Anant Agarwal is a global leader in online learning and professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from Stanford University and has served as director of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). In 2012, Agarwal co-founded edX with Harvard University, establishing one of the first large-scale platforms for massive open online courses (MOOCs). The first edX course, “Circuits and Electronics,” drew more than 150,000 learners worldwide and helped launch a movement that has reshaped higher education. Agarwal currently serves as Chief Academic Officer at 2U, where he champions modular, flexible pathways that connect online learning to workforce reskilling. His research has focused on computer architecture as well as the design of educational platforms. He is the author of Foundations of Analog and Digital Electronic Circuits (2005), a widely cited textbook, and has received the McGraw Prize in Education, the Yidan Prize, and India’s Padma Shri award. His TED Talk, Why massive open online courses (still) matter, reflects his commitment to expanding access to education.

Video:

TED Talk: Why massive open online courses (still) matter

Articles:

• Google Scholar Profile

• Unbundled: Reimagining Higher Education

Websites:

• edX

• MIT Faculty Page

Social Media:

• X: @agarwaledu

• LinkedIn