Imagine a world where education is transformed by the power of artificial intelligence (AI). A world where students learn in innovative ways, teachers become facilitators of knowledge, and assessment takes on a whole new meaning. This is the future that will be explored at the GenAiEdu 2024 Conference, a three-day summit that will bring together researchers, educators, students, and industry professionals to understand how generative AI will challenge the way we learn, teach, and assess.
The conference, hosted by the School of Computing, Engineering, and Intelligent Systems at Ulster University’s Derry campus, will feature a lineup of esteemed speakers in the field of generative AI and education. Among them are Professor Mike Sharples from Open University, Hugh Meenagh from Microsoft Education Ireland, Sue Attewell from the National Centre for AI/JISC, Dr. Charles Knight from Advance HE, Martin Neale from ICS (the UK’s first Microsoft AI Inner Circle Partner), Dr. Martin Compton from King’s College, and researchers from Ulster University, University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Leeds, and Imperial College London.
The focus of the conference will be on the collaboration between universities and teachers to prepare for the transformational change that AI will bring in the coming years. It will explore the technologies that are currently available, those under development, and the potential impact they will have on the education sector. The conference aims to address the practicalities and challenges of implementing AI in educational settings.
Sue Attewell, Co-lead of the JISC National Centre for AI in tertiary education, emphasized the importance of adaptability in the face of AI’s rapid evolution. She stated, “Generative AI is more than just a tool: it’s a catalyst for transformative change, bringing innovative practices to the forefront and urging us to rethink and update our educational approaches. As AI continues to reshape education and the workplace, adapting to its rapid evolution is crucial in preparing students for an AI-integrated future, and GenAiEdu is a great platform where we in the industry can share ideas and best practice.”
The conference has already made waves in the education community. Professor John Anderson, Independent Chair of the Innovation Forum, praised the inaugural GenAiEdu conference for its impact. He stated, “The first GenAiEdu inspired attendees: as a direct result of this event, the Innovation Forum joined forces with the Education Authority’s EdIS Programme and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations, and Assessment to plan a similar event for school leaders - a really successful AI in Education conference. Given the astonishing speed of change with GenAI, more events are planned for school leaders, entirely due to the initial stimulus provided by GenAiEdu.”
Professor Colin Turner, Pro Vice Chancellor & Executive Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment at Ulster University, emphasized the need for educators to understand the possibilities and challenges of AI. He stated, “The pace of new technology development and adoption is ramping up, and AI offers extraordinary - and somewhat unexplored - opportunities and challenges for transformation in education. Hosting this event, we are facilitating conversations that will help educators navigate these possibilities and pitfalls.”
The GenAiEdu 2024 Conference promises to be an exciting and enlightening event for anyone interested in the future of education. With a focus on collaboration, innovation, and practicality, this conference will explore the transformative power of AI and its potential to revolutionize the way we learn, teach, and assess. To register and learn more about the conference agenda, visit the conference’s website at https://www.ulster.ac.uk/conference/genaiedu-2024.
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