Learning and Teaching at Navitas
04 Dec 2024

2024 in review: Celebrating a year of excellence in learning, teaching, and community

As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on and celebrate a year filled with collaboration, community spirit, and a shared commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Read on to revisit key initiatives, explore highlights, and celebrate the contributions of our staff who made it possible.

Community Contributions

Our Communities of Practice (CoPs) provide a vibrant and dynamic space where educators and those who impact the student experience come together to collaborate, share knowledge, and reflect upon teaching, learning, and student support.

We thank everyone who contributed their time and expertise by leading webinars, facilitating roundtable discussions, and sharing best practices and innovative approaches within our CoPs.

  • Communities of Practice Co-Leadership: We are grateful to our UPA Teachers’ Lounge leads Andrea Vergara (SIBT), Lorena Ajuria (SAIBT), Dr Luke Bozzetto (LTSUC), and Mojtaba Sanati (CC) for their support and leadership; and Maria Remiendo (LTUSC), Leena Wanganoo (Murdoch Dubai), and Mehdi Pishva (LTUSC) for co-leading the Academic Coordinators CoP.
  • Webinars and Roundtable Facilitation: A special thanks to Yianni Vassiliou (DC), Petar Stojanovic (LTCA), Dr Niva Kaspi (ECC), and Dr Luke Bozzetto (LTSUC) for delivering engaging and insightful sessions to our teaching community.
  • Navitas AI Staff Forum: Assessment Practices in the Age of Generative AI:
    The innovative and thoughtful approaches and research presented at the second annual Generative AI Forum helped us unpack and explore the nuance and complexities involved in designing, delivering, securing, and validating assessment in the age of AI. Thanks to the presenters: Freddy Ha (Taylors College), Dr Upeka Somaratne (Navitas Data Scientist), Dr Luke Bozzetto (LTUSC), Pauline Haber (Taylors College), Mehdi Pishva (LTUSC), Jonathan Brown (SIBT), Ramesh Presser (LTCA), Angela Martin (UCIC) and Dr Trevor Nesbit (University of Canterbury). Watch the Forum recordings here (Navitas staff only): Part One and Part Two.
  • Generative AI Toolkit: Since the release of ChatGPT in late 2022 over 350 Navitas staff members have joined this community, and we’ve been on a journey of learning, experimentation, and innovation as we explore the potential and seek to understand the limitations and ethical questions surrounding the use of generative AI in the context of higher education. The document “Navigating GenAI at Navitas – Whole of Institution Approach” details our journey and collective efforts, serving as a testament to our leadership in transforming educational paradigms through Generative AI, emphasising our commitment to maintaining educational integrity and enhancing teaching efficacy.
  • Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Working Group: Eighteen members representing fifteen UPA colleges have been active participants in the ESD Working Group throughout 2024, engaging in discussions and planning of ESD initiatives to implement across the UPA division. Initiatives and achievements for 2024 include the development of on the online ESD Community for all Navitas staff, collaboration with partner universities, the development of an ESD Framework, and ESD focused presentations at the L&T Conference 2024.
  • UPA Learning and Teaching Conference (2024): Shaping Student Success in Higher Education – Innovative and Inclusive Approaches for Global Learners: Over 200 Navitas educators, leaders, and sector experts gathered for the inaugural UPA Learning and Teaching Conference. Featuring over 40 presenters from across Navitas UPA, the conference provided an opportunity for staff to come together to explore strategies, exchange ideas, and discuss innovative and evidence-based approaches to fostering student success. We thank everyone who contributed to making the day such a success – from the presenters who shared their expertise, to the attendees who engaged so thoughtfully with the content. For more information about presentations, key note speakers, our conference committee, and networking facilitators, read the full article here.
  • Learning and Teaching Awards: This year we recognised UPA educators who regularly contributed towards L&T initiatives with the presentation of the inaugural UPA Learning and Teaching Awards. Congratulations to Lorena Ajuria (SAIBT) who was awarded the Learning and Teaching Community Engagement Award for her role in supporting the Navitas Advance HE Fellowship program through mentoring and peer guidance, and Dr Luke Bozzetto (LTUSC) who received the Learning and Teaching Impact Award for his leadership in supporting Navitas educators to navigate the opportunities and challenges of generative AI in higher education.
  • Foundations of Teaching and Learning at Navitas (FoLTaN): This newly launched eight-week program is designed to support new and early career educators to develop the knowledge, capabilities, resources, and connections required to excel as a Navitas educator. Congratulations to our successful inaugural cohort of participants: Reece Pomeroy (UCIC), Germaine Tan (CC), Isabel Wang (GC), Uvarajan Rama (Curtin Singapore), Indunil Weerasinghe (Edith Cowan Sri Lanka), Kalani Kumasaru (Edith Cowan Sri Lanka), Nick Sing (Curtin Singapore), Uzma Imran Malik (ECC), Maggie Tan (Curtin Singapore), Simon Carter (DC), Dilini Ishaka (Edith Cowan Sri Lanka), Udani Wickramaratna (ACBT), Megh Shetty (DC), Tina Yan (ECC), Nadia Idros (Curtin Singapore), Christopher Sze (WSUIC), Sarah Laird (LTCA) and Anson Chew (Taylors College).
  • Navitas Advance HE Fellowship Program: Congratulations to the thirty-eight Navitas staff members (and counting) who have achieved Fellowship following their participation in the 2024 Navitas Advance HE Fellowship Program. This remarkable milestone brings the total number of Fellows across Navitas globally to an impressive 240!
  • Navitas 2024 Inspire Awards: Nominated by peers and selected by Navitas CEO Scott Jones, the Inspire awards recognise and reward outstanding individual contributions to our vision of being the best education provider in the world for our students, partners and people. This year, we celebrate the achievements of UPA staff within our learning and teaching community who were recognised as Inspire finalists and winners including:
    • Edith Cowan University Sri Lanka: Winner, The Performance Improvement Award
    • Karen McRae (Learning and Teaching Services, UPA): Winner, The Intrapreneur Award
    • Simon Tanti (Eynesbury College): Runner up, The Intrapreneur Award
    • Alyce Hogg (Learning and Teaching Services, UPA): Runner up, The Life Changing Lens Award
    • Lorena Ajuria (South Australian Institute of Business & Technology): Runner up, The Care Factor Award

    For the full list of Navitas Inspire Awards, click here (accessible to Navitas staff only).

    Looking to 2025

    As we approach the new year, we invite you to get involved in professional development opportunities in 2025. Whether co-leading a Community of Practice, presenting at the next AI Forum or Learning and Teaching Conference, joining a program, a workshop, or facilitating a webinar or roundtable discussion, we encourage you to get involved! For more information, and a calendar of 2025 PD offerings, contact us at learningandteaching@navitas.com.

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash