AI First University Forum discuss future of Higher Education
What will the evolution of university education driven by AI look like in Australia?
AI First University Forum panel members include: Dr Tanya Gamby (Director of Health and Wellness at Human Systems), Prof S. Bruce Dowton (Macquarie University Vice Chancellor), Prof Theo Farrell (La Trobe University Vice Chancellor and President), Prof Merlin Crossley (UNSW Deputy-Vice Chancellor), D/Prof Jie Lu, (UTS Australian Laureate Fellow in AI and the Director of the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute (AAII) at UTS), Dr Grainne Oates (Founder and CEO of 'Quitch' a content neutral gamified mobile learning platform in use in Educational Institutions).
The entire AI First University Forum panel in discussion.
AI is set to revolutionise the Higher Education sector. How do we intentionally engage with this pioneering technology to use it for the benefit of students and staff? The AI First University Forum, held on 9 August 2024, dissected the future evolution of Higher Education – driven by, and centred on AI.
A panel of global innovators and serial disruptors, chaired by Professor Peta Wyeth (Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at UTS), considered the next steps needed to propel this evolution. Panel members emphasised the importance of identifying the opportunities and risks of an AI First system from a Wellness perspective. Integrating with industry partners to better support the changes driven by AI is a further critical step.
Professor Theo Farrell (Vice Chancellor and President of La Trobe University), expressed a commitment to diversity, inclusion and opportunity. He focused on the power of lifelong education to transform lives and communities for the better. He suggests the principles effectiveness, sustainability and applicability should guide the future of Higher Education driven by AI.
Distinguished Professor Jie Lu (Australian Laureate Fellow and the Director of the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute at UTS), indicated that this is an opportunity Australian universities should not miss. The high international ranking of Australian AI research places our universities in a prime position to innovate the AI First University, with a focus on how to train our staff and offer personalised education to students.
The panel generated great engagement and questions from the audience, showing that their discussion points will encourage a group of in-region collaborators from both academia and industry to guide institutions towards their digital transformation goals in a post-Accord world.
The AI First University Forum event was initiated by AWS’s Higher Education and Research lead, Dr Kevin Bell, with Dr Paul Leblanc and Prof George Siemens, and locally organised by Prof Farookh Hussain at AAII, UTS.
