Conference tackles ‘The Higher Education Technology Agenda’

New Zealand needs to continue developing our young people to create the growth in our economy that we need, and this gathering of higher education professionals explores what is happening within the sectorLiz Gosling, AUT

The University of Auckland and AUT are co-hosting the THETA 2017 conference at the Aotea Centre from May 7 to 10.

The Higher Education Technology Agenda (Theta) is the largest gathering of higher education IT professionals outside of North America, and attracts a wide range of IT, academic, teaching and learning and library staff from Australasia and beyond, says AUT CIO Liz Gosling.

The conference is held every two years and aims to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.

This is an exciting opportunity for Auckland, as the conference is generally in Australia – the last time it was held in New Zealand was 2005, says Gosling.

Liz Gosling, CIO, AUT

The theme this year is ‘Connecting Minds. Creating the Future’, which reflects the ongoing importance of higher education in the changing world, says Gosling.

“New Zealand needs to continue developing our young people to create the growth in our economy that we need, and this gathering of higher education professionals explores what is happening within the sector,” Gosling tells CIO New Zealand.

Stephen Whiteside, chief digital officer at Auckland University, says THETA provides “a great opportunity for both universities to showcase our respective capabilities and Auckland City”.

Stephen Whiteside, chief digital officer, University of Auckland

The conference is run under the direction of CAUDIT, CAUL and ACODE.

The conference will have eight programme streams:

• Digital Transformation
• Innovation in Learning and Teaching
• People, Culture and Capability
• Technology Innovation and Service Management
• The Next Generation Library
• The Research Ecosystem
• Strategic Leadership
• Business Solutions

Keynote speakers include University of Auckland’s Dr Michelle Dickinson (Nanogirl) – Nanotechnologist and science educator and Sue Roberts – Director, University of Auckland Library.

Other keynote speakers are:

Anita Brede – IRIS AI CEO

Dr John O’Brien – EDUCAUSE, President, CEO

Maria Heijne – University of Amsterdam, Library Director

Nick Wallingford – Bee expert and Senior Academic Staff Member at Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytechnic

Professor Pare Keiha – Pro-Vice Chancellor: Maori Advancement and Learning and Teaching, AUT

Professor Paul Bonnington – Director of eResearch, Monash University.

THETA 2015 in the Gold Coast

THETA 2015 in the Gold Coast

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