New Zealand AI in Higher Education Symposium

Connecting New Zealand's universities to pioneer the future of AI-enhanced education.

Date: Wednesday 4 September 2024
Time: 8.30am-5pm
Venue: Castle 2 Lecture Theatre, University of Otago

This symposium invites New Zealand university educators, researchers, technologists, and anyone interested in AI in education to explore its transformative potential. It offers a unique opportunity for our higher education community to exchange knowledge, share practices, and envision the future of AI-enhanced learning environments. This event is a chance for our community to lead in the responsible and innovative integration of AI technologies.

We encourage participants to bring their insights, share their experiences, and collaborate on shaping a future where AI significantly enhances higher education. Our aim is to generate tangible outcomes from this gathering, whether through actionable insights, collaborative projects, or shaping policies that guide the ethical integration of AI in education.

Join us at this event to help create an adaptive, inclusive, and technologically advanced educational future for New Zealand’s higher education sector.

Conference format: In-person and streamed

The New Zealand AI in Higher Education Symposium will be held in-person in Castle 2 Lecture Theatre, University of Otago, Dunedin, enabling direct interaction, networking and a fully immersive experience. For those unable to attend physically, we are pleased to offer a live stream of the presentations. Please note that the streamed sessions will be limited to view-only access of the presentations, but will still provide a valuable opportunity to partake in the knowledge sharing of the symposium.

Symposium themes

The symposium is structured around three critical themes, each focusing on a different aspect of artificial intelligence's role in higher education. These themes serve as a foundation for a comprehensive exploration of AI's current impact, underlying principles and its potential to redefine the higher education landscape. By delving into these areas, we aim to foster a platform for deep discussions among educators, researchers and technologists. Our goal is to collaboratively address the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by AI, thus contributing to the evolution of educational practices in New Zealand's higher education sector and setting a precedent for future developments worldwide.

Practice

The "practice" theme explores the practical applications of AI that are currently transforming teaching and learning environments. We welcome participants to share experiences with AI integration and highlight specific applications, successful case studies, and effective strategies that have positively impacted educational outcomes. This theme focuses on the real-world application of AI in education, showing how educators are using technology to create engaging, personalised, and impactful learning experiences.

Theory

Under the "theory" theme, we aim to unpack the foundational concepts and ethical considerations that underpin AI's role in education. This is a call for papers that explore the theoretical frameworks guiding AI integration, the methodologies that underlie AI innovations, and the policy implications that shape our approach to technology in learning. Discussions will focus on understanding the broader impacts of AI technologies on educational equity, access, and quality.

Future

The "future" theme is dedicated to speculative exploration and visionary thinking about what lies ahead for AI in education. It challenges participants to think beyond the current applications and to envision the next generation of AI technologies that will continue to transform educational practices. This theme encourages a forward-looking perspective on emerging technologies, policy evolution, and the long-term implications of AI on learning and teaching. It's an opportunity to dream big, forecast upcoming challenges and opportunities, and debate potential scenarios that AI might bring to the educational sector.

Key dates

Registration opens: 10 June 2024

Submissions open: 10 June 2024

Submissions close: 4 August 2024

Author notification (no later than): 12 August 2024

Symposium event: 4 September 2024