TechUplift25: Empowering Cyber Security through AI-driven Capability

I just registered for TechUplift25: Empowering Cyber Security through AI-driven Capability, being run by the Australian Computer Society at the Hyatt Canberra, 26 June 2025. Ironically, this morning Facebook blocked my access, requiring me to prove I was human.

Will AI Cause Universities to Have Trained Teachers?

Greetings from day 2 of "The Evolving University" stream of EDUtech Australia 2025 at the Sydney Convention Center. Associate Professor Rachel Fitzgerald, Deputy Associate Dean (Academic) UQ pointed out that academics who teach are mostly not trained teachers. What I hope she would say next was "here is how we can get them trained and qualified". Instead she talked about AI. Unlike most of my colleagues I have been trained to teach. But then Professor Fitzgerald pivoted to the %PACK teaching techniques. As I understand it, the idea is to offer teacher training as a response to concern over AI. It is a clever idea, but perhaps not sustainable. Without compulsion I am not sure universities will put the resources into staff qualified to teach.

International Education and the Australian Economy

Greetings from day 2 of "The Evolving University" stream of EDUtech Australia 2025 at the Sydney Convention Center. George Williams, WSU, made the point international students spend money in Australia and also provide essential workers in areas such as health care. Jonathan Chew, VP International Education Association Australia said education was NSW's second largest export. He admitted students do compete for housing in inner city areas near universities. Professor Williams said that the families of international students invest their life savings in student fees (which raises ethical concerns about universities profiting from these students). Patricia Davidson, Chair NSW International Education Advisory Board argued for recognition of overseas qualifications for professionals. Professor Williams called for a "return to rationality" in political debates on education. 

It was disappointing there was no time for questions. I wanted to ask about the opportunities and risks of vocational degrees, if done well they could improve equity, or they could trash Australia's international education reputation.

International Higher Education and Technology

Greetings from the  "The Evolving University" stream of EDUtech Australia 2025 at the Sydney Convention Center. This is my first chance to blog something as I have been charing the event all afternoon. May of the sessions have been on AI, with criticism of AI detectors and of hose wanting to pretend it doesn't exist. We are ending on a positive note on teaching students to use AI and other tech to be better workers. COVID-19 got only one mention, as something which prompted adoption of online learning.

Educating Computer Professionals

Tom Worthington with the
ACS Team at Edutech AU 2025

Greetings from the exhibition floor of EDUtech Australia 2025 at the Sydney Convention Center. I dropped into the Australian Computer Society stand. I am on the ACS Professional Standard Board, which sets standards for the education of computer people at universities and in the vocational sector. This afternoon I am chairing "The Evolving University", as the Higher Education stream of the conference.

The University Evolving in Sydney This Week

I am delighted to be chairing "The Evolving University", at the Sydney Convention Center on Tuesday. This is the Higher Education stream of EDUtech Australia 2025. Here is the program (there are plenaries with the other streams before this):

Understanding authentic assessment and how it applies to digital learning

• Prof Kevin Ashford-Rowe, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), Queensland University of Technology

Heads we win, tails you lose: AI detectors in education

• Mark Bassett, Director, Academic Quality, Standards and Integrity, Charles Sturt University

Creating a more digitally enabled University, 

• Cherie Diaz, Executive Director, Education Innovation, Western Sydney University
• Lynnae Venaruzzo, Head, Technology Enabled Learning, Western Sydney University

Capabilities of AI in the context of contemporary learning, teaching and assessment

• Danny Liu, Professor of Educational Technologies, The University of Sydney

Cheating ourselves: Higher ed’s missteps with Generative AI

• Lew Ludwig, Director, Teaching Center, Denison University

Grounding AI in learning theory

• Craig Sims, Academic lead: Digital Pedagogies, Curtin University

PANEL - International education and edtech ecosystems for higher education

• Moderator: Mark Greentree, Executive Director, Technology Enablement, NSW Department of Education

1. Harneet Singh, The Lion Founder and Chief AI Officer, Rabbitt AI
2. Zuraidah Ismail, Director, Pusat PERMATA Kurnia (Ministry of Education)
3. Dr Geri Harris, Business Undergraduate Programme Director, Auckland University of Technology (AUT)