The implications of generative AI for tertiary education.

By Christine Cheyne, TEU member at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

The implications of generative AI for tertiary education are the focus of a one-day online conference on Friday 31st October hosted by the TEU.

As TEU members will know, all of public tertiary education, including polytechnics, universities and wānanga, is increasingly disrupted by the widespread availability of generative AI. Tertiary educators have had to rapidly confront the opportunities and challenges of AI for teaching, learning and research, recognise risks and consider how risks might be mitigated. Similarly, kaimahi not in the front line of teaching and learning also need to assess the implications of AI for support and other roles.

The programme involves 15-minute presentations followed by Q&A in 5 sessions each of which reflects one of TEU's five mātāpono: Te Tiriti o Waitangi, decent work, equity, quality tertiary education, and te taiao/the environment.

These sessions provide a space for TEU members as kaimahi to explore the implications for the sector members, educators, and researchers to examine both the opportunities and challenges AI brings to our sector. Tertiary education employers will have aspirations to harness AI-powered technology but workers in the sector must be proactive in shaping utilisation of AI.

The conference will provide a platform to collectively consider how AI can be shaped in ways that are consistent with TEU values and mātāpono; aligned with Te Tiriti of Waitangi; enhance tertiary teaching, learning and research in Aotearoa New Zealand; and foster (not displace) decent work in our sector.

With AI now pervasive in many facets of contemporary life, not just in our sector, it’s timely and urgent to critically explore responsible, equitable and inclusive use of AI to enrich teaching, learning and research, and to enhance support functions in tertiary education in Aotearoa.

Please register here using the password TEUAI25

A week later, on 7 November, our Secure Work conference will discuss the actions we should take together to ensure secure work is the norm in the tertiary education sector.

Panels will look at the reasons large numbers of workers on hourly paid and fixed term agreements are part of the design of the tertiary education system, the varied impacts of insecure work on different groups of workers, and at what more we can do.

Please register here using the password PRECARIOUS25

(The above image was generated by AI)