Prof. Chan Nee Nee, UCSI University, Malaysia
Brief: Thought-provoking speaker, researcher, and teacher, Professor Chan Nee Nee inspires others to think critically about their actions and reflect on their work. As an invited speaker to conferences and seminars, Nee Nee’s highly interactive style enables her to make meaningful connections with her audience. Nee Nee previously worked as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences in UCSI University and Quest International University, and was with the Singapore Polytechnic, as Deputy Director, Language and Communication Department. She has a Doctorate in Education (Durham University, UK), an M.A. in English Studies from the National University of Singapore. Nee Nee’s research interests are in technology-enhanced learning, bullying and cyberbullying, digital cultures, and academic practice. She has published in high impact journals and led several large grant projects in cyberbullying and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic practices. Her passion for exploring how technologies intersect with education and society has led her to focus on the big wave currently sweeping the world: the impact of Generative AI in higher education.
Title: ChatGPT and GenAI: Empowering and Constraining Impact on Higher Education.
Abstract: With the public release of ChatGPT in November 2022, the initial response among the academic community has ranged from euphoria to hysteria. Some educators and media journalists proclaim it as a revolutionary invention akin to the creation of the computer. Others perceive it as a threat to their academic practices and jobs. Subsequent release of other Generative AI tools such as Perplexity, Microsoft Pilot, Bing and Chatpdf have reinforced the claim that GenAI is transforming the educational sector.  This talk explores how university teachers and students have used ChatGPT and GenAI in higher education and discusses its empowering and constraining impact. The cultural and social implications of such technologies will be also examined.