Join us for a conference exploring the future of AI and education across the post-primary and higher education sectors.

About the event

Co-organised by the Royal Irish Academy, the Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics and the Adapt Research Ireland Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content, this conference will consider the future of AI and education in Ireland through the lens of enhancing literacy and exploring the adoption and integration of AI in teaching, learning, and assessment.

Generative AI is having an unprecedented impact on education across the globe and is being widely discussed and addressed in the media and in academic contexts. This half-day event will look at AI in the context of second and third-level education and in particular the shift from banning AI to encouraging digital literacy and responsible, critical use. The conference aims to bring together a variety of perspectives to explore the integration of AI in education, reflecting on challenges, opportunities, safeguards and policy.

The conference will include a keynote and two discursive panel sessions, the first looking at enhancing AI literacy in teaching and learning, and the second looking at integrating AI literacy in assessment.

The keynote will be delivered by Professor Wayne Holmes, Full Professor of Critical Studies of Artificial Intelligence and Education at University College London. In his talk he will reflect on the ethical, human, and social justice implications of the application of AI in education and set the context for the ensuing panel discussions.

This event was programmed by the RIA’s Engineering & Computer Sciences Committee and Languages, Literature, Culture & Communications Committee.

Provisional Programme

9:30-10:00 Registration

10:00-10:15 Opening Remarks: Malcolm Byrne TD, Chair of Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence

10:15-11:00 Keynote: Wayne Holmes, Full Professor of Critical Studies of Artificial Intelligence and Education, University College London

11:00-12:30 Panel One: Enhancing AI Literacy in Teaching and Learning

• James O’Sullivan, Teaching & Learning Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence, Higher Education Authority
• Phil Hanna, Dean of Education in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast
• Sue Sentance, Director, Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre, University of Cambridge
• Tara Cullinan, student in the College of Engineering and Architecture, University College Dublin

12:30-13:15 Lunch

13:15-14:45 Panel Two: Integrating AI Literacy in Assessmen

• Adrian Kirwan, Teaching and Learning Office, Maynooth University
• Roisín Morris-Drennan, Head of Qualifications Standards and Certification, Quality and Qualifications Ireland
• Geraldine O’Neill, Associate Professor and educational developer, University College Dublin Teaching & Learning
• Michael McEnery, Business Manager at the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment, Northern Ireland

14:45-15:00 Closing Remarks

Hybrid Tickets

This will be a hybrid event meaning attendees can join online or in person in the Royal Irish Academy. You can select your ticket preference when booking. Please do not book more than one type of ticket per person. The webinar link will be shared the day before the event. Please note, we will not be monitoring the online chat function during this event.

Queries

If you have queries relating to this event, contact Fionnuala Parfrey by email: [email protected]

Access requirements

Have you got any access requirements that we can assist you with, so that you can fully engage with our event? Please let us know by contacting our access officer in advance of the event by email: [email protected]