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Professor Sally Kift PFHEA FAAL ALTF

The Accord and Equity: Realising the Best Chance for All

The Universities Accord’s lofty ambition for a “strong, dynamic and efficient tertiary education system”, with nation-building student equity and success at its core, was a breath of fresh air for those of us who walk the talk on education’s transformative potential. Now, several months on, is the Accord’s great equity project still on track or has it been overwhelmed by the realpolitik of implementing complex, multifaceted change in the fraught lead-up to a budget-constrained election? Certainly, the policy responses released for consultation to date provide no particular certainty that “affordable and equitable opportunity for all Australians to access and participate in high-quality, engaging and transformative tertiary education” (Accord Recommendation 1) will be delivered any time soon.

This presentation will attempt to chart a path through the current complexity to coalesce a dizzying array of agendas. It will suggest that what will sustain us amidst all this uncertainty is to double down on the Accord fundamentals of inclusive and universally designed educational experiences that deliver a better, if not the best, equitable chance for all learners, and especially those from under-represented cohorts.

Professor Sally Kift is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA), a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law (FAAL), and President of the Australian Learning & Teaching Fellows (ALTF). She has held several university leadership positions, including as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø. Sally is a national Teaching Award winner, a Senior Teaching Fellow and a Discipline Scholar, Law. In 2017, she received an Australian University Career Achievement Award for her contribution to Australian higher education. Sally was a member of the Australian Qualifications Framework Review Panel that reported to Government in September 2019. Since, 2017, she has been working as an independent higher education consultant.

Where:  ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas 005.001, ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield A3.002 and online.

Professor Danny Liu

Looking to the future with AI in learning, teaching, and assessment

At the pace that generative AI is progressing, it's difficult to know what the future will look like. Even so, we will consider some practical heuristics that will point us in the right direction and guide us towards transformative education in a world where AI is ubiquitous.

Danny is a molecular biologist by training, programmer by night, researcher and academic developer by day, and educator at heart. A multiple international and national teaching award winner, he works at the confluence of artificial intelligence, learning analytics, student engagement, educational technology, and professional development and leadership. He is a Professor of Educational Technologies in the DVC Education Portfolio at the University of Sydney, co-chairs the University's AI in Education working group, and leads the Cogniti.ai initiative that puts educators in the driver's seat of AI.

Where:  ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas 005.001, ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield A3.002 and online.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education

Q&A Panel hosted by Professor Maree Dinan-Thompson , DVC Education, who will be joined by Professor Sally Kift, Professor Danny Liu, Professor Martin Nakata and Ebe Ganon.

Where:  ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas 005.001 and ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield A3.002 and online.

Professor Martin Nakata, AM

The Transformative Power of AI-Native Learning Environments

Professor Martin Nakata, AM is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Education & Strategy at ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø and a leading Indigenous academic in Australia. As the first Torres Strait Islander to earn a PhD, his extensive academic career spans almost four decades, focusing on Indigenous education, Indigenous Studies, and Indigenous Knowledge.

Prof. Nakata is widely recognised internationally, with over 70 keynote addresses delivered across twenty countries. His research, particularly in Indigenous educational outcomes and STEM education, has been published in numerous academic journals, anthologies, and books globally.

His current ARC-funded research examines ways to build the capacities of Indigenous learners in STEM fields. Prof. Nakata’s deep understanding of Torres Strait Islander languages and customs, informed by his upbringing in the islands, enriches his academic and leadership roles. He also co-edits the Australian Journal of Indigenous Education and contributes to editorial boards of academic journals worldwide.

Where:  ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas 005.001, ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield A3.002 and online.

2022 ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Learning & Teaching Innovation Grant Presentations

Join us on-campus (TSV and CNS) to hear from grant recipients who are facilitating innovative learning, teaching and assessment activities that enhance student learning.

• Dr Maru Castellanos Reynosa  - College of Public Health, Medicine & Veterinary Science
  - Choose your adventure:  Using an online game to investigate disease outbreaks and improve learner engagement.

• Dr Steve Kerrison - ·¬ÇÑÉçÇøS School of Science & Technology
  - VEtheRBlocks

• Dr Mehdi Khatamifar & Professor Wenxian Lin - College of Science & Engineering
  - Innovative Quadcopter Design Challenge for Active Learning in Finite Element Analysis

• Dr Denise Turner & Dr Teneale McGuckin - College of Healthcare Sciences
  - Using industry-based technology to enhance student learning experience

Where:  ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas 005.001, ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield A3.003 and online.

·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Academics will showcase their transformative practices in learning and teaching. Come along to the 3-minute Poster Presentations and hear how colleagues are transforming education practices at ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø.  Participate in the Audience Choice Vote and vote for your favourite poster on Padlet.

Where:  ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas 005.001, ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield A3.003 and online.

Come along to hear Frederik Klemming, Anthology's Director of Product Management showcase the latest updates and developments on the Anthology Blackboard platform (Learn·¬ÇÑÉçÇø). Gain insights into how these enhancements will enhance the digital experience for educators and students.

Where:  ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas 134.010, ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield D3.054 and online.

The Ideas Exchange booth is an opportunity to bring your experience teaching with Learn·¬ÇÑÉçÇø, ask questions and share your feedback and ideas directly with Anthology.

Where:  ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas 134.010, ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield D3.054 and online.

Join us for a dynamic, hands-on session where academics will actively engage with Generative AI (Gen AI) in real time. This workshop focuses on practical applications of AI in educational settings, providing participants with an opportunity to observe facilitators demonstrate AI tools while interacting directly with them. The aim is to explore the practical benefits of AI in enhancing learning, teaching, and assessment design.

Session Highlights:

• Power Workshops: Engage in a series of 15-minute workshops, each focusing on different Gen AI applications.
• Live AI Demonstrations: Watch facilitators use AI in real-time scenarios.
• Practical Insights: Gain hands-on experience with AI tools that can be applied to enhance learning and teaching practices.

Where:   a teams link will be provided upon registration

Zero textbook cost (ZTC) strategies at ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø transforming student learning experiences

A ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø (·¬ÇÑÉçÇø) strategic priority is transformative education, with an aim of widening participation in higher education for regional, remote, Indigenous, first-in-family and international students (·¬ÇÑÉçÇø, 2022). We know financial pressures are a key challenge for these students, and financial hardship is associated with enrolment, retention, and successful completion of university studies (Devlin & McKay, 2017; ZajÄ…c & Tomaszewski, 2023). A desire to respond to the financial difficulties faced by many students underpins ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø’s strong commitment to open education and textbook affordability.

·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Library recognises that ‘open is everyone’s business’, and that subject textbook costs can be reduced. Accordingly, the Library has launched a Textbook Affordability Project (TAP), 2024-2025, targeting student-paid prescribed textbooks in first-year core subjects. The need for TAP is clear. 2023 Library data estimates show that first-year students could have paid approximately $2,194,238 for their prescribed textbooks for core subjects.

What is ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Library doing?

• Auditing first-year cores subjects’ textbooks and their costs for students and ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø
• Targeting high impact (high textbook costs and/or student numbers) first-year core subjects
• Exploring alternatives (unlimited eBook licenses, open educational resources, curated Reading lists)
• Offering HEPPP-funded Library grants to promote change within the Academy
• Collaborating with academics to provide tailored solutions for targeted subjects.

What is ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Library aiming for?

• Enhancing student financial savings
• Ensuring students are textbook-ready from day one, enhancing potential success and retention
• Improving student equity, accessibility, and inclusion experiences
• Supporting ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø’s digital-first learning and teaching approach.

Where:  ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas, ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield TBC and online.

Come and celebrate the amazing work of your colleagues!

Every year, ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø recognises and rewards the diverse contributions that individuals and teams make to the quality of student learning and student engagement at ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø through a suite of Teaching Excellence awards.  These include:

• Inclusive Practice Awards
• Sessional Teaching Awards
• Inclusive and Accessible Learn·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Site Awards
• ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Citations for Sustained Commitment to Enhancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø DVC Education's Student Experience Award
• ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning

Where:  ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas 005.001, ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield D3.054 and online.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Ins and Outs

• How can institutions and individual educators foster a culture of inclusivity in learning and teaching?
• How can institutions and individual educators manage the inherent tensions in diversity, equity, and inclusions?

SoLT symposiums explore contemporary issues in teaching and learning, through:

• panel discussion and debate
• showcases of best practice
• expert analysis and Q&A.

Where:   a teams link will be provided upon registration

Join the Academic Excellence team for a coffee and test your learning and teaching trivia knowledge.  Free beverage for the first ten in attendance!

Test your knowledge in three exciting rounds:

• Round 1 - Learning and Teaching Pedagogy
• Round 2 - Ed-Tech and Gen AI
• Round 3 - ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Trivia

Each round features 10 multiple-choice questions.

Arrive early! The first 10 people receive a FREE beverage.

The winner of each round will take home some delicious chocolate!

Come join the fun, challenge your peers, and walk away as a trivia champion!

Where:

• ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Cairns, Nguma-bada campus,  Smithfield meet for a coffee and trivia at D'Lish on McGregor.
• ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas meet for trivia and a coffee on the ground floor of Science Place.