Dropped in to the webinar to 'soft' launch the Castlereagh Statement - a cross-sector call for action on Australian education and training in the age of AI. The statement was developed through a series of cross-sector meetings/webinars/communities of practice.
Notes taken:
Katie Ford welcomed the audience, welcomed all to country and provided an overview of what the Castlereagh Statement is and why it has been developed.
Draws together 80+ contributors from 30+ organisations including schools, universities, VET, industry, government and also students. Brings together the many reports and research but no necessarily leading to action. Employer and society needs are shifting and pace of AI means it is difficult for education and training to keep up.
Came up with 3 goals (what do we value in learning, a coherent learning pathway, and every Australian engaging with AI), 6 principles and where to next (near horizon - stabilise; intermediate medium - structural; and far horizon - new foundations).
Cross sector perspectives provided:
Bridget Pearce (Brisbane Grammar School - K-12) - Returned to the 'purpose of education'. At present mismatch between the needs of communities and society - collaborators, innovative thinkers, etc. but the curriculum crowds these out with its emphasis on meeting standards. Alignment needs to now be taken between the type of education required, and how schools can help students to get there. Teachers are not resistant to change but are resistant to bad change :)
Helen Fairweather (Engineers Australia) - Important to have every sector involved with input into the statement. All participants were passionate about contributing. Engineers Australia does not dictate to providers, what and how engineering is taught. However, they are keen to ensure that Engineers have the competencies required to practice as engineers. Consistent framing across the sectors. However, no right/wrong answers. The statement provided the opportunity to consider the future of education. Accreditation does not seat outside within industry, it is a shared project with society and education.
Claire Field (VET) - Shared the timeline with regard to guidance on AI. The schools had developed an Australian framework for Gen AI in Schools in October 2023. However, ASQA still in the process of drafting principles. AI is not just impacting learning and assessment, it is reshaping work across all industries, and VET serves diverse students and communities. VET perhaps behind as they did not (do not still) think that it will be impacted by AI (especially in the practical area). Unlike other countries, VET students are generally not encouraged to use AI.
Adam Bridgeman (University of Sydney) - Universities siloed and are not likely to be aware of what is happening across other sectors and also internally - not much interaction between disciplines! Authentic learning will likely now require working with AI. Values and incentives to reward what matters is important. It is now not about the product but about what learning takes place. Pedagogy and how this is understood is a key towards leveraging AI.
Peita Davis (Business Council of Australia) - what do businesses expect from graduates? Strong AI literacies and human skills are the key - teamwork, communication, critical thinking. Young people are seen to bring AI into small businesses! However, this is not the case :( no urgency across government towards this, AI literacy for all in Australia. What can be done? The statement is good first step. Clear guidelines and next step is to have AI literacies embedded from early childhood onward.
Tim Burt (Future Skills Organisation) - Provided a higher level, governmental perspective. AI skills are being defined - what are the skills Australia to compete in the Ai economy? Do we have the skill? What is needed to mobilise the nation around AI skills? and how will we know if initiatives will be effective? Common themes between Castlereagh and the study. Human skills fundamental; coherence required across all of education and complemented by industry feedback? How can AI skills development be coordinated?
Danny Liu presented on 'next steps'. Jason Lodge reiterated that all the sectors/industry etc. coming together provides a way forward, which is cooperative. Therefore it is a coalition of the willing.
Monthly working party will meet between now and October to create a White Paper - cross sector and sector-wide working parties to formulate specific action plans, collect and surface vignettes of practice, and make progress visible. Items include IT enablement, curriculum and alignment and credentialling and assessment.
Q & A ensued. Topics included ensuring all states included; ways to ensure industry/business included; and how to ensure what is drawn up have a voice with policy makers and government.
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