The conference after lunch convenes for plenary address with Madeline Newman from AI Forum NZ on 'designing tomorrow: human futures in an AI world'. Introduced the AI forum, its goals and people, shared some of their work including working groups, summit, hackathons, key reports and white papers etc. Summarised the work of the AI blueprint for Aotearoa and the AI and architecture engineering and construction, AI in education. AI revolutionalise learning through personlising educational paths, efficient training and feedback and expanded global access. Also AI powered VR.
AI and creative industries summit brings global conversations to Aotearoa. Creatives partner with technology, with boosts in productivity. Human creativity along with emotional resonance important. AI can democratise creative work and raises the bar for professionals. Using robots as an example, 52 studies published since 2017 covering over 2500 individuals found that robots have a no effect on wages. Routine cognitive or physical tasks have diminished but those requiring creativity have increased. Highest ROI is where humans work in partnership with AI. Ai in Action report has latest stats on AI use and adoption, If AI frees up time, what do you do with it?
AI governance - responsible use of AI just refreshed. Upskilling requires understanding how to use AI safely. Therefore, key items to do include: AI literacy, digital and AI access for all, responsible use - understand the risks and use AI safely, and ensure human centred design. Introduced advances in robotics and the implications on society and work. Uncertainties include the legal, cultural and public acceptance and readiness. Q & A followed.
Then Dr. Dmitry Zavialov from the Skills group and Dr. Roman Mitch, on 'Aura farming: cultivating irreplaceable human leadership in the age of AI'. How can we bring across our strengths without replacing our humaness. Skills that can be replicated by AI means that we need to enhance who we are and what we are about. Educators need to create environments that help them increase the attitudinal aspects of humans so that these can be focused on. Resilience, working in teams, working across cultures etc. are examples. Roman shared example of how to teach technology when it is moving faster than we can keep up with it. The principle of what makes us essentially human, Shared work applying these principles. How artists use AI provide examples of how we can go forward. Therefore, programming can be thought of a an art form.
Three plenary sessions follow.
First up with Emily Fabling Deputy Chief Executive at NZQA on - Right touch, right size regulation: quality assurance with purpose. NZQA is about supporting learners to succeed and industry to be represented. Overvies of NZ education; what does right touch right size mean, NZQA framework and examples. Over 400 tertiary providers, 92% are PTEs. Universities have 44% of learners, Te Pūkenga 29%, Wananga 9% and PTEs 18% - 57% VET. Changes being made include: quality assurance across all (apart from universities), maintain framework, maintain international comarabiliy and effective liaison with overseas bodies to recognise overseas qualifications in NZ and to achieve overseas recognition of NZ qualifications. NZQA registers PTEs, approves programmes, qualifications, micro-credentials and standards, quality assuring provision of education and training, reviewing and updating NZQF and liasiing with overseas recognition bodies. Rules, norms and sanctions shapes lives of NZers and NZQA does the same for education businesses organisations, learners and communities. regulation can impose costs, limit freedoms, stifle innovation but these need to be considered.
Considered the importance of quality as poor quality affects all. Shared the recently reviewed NZQA regulatory framework principles - impact-led, anticipatory and adaptable. Regulations should support delivery and not be a barrier to collaboration or innovation. The evaluative quality assurance framework is now 16 years old. Based around entry controls and external evaluation and review. Additional activities have been added. However, VET has to been move more quickly and the EQAF needs to be reworked. Productivity Commission report in 2017 recommended NZQA should ensure all providers meet acceptable standards; risk-based monitoring of providers; and ensure providers have their own processes to assess and improve performance for their learners.
Summarised the new integrated quality assurance framework (iQAF). Diagram of the framework provides details, A good overview of the more collaborative approach. Quality assurance with a purpose shared - aviation and pilot training (case of recent regulatory intervention of provider); construction (statutory conditions imposed on two providers); and Pacific qualifications framework (endorse and to allow these to be referenced against NZQF).
I then present on 'Gen AI and trades/craft work: implications and effects. The overall theme is that AI in the context of trades/craft work is different in the way it will be used, and the interactions are less text dominant. There is a need to understand how AI changes the nature of trades work, as it will be used to augment both physical and cognitive work.
The NZVET research forum awarded me for having presented at all of the forums thus far!!
Final plenary for the day is with Katherine Hall from ConCOVE Tūhura on 'reflections on a five-year experiment: the ConCoVE legacy. Encouraged to look at Sir Paul Callaghans presentation in 2007 on future for NZ. We do not seem to have got through many of the recommendations :(
Katherine summarised the genesis of ConCOVE and it's vision and mission. It sought to challenge the current ways things were done and to seek to shift it towards greater equity and inclusion. A systems change view was adopted, meant the need to find out what was occurring and to apply it to improving. Many projects were commissioned but they were all part of the greater objective of shining the light on what has happened, what could be and how to get these in place. Summarised some of the findings and how these had been used, reworked, or reimagined. 'the system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets', Shared recent stakeholder survey supporting the work undertaken and the ways ConCoVE has supported the construction/infrastructure industries. Effectiveness of ConCOVE supported. Call for the participants to keep the work visible, embed the work into delivery, preserve the kaupapa (work/knowledge). At a system level we need stronger advocacy, faster qualification design and delivery mechanisms, business skills.disrupt the narrative, challenge the system , take the evidence and apply it.
The day ends with a networking event, taking everyone well into the evening.
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