AI is quickly becoming part of the way we work and learn. A framework has been developed to guide the use of AI at UNE, ensuring these transformative technologies are adopted safely and effectively in ways that support students and staff.

As an institution, UNE can’t ignore AI. We need to maintain our relevance as a place of higher education in a world where AI is becoming ubiquitous. We need to do this in ways that prioritise the needs of our students without compromising the quality and relevance of the credentials we provide to graduates.

The AI Framework for UNE has been reviewed and approved by UNE’s Executive. It is being made available ahead of development of UNE’s AI Policy, which will be guided by the Framework. A draft AI Policy will be made available for consultation in the coming weeks.

In the Framework there are three key aspirations for AI use at UNE. It needs to support UNE’s drive to be “unconventional and innovative”; it needs to allow AI development to take place quickly but carefully; and AI outcomes must be “positive and impactful”.

To support these aspirations, there are six principles, outlined in full at the end of this document.

The Framework is intentionally non-prescriptive. With such a new and rapidly developing technology, we can’t foresee how our use of AI might evolve.

The Framework is spacious enough that it encourages exploration of the full range of positive possibilities that AI may offer, but it proposes enough boundaries to inhibit potentially destructive developments in our use of the technology.

I acknowledge ongoing staff concerns about AI’s impacts. As described in the Principles below, the possibilities for misuse of these technologies sits alongside the benefits of AI as a technology that can amplify and augment peoples’ strengths. Human experience, and the creation and sharing of knowledge for and by humans, remains at the heart of UNE’s mission.

This Framework reflects the University’s aim to use the best of AI as an ally in the evolution of the university. AI can be such an ally to each of us, as individuals and teams, as we work and learn within this institution. I hope the Framework serves as a useful guide to adopting AI as a valuable aid to UNE’s mission in teaching and research.

AI Framework Principles

Proposed principles underpinning the governance of artificial intelligence at UNE:

• Safe: implementing these technologies safely includes privacy, security, compliance and resource considerations.

Therefore, AI implementations at UNE will safeguard information provided to, used by or transmitted by these technologies to ensure the safety of human participants within its AI toolsets.
Additionally, UNE will work to ensure that the environmental impact of its AI technologies has due regard for energy consumption and other issues affecting the natural environment.

• Reliable: implementing these technologies reliably requires compliance with appropriate standards for system performance and dependability.

Therefore, AI implementations at UNE will demonstrate sufficient consideration of system performance and dependability regarding the intended purpose and overall risk profile for each toolset.

• Transparent: implementing these technologies transparently includes disclosure when these technologies are being used, description of the technology that is being used, and human accountability for outcomes. 

Therefore, AI implementations at UNE are disclosed and described, an accountable human being is always identified, and processes are available for individuals to challenge or seek human review of AI-driven decisions.

• Equitable: implementing these technologies equitably means a demonstrated commitment to inclusion, access, and non-discrimination more broadly.

Therefore, AI implementations at UNE are required to demonstrate their capacity to enlarge access and opportunity for all participants, whether it is in education, discovery or any other aspect of UNE’s activity.

• Collaborative: implementing these technologies at UNE collaboratively implies the inclusion of a wide range of perspectives in development, implementation and review.

Therefore, AI implementations at UNE are required to demonstrate engagement with diverse perspectives intended to maximise the effectiveness of these technologies.

• Courageous: implementing these technologies courageously combines bold innovation with humility that learns and improves.

Therefore, AI implementations at UNE demonstrate both the highest aspiration for impactful outcomes and enthusiastic openness to evaluation and improvement.

Please provide any feedback to fset@une.edu.au

Read the framework: