SEDAtalk Webinar 5: Monday 3rd March 2025

SEDAtalk Series 1 Episode 5: GenerativeAI in Further and Higher Education: Searching for ethical and responsible ways forward
Monday, 3 March, 9.30-10am UK time (contact office@seda.ac.uk for the link)

In this last session of Series 1, we wrap-up our examination of GenerativeAI with discussion of both longstanding and emerging issues/concerns about the application of GenerativeAI in and across Further and Higher Education.

This is especially timely in the week following the Paris AI summit where the American Vice-President JD Vance delivered the view of AI from the Trump administration – emphasising the need to ‘seize the opportunities’ offered by AI and adopt a ‘less cautious’ approach so that we do not ‘paralyse one of the most promising technologies we have seen in generations’.

He warned against ‘tightening the screws’ and emphasised that AI must ‘remain free from ideological bias’. He assured the audience of world and business leaders that ‘American AI will remain the gold standard worldwide’. He finally talked of education, explaining that they will ensure that ‘America has the best-trained workforce in the world’ and that ‘American schools will teach students how to manage, how to supervise, and how to interact with AI tools.’

Given that the UK Government’s recent policy announcements and implementation plans do seem broadly similar to American plans and predictions re data centres etc, do these sentiments indicate likely UK trends?

The last week or so has also seen specific announcements and developments in the technology of AI which will have major implications for all of us, including OpenAI’s new ‘roadmap’ for GenAI which will offer a new structure for ChatGPT.

SEDAtalk returns to debate what all this means for education and, in particular, for educational development.

We invite everyone to join the debate, kicking off with the next edition of SEDAtalk on Monday 3rd March where our panel of Dr Louise Drumm and guests (chaired by Sue Beckingham and Peter Hartley) will focus on:

•            what are the key concerns which we need to face up to when we examine current applications of GenAI by staff and students?

•            what are the likely developments in applications and access to GenAI across Higher Education which we should be concerned about?

•            what are the implications (both short and long-term) for educational development and for educational developers?

All sessions are recorded, and you can find the first four episodes & presentations via the links below: