Generative AI and the Tertiary Sector: Current Issues, Key Opportunities and Risks for Institutions and Policymakers

A panel of Australian information systems academics examined how generative AI (GenAI, AI systems that create new text, images, or code based on patterns in training data) is changing higher education, drawing on research from 45 universities across Australia and New Zealand. The panel identified key challenges including learning assurance (ensuring students actually learn the material), privacy, intellectual property rights, and security, while also exploring opportunities for innovation in teaching and research. The discussion emphasized the need for responsible AI governance and policies to guide institutions in adopting GenAI safely and ethically.