Pioneering the future of education with TransformED 2024
From left to right: Dr Caryn Lim (Director of Education Excellence at Monash University Malaysia) and Associate Professor Tridib Saha (Director of Education and Training Academy at Monash University Malaysia), who are part of the organising committee for TransformED 2024.
TransformED 2024, an annual learning and teaching conference jointly organised by Monash University Malaysia and Monash University Indonesia was held on 10 December 2024 at M Resort & Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The event attracted over 150 people from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia. Themed around Education Leadership, Education Technology and Digital Literacies and Student Experience and Success, TransformED provides a platform for educators, education leaders, and industry professionals to share creative approaches to higher education and the evolving student experience.
The conference began with a welcoming remark from Professor Stephen John Boyle, Vice President (Education) of Monash University Malaysia. In his opening remarks, he highlighted the power of education and the role of educators in shaping the future. Following this, Professor Emeritus Dato' Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, President and Pro Vice-Chancellor of Monash University Malaysia, provided her opening speech to the event by emphasising the importance of innovation and adaptability in education, particularly in response to the challenges posed by AI and digital transformation.
Professor Emeritus Dato' Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, President and Pro Vice-Chancellor of Monash University Malaysia, presented her opening remarks during the event.
A memorable keynote address by Professor Tansy Jessop, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students at the University of Bristol followed this. Her presentation, Fostering Student Agency and Engagement in Assessment: Taking a Program Approach, called for rethinking traditional assessment methods to promote deeper learning and student empowerment. She encouraged educators to adopt program-level strategies that enhance the overall learning experience.
Professor Tansy Jessop, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students at the University of Bristol shared her keynote address with the attendees.
The day’s events included a series of interactive workshops, which covered topics such as integrating AI into teaching practices, promoting inclusivity, and using LEGO as a tool to enhance student engagement. These sessions enabled attendees to gain practical insights and strategies that could be implemented in their own educational contexts.
Reflecting on the value of these workshops, Kartika Yulianti, a senior faculty member at the Character Building Development Center (CBDC) at BINUS University in Jakarta, Indonesia, shared her experience, stating, “Attending TransformED 2024 held by Monash University Malaysia was beneficial for my professional development as a lecturer. There were important and interesting presentations and workshops to discuss and implement, such as the use of AI in the teaching and learning process and the importance of considering gender and culture inclusion in curriculum design. I look forward to this event in the coming years!”
The pitch presentation segments were also one of the major standout moments of the day, with this year’s title being “Teaching for Tomorrow: AI Innovations Competition”. Five shortlisted participants presented ideas such as AI-supported clinical case development, generative AI for assessment marking, and integrating AI in preparing students for clinical practice. Each pitch highlighted the potential of AI to enhance educational experiences. The panelists, such as Professor Tansy Jessop, Associate Professor Tim Fawns, and Associate Professor Tridib Saha, were the competition's judges.
The day’s events also included a roundtable discussion on AI and the Future of Work, moderated by Professor Adeeba. This session featured Professor Jessop, Associate Professor Tim Fawns of Monash Education Academy, and Vishy Narayanan, Asia Pacific Digital & AI Leader at PwC. The panel discussed the impact of AI on the global workforce and the essential role of higher education in preparing students with a balance of technical and human-centric skills.
The attendees of TransformED 2024 listened intently to the roundtable discussion on AI and the Future of Work.
The conference concluded with a special Gala Dinner, happening on the night of the event day itself. The dinner also hosted the awards ceremony, recognising the outstanding contributions to teaching and learning. The School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy received awards for their exceptional efforts in enhancing student learning, while the School of Business took home the most individual awards of the evening. “TransformED is an outstanding platform that unites educators from this region to collaborate and share innovative approaches. A primary insight was the necessity of incorporating AI into the curriculum to develop future-ready graduates. It is not solely about the adoption of AI tools; it involves meaningful engagement with AI and the development of various, innovative pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning. The workshop was motivating and influential, providing essential insights that will inform our educational approach,” said Professor Goh See-Kwong, Deputy Head of School (Education) at the School of Business, Monash University Malaysia.
“Whether educators, industry professionals or policymakers, many of us have AI on our minds as there are still uncertainties about how higher education might adjust to this era of AI. TransformED 2024 served as a vital opportunity to share insights, talk through contemporary challenges and celebrate achievements in this area. It's so important and such a rare opportunity to bring together so much passion and expertise in one place so, when you do, the collegial energy is really palpable and I think everyone came away with fresh ideas,” said Dr Caryn Lim, Director of Education Excellence.
The event demonstrated the power of collective innovation and action in addressing global challenges, setting the stage for an even more impactful conference in the future.