Source
Lodge, J. M., Bower, M., Gulson, K., Henderson, M., Slade, C., & Southgate, E. (2025). Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success, Curtin University
Summary
This framework provides a national roadmap for the ethical, equitable, and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI)—including generative and agentic AI—across Australian higher education. It recognises both the transformative potential and inherent risks of AI, calling for governance structures, policies, and pedagogies that prioritise human flourishing, academic integrity, and cultural inclusion. The framework builds on the Australian Framework for Generative AI in Schools but is tailored to the unique demands of higher education: research integrity, advanced scholarship, and professional formation in AI-enhanced contexts.
Centred around seven guiding principles—human-centred education, inclusive implementation, ethical decision-making, Indigenous knowledges, ethical development, adaptive skills, and evidence-informed innovation—the framework links directly to the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It emphasises AI literacy, Indigenous data sovereignty, environmental sustainability, and the co-design of equitable AI systems. Implementation guidance includes governance structures, staff training, assessment redesign, cross-institutional collaboration, and a coordinated national research agenda.
Key Points
- AI in higher education must remain human-centred and ethically governed.
- Generative and agentic AI should support, not replace, human teaching and scholarship.
- Institutional AI frameworks must align with equity, inclusion, and sustainability goals.
- Indigenous knowledge systems and data sovereignty are integral to AI ethics.
- AI policies should be co-designed with students, staff, and First Nations leaders.
- Governance requires transparency, fairness, accountability, and contestability.
- Staff professional learning should address ethical, cultural, and environmental dimensions.
- Pedagogical design must cultivate adaptive, critical, and reflective learning skills.
- Sector-wide collaboration and shared national resources are key to sustainability.
- Continuous evaluation ensures AI enhances educational quality and social good.
Conclusion
The framework positions Australia’s higher education sector to lead in responsible AI adoption. By embedding ethical, equitable, and evidence-based practices, it ensures that AI integration strengthens—not undermines—human expertise, cultural integrity, and educational purpose. It reaffirms universities as stewards of both knowledge and justice in an AI-shaped future.
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