, Adoption, and Continuous Improvement for Broward County Public Schools, will serve alongside the returning board members.
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