The impact of technology and artificial intelligence will change how and what students learn in the classroom.

The Education for a Changing World project aims to stimulate informed discussions about the policies and reforms that we may need to set in motion now to ensure education best prepares young people to successfully navigate a more complex world.

The first phase of the project involves broadening the discussion, and building the evidence base across the following themes:

• the challenges and opportunities presented by the vastly different, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled world that students of today will live and work in

• how education responds, providing the knowledge, skills and experiences today's students need to thrive in tomorrow's world.

Future Frontiers: Educating for 2040

On 26 June 2018, a panel of academics, practitioners and business personalities discussed the implications for education of the current artificial intelligence and other emerging trends.

The event launched a report commissioned by the NSW Department of Education from Professor John Buchanan and a team from the University of Sydney. The report, 'Education: Future Frontiers - Preparing for the best and worst of times' explores the important question of what predicted changes in artificial intelligence and other emerging transformations might mean for education and our schools helping to prepare young people for this future world.

The panel featured:

• Professor John Buchanan - Head of the Discipline of Business Analytics, Sydney University

• Dr Sandra Peter - Director, Sydney Business Insights, Sydney University

• Professor Rafael Calvo - ARC Future Fellow and Director of the Software Engineering Group, Sydney University

• Stacey Quince - Principal, Campbelltown Performing Arts High School

• Emma Hogan - NSW Public Service Commissioner

Building the evidence base

We have commissioned a series of background papers, essays and analytical reports from leading academics and thinkers from around the world. These consider the strategic implications for education arising from developments in artificial intelligence and related technologies.

We have collected a selection of the essays into a book, Future Frontiers: Education for an AI world ? a joint publication by Melbourne University Press and the NSW Department of Education.

Broadening the discussion

The project has hosted a series of events to engage school leaders and students, leaders from business and industry and higher education to discuss the potential impact of AI and other technologies on the nature of work and how to prepare young people for a more challenging future.

The Education for a Changing World Symposium was the culmination of these discussions, and brought together experts in education, industry and innovation.

Discussion papers - the evidence and the implications

The Department has published two discussion papers. The first, Future Frontiers: The implications of AI, automation and 21st century skills needs (PDF 345.43KB), explores some of the department's initial thinking about the challenges of the big technological, economic, demographic and social shifts occurring around the globe.

The second discussion paper, Future Frontiers: Opportunities and challenges for education (PDF 499.96KB), explores what 21st century students will need to be prepared to live and work in an increasingly AI-rich world. The paper examines what might need to evolve across school systems to ensure that all students are set up for a lifetime of learning, are comfortable with change, empathetic, both outward looking and self-aware, and have the capacity to critically engage with new technologies.

More information

For further information about the project, contact futurefrontiers@det.nsw.edu.au.