Having time to think: together we can do this

One of the biggest challenges faced by higher education leaders today is finding the time and space to think, plan, and shape the future. This time is crucial for focusing on bold, human ingenuity that better serves students. We need to find innovative ways to use AI to promote greater equity in learning. We need more than meetings that are talkfests, but opportunities for those committed to change, to come together and take bold action.

Finding time to change is difficult, given ongoing challenges facing higher education in the last five years. However, it is our responsibility to help inspire and settle the minds of others.

We can do this—and we must. The only way forward is through leadership that is both bold and human. As Jane den Hollander said, we must value the

?“staff and students of our institutions who are the gold at the base of the pyramid”?- Jane den Hollander

We need our engagement with them to be smarter and more purposeful.

Meeting students where they are

This calls for flexibility and an action-oriented approach. One essential mindset shift is to put ourselves in the shoes of young learners and meet them where they are. We cannot continue relying on outdated knowledge, practices, and ways of doing things. Instead, we must embrace a future focused on skills and knowledge relevant to the future of work.

Above all, we must recognise this as a time of opportunity for equitable access to learning. This is not just a necessity due to environmental, economic, and social circumstances, but a moral responsibility. Technology presents a possibility to make it happen.

The role of technology?

Much of the positive change in higher education will be driven by ethical, responsible applications of technology that elevate human potential. However, this can only happen if we guide it with bold strategic thinking, and purposeful partnerships. We cannot leave the future of learners to those pushing technology on us without direction.

Changing Higher Education at HEDx

Now is a critical moment. This opportunity for action, rather than just talk, and a future-focused mindset, is at the heart of our upcoming HEDx event. On April 2nd in Melbourne, we’ll provide space to reflect, engage, and look toward the horizon, together.

We’re excited to bring this collaborative conversation to in-person and online audiences. We also plan to share podcasts and event analyses in future newsletters and on our website.

Though our venue this time has limited space, we look forward to accommodating more people at our event later this year. In the meantime, we encourage everyone—whether attending in person, by livestream or listening later—to think about one action they can take to help improve higher education. We also look forward to sharing insights, presentations, and feedback from the event, which will serve as a foundation for future action and change.

We don’t all need to agree on everything. But each of us has an opportunity to act on what we can control and what matters most to us and those we serve. Together, we can grow stronger and turn challenges into opportunities. Together, given time to think, we can do this.

Dr Martin Betts , CEO of HEDx

Professor Marcia Devlin AM, PhD , CEO of Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership

Professor Kelly Matthews , The University of Queensland

Spotlight on Others

We have had some great action-oriented contributions on the HEDx podcast since our last newsletter addressing issues of student equity, links to migration policy, the cutting edge of AI, and creating a culture for innovation.

Sarah Bendall was 2 days into her role at the Office of the National Student Ombudsman when she recorded her thoughts, and early data, in this episode.

Two weeks later she joined this panel at the UA conference with George Williams of Western Sydney University , Cate Gilpin , Shamit Saggar , Paul Harpur OAM and Hashini Panditharatne for a discussion you can access here.

Abul Rizvi has developed a deep understanding of the links between migration policy and international education through lived experience, a career in public service, and a PhD in the subject from the 澳大利亚墨尔本大学 . He offers wise advice on how to manage the relationship between the two, in the nation's interests, in an episode you can listen to here.

Various HEDx members and partners shared thoughts about their UA experience including Simon Biggs Kris Ryan , Suzanne Le Mire , Alphia Possamai-Inesedy , Sue Cunningham , Joe Avison , Nicola Cresp , Katie Ford , Joel Di Trapani , Charlsey Pearce and Mark Sampson . You can hear their thoughts from the venue here.

And with our conference on Higher Education in the Age of AI now just 2 weeks away, two of those presenting at it speculated on where AI is taking us and how we can harness it to remain relevant and serve students. They did so in episodes you can access here and here. They included Lev Gonick of 美国亚利桑那州立大学 joined by his colleague David Rosowsky and Phil Laufenberg of 澳大利亚麦考瑞大学 joined by Nils De Vries of Amazon Web Services (AWS) . I hope you will give their thinking, some of your time.