The North-West University's (NWU’s) Unit for Distance Learning (UDL) emerged as a pivotal voice at the recent International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Leadership Summit that took place from 5 to 7 June 2024.

This summit was a collaborative effort between the ICDE, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, and Globethics, an international NGO focused on ethical leadership.

Hosted at Campus Biotech in Geneva, Switzerland, the summit centred on "Ethical Leadership for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Higher Education", bringing together university leaders from across the globe to discuss ethical and effective AI integration in universities.

NWU UDL's AI in higher education contribution inspires

The UDL leadership team stood out with three insightful presentations highlighting their research and experience on AI in higher education. They are Dr Joany Fransman, director for teaching and learning at the UDL, Frederick Mudavanhu, academic manager for the faculties of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Law and Engineering, and Geraldine Meyers-Mashamba, quality manager at the UDL.

Building a robust quality framework

“The UDL team presented quality framework propositions specifically tailored for the era of AI in higher education institutions,” says Geraldine.

“This framework emphasises ethical and effective AI integration, promoting best practices and mitigating potential risks. By drawing on existing frameworks such as the International Benchmarking Consortium Framework and the ACDE QAAA Framework, the UDL team identified gaps and proposed a comprehensive solution. This solution empowers educators, policymakers and institutions to make thoughtful decisions about AI integration in teaching and learning.”

Curriculum innovation and pedagogical transformation

The UDL team showcased their work on assessment design and massive open online courses, demonstrating how process-oriented learning design can transform the curriculum to enhance learning.

“This presentation discussed adopting authentic learning to address AI-related challenges such as academic integrity and the value of education in the digital era. It emphasised curriculum innovation, pedagogical transformation and policy changes,” says Frederick.

Leading the way in ethical AI integration

The final presentation highlighted the crucial role of leadership in AI integration. It stressed the need for open dialogue and collaboration among educational leaders, policymakers and stakeholders. The UDL team suggested a holistic AI leadership approach, balancing innovation with ethics to create a more inclusive and equitable educational future.

UDL's work garners international recognition

According to Dr Fransman, the UDL team's presentations were highly valued and met with great enthusiasm. “Our innovative work and leadership in ethical AI integration were commended by attendees. Several prestigious institutions, including the University of Leeds and Globethics, expressed interest in collaborating with the NWU on future projects,” she adds.

This international recognition underscores the NWU’s position as a frontrunner in shaping the future of education in the age of AI. The UDL's commitment to advancing a sustainable quality framework and integrating AI ethically into curriculum and pedagogy paves the way for a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape. Their work serves as a valuable resource for institutions worldwide looking to harness the power of AI while ensuring responsible and ethical implementation.

From left are Ratna Selvaratnam, manager for learning technologies and innovation at Edith Cowan University in Australia, Xu Hao from Jiangsu Open University in China, Lily Chan from Wawasan Open University in Malaysia, and Geraldine Meyers-Mashamba and Frederick Mudavanhu from the NWU.

 Prof Antonio Martinez-Arboleda, senior lead of the Knowledge Equity Network and academic lead for open educational practice at the University of Leeds, with Frederick Mudavanhu from the NWU.

Prof Melinda Bandalaria, chancellor of the Open University of the Philippines and ICDE board member, with Dr Joany Fransman, director for teaching and learning at the NWU’s UDL.

Geraldine Meyers-Mashamba on stage before sharing her second presentation.