ACPHIS GenAI Policy Review Project
Governing Generative AI in the Tertiary Sector: Insights from Australia and New Zealand
2025/HE001075
About
The Generative AI (GenAI) Policy Review in the Tertiary Sector Project is an ACPHIS-sponsored, cross-institutional research initiative examining the use, governance, and implications of GenAI across higher education institutions in Australia and New Zealand.
Established in response to the rapid emergence of generative AI technologies, the project brings together 20 scholars from across Australia and New Zealand to understand how the 46 universities are adopting and governing GenAI, the opportunities and risks that are emerging, and how the sector can respond effectively and responsibly. The project seeks to provide an evidence base that informs institutional practice, sector-wide coordination, and future policy development.
Drawing on the analysis of policies, guidelines, and practices across 46 universities, the project investigates how GenAI is transforming teaching, learning, research, and university operations. It examines patterns of convergence and divergence in institutional approaches, assesses levels of organisational readiness, and identifies key challenges related to governance, academic integrity, ethics, privacy, accountability, and equity.
A central goal of the project is to promote the responsible, ethical, and innovative use of generative AI in higher education. The project explores how universities can harness the benefits of AI while addressing important concerns such as bias, transparency, student privacy, intellectual property, and the integrity of assessment and research practices.
The project also aims to support the development of sector guidance and standards for AI integration in education and research. This includes contributing to frameworks, recommendations, and capability-building initiatives that can help institutions develop AI literacy, support educators and researchers, and integrate AI-related knowledge and skills into curricula.
Through collaboration, evidence-based analysis, and engagement with the higher education community, the project contributes to a deeper understanding of digital transformation in universities and helps inform ACPHIS advice to the sector and government policymakers on the future of generative AI in tertiary education.
Project Objectives
The project has two overarching aims:
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To explore how Generative AI is currently being used across the sector, including institutional policies, teaching practices, research workflows, and ethics and governance approaches; and
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To develop evidence-informed recommendations that can guide institutions, policymakers, and professional bodies in fostering responsible, innovative, and inclusive AI adoption.
Based on the overarching aims, the project will deliver insights to:
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Understand how generative AI is transforming higher education institutions.
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Examine risks, challenges, and governance implications associated with GenAI adoption.
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Promote ethical, responsible, and innovative uses of generative AI in education and research.
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Contribute to the development of standards, frameworks, and guidance for AI integration.
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Inform institutional decision-making, sector coordination, and future government policy.
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Identify priority areas for future research on generative AI in higher education
Meet the Project Team:
Project Leads:
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Associate Professor Sultana Lubna Alam, The University of Sydney
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Professor Emeritus Deborah Bunker, The University of Sydney
Technical Lead:
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Associate Professor Lemai Ngyuen, Deakin University
Chief Investigators and Research Team:
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Central Queensland University
Associate Professor Meena Jha -
Curtin University
Dr Rohini Balapumi -
Deakin University
Dr Thuc Nguyen -
James Cook University
Dr Kranthi Addanki
Dr Shashi Charles -
La Trobe University
Associate Professor Sophia Duan -
Macquarie University
Associate Professor Mauricio Marrone -
Queensland University of Technology
Dr Bernadette Hyland-Wood
Dr Mimi Tsai -
The University of Melbourne
Associate Professor Antonette Mendoza -
University of Tasmania
Professor Kristy de Salas
Dr Soonja Yeom
Dr Winyu Chinthammit -
University of Technology Sydney
Dr Amara Atif -
Western Sydney University
Associate Professor Ana Hol
Dr Jiahe Chen -
The University of Auckland
Dr Saima Qutab
Dr Ruhi Bajaj
Project Outputs:
Publications
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Alam, S. L., Hyland-Wood, B., Chen, J., Nguyen, L., Bunker, D., Sadiq, S., & Abedin, B. (In press). Generative AI and the Tertiary Sector: Current Issues, Key Opportunities and Risks for Institutions and Policymakers. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 59, pp-pp. Retrieved from https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol59/iss1/25
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Alam S, Nguyen L, Bunker D, Hyland-wood B, Fielt E, marrone m, Chen J, Tsai M, Yang W, Balapumi R, Nguyen T, Hol A, chinthammit w, Addanki K, Jha M, yeom s, Mendoza A, Duan S, Charles S, Qutab S, Bajaj R. (2026). Governing Generative AI in Higher Education: Insights from a National ACPHIS Study. HERDSA 2026. https://conference.herdsa.org.au/2026/program
Presentations
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Upcoming presentation at ACPHIS SGM on 31 July 2026 from 2-3 pm
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Panel at ACIS 2025 on “Generative AI and the Tertiary Sector: Current Issues, Key Opportunities and Risks for Institutions and Policymakers. Communications of the Association for Information Systems”.
Panelists: Alam, S. L., Hyland-Wood, B., Chen, J., D., Sadiq, S., & Abedin,
Facilitator: Bunker, D.