22 June 2022 at 9:30 am
Digital masterclass a runaway success
More than 4,000 viewers took part in a recent masterclass on the Digital Revolution for Education, organised by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Secretariat and the Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao team based in Thailand, on 24 May 2022. A further 42,000 viewers have since watched a recording of the event.
Two New Zealand academics were among the speakers showcasing the latest technological solutions to revolutionise education at this second SEAMEO – New Zealand masterclass.
Professor Richard Green from the Department of Computer Science & Software Engineering at the University of Canterbury, who also co-chairs the NZ AI Researchers Association, presented on “AI is Revolutionising Sustainability, Food and Biosecurity”. Dr Suranga Nanayakkara, Associate Professor at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, presented on “Kiwrious: Keeping Kiwi Kids Curious”. The other two keynote speakers were from National Institute of Education, Singapore, and Universiti Malaya, Malaysia.
The event was broadcast on SEAMEO Secretariat YouTube Channel and targeted policy-makers, government officials, educators, teachers, lecturers at TVET institutions and universities in Southeast Asia and beyond.
“The high level of interest in this event reflects the changes that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused in the way we live, work and learn,” said ENZ’s Regional Director, Asia, Ben Burrowes.
“A huge part of the attraction of a New Zealand education has been our world-class teaching and learning environment. We have been focusing on teaching 21st century skills within our national education strategy. This includes soft skills enabling our students to become critical, creative and independent learners. Our use of digital technology in the classrooms is also widely recognised and remains a huge focus in our school and tertiary curriculum.
“This second Master Class gave teachers and educators in the Southeast Asia region an opportunity to learn more about what a New Zealand education can offer, and broaden their viewpoints on the technological disruptions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Officially admitted as an Associate Member Country in 1973, New Zealand's co-operative relations with SEAMEO include scholarships and provision of experts for SEAMEO Regional Centres. The first SEAMEO-New Zealand masterclass on “Education Technology and Digital Security” was held in September 2021.
The 2022 masterclass can be viewed from the following link on the SEAMEO Secretariat YouTube channel https://link.seameo.org/MasterClass/20220524
