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Reflections

Creating safe spaces and belonging with AI communities in Wales 

Reflections of the first year of the Wales AI working group from the co chairs and Jisc.

The Advice Team support communities, funded by Welsh Government, to support the aims of the Welsh Government Digital 2030 strategy. Catherine Evans, Subject Specialist Digital Practice, supports the Wales AI working group. This group launched in October 2023, with members from the FE & Skills sector in Wales. The community chose three themes to focus on in 23/24: Guidance & Policy, Learner Experience & Employability, Training Skills and Development for staff.  

What we achieved in 2023-24 

We set up small working groups to focus on each theme led by  co-chairs:

  • Stevie Emmanuel, Head of Technology Enhanced Learning at Cardiff & Vale College
  • Tiberiu Dancovici, Digital Learning and Innovation Manager at Coleg y Cymoedd 
  • Vicky Galloni, Head of Quality at ITEC Skills.

This post reflects on the work so far and we hear from some of our 23-24 co-chairs. We also hear from our new addition to the co-chair team for 24-25, Bryony Evett-Hackfort, Director of Teaching, Learning and Education at Coleg Sir Gar Coleg Ceredigion. Bryony set up an informal AI Network for colleges in Wales in early 2023 that has been running alongside the working group, with many members attending sessions from both groups. 

The informal network and the Wales AI Working Group provide educators in Welsh colleges and Work Based Learning providers with a space to share their experiences with AI and collaborate on solutions to collective challenges. This post contains reflections from the 2023-24 academic year from some of our existing and new co-chairs. The group is now planning for the new academic year and we will be sharing more about their work in 2025.    

Reflections from the co-chairs

Vicky Galloni’s insight from the Work Based Learning sector has been invaluable to the working group:   

“As a co-chair of the Wales AI Working Group , I have deeply valued the extensive cross-networking with colleagues in Work Based Learning, Further Education, and Higher Education. Our collaborative efforts have led to the development of effective workshop sessions that have provided invaluable guidance, insight, and support to our community. It’s allowed group members to share concerns, current projects and share their developments in AI within their institutions. This role has offered me the unique opportunity to ensure that Work Based Learning is adequately represented, helping to shape an inclusive approach to AI integration in education.” 

Co-chair, Tiberiu (Tibi) shares his reflections on how the AI working group has developed over the last year: 

“Since its inception, I found the  Wales AI working group to be a supportive environment to finding solutions for common problems and a catalyst for creativity in using AI for learning, to enhance the student experience and develop new ways of working; be it through the Welsh Government funded projects or drawing from the rich shared experiences of everyone involved. 

I enjoy connecting with like-minded people, but it’s especially rewarding to be a part of a community that shares similar challenges by being in Welsh FE. 

One of the aims and strengths of this group is taking the role of articulating progress, needs, important issues (as AI development seems to be accelerating) and communicating effectively with partners from awarding bodies and Welsh government.   

A personal highlight for me is that I have been able to combine two of my favourite things: discussing tech and learning and coffee: we started a podcast called Over A Brew, meant to create a space for informal conversations with colleagues from our community and for it to be a free resource for everyone; anyone can host, participate, propose topics of interest. I am very excited about it, mainly because I get to talk to all these interesting colleagues and drink copious amounts of coffee.”  

Tibi’s podcast is available on YouTube on TEL Cymoedd’s YouTube channel, and episode one is also available below. 

Bryony Evett-Hackfort joined the working group as a co-chair for 2024-25. Her experience running the informal AI Network in Wales alongside this group means she is well-placed to keep cultivating an environment where open conversations and a space to be vulnerable and ask the “silly questions” are welcomed. Bryony reflects on how her group was formed in 2023: 

“I wanted to create a safe space where there was no need to be anything other than honest about our progress with AI. The network runs an informal online meeting, once a half term with no agenda, no minutes, no external stakeholders with guest slots. Just representatives from the FE colleges mutually agreeing on discussions to support our engagement with the fast evolution of Generative AI.  

The group membership is open and those in the room have changed as time has moved on. We have leaders, teachers, IT related roles and those who may drop in for a one off session on a particular topic. We plan our session content at the beginning of the year and pull in any guest speakers as we feel needed. Last year we explored policy creation, tool sharing and the transformation of assessment in the AI world. We share good practice, we collectively problem solve and most importantly, remain judgment free as we ask one another for help.  

I fully believe that we can’t respond to the development of AI in isolation and in competition with one another. At every opportunity we must be willing to share.”  

Looking ahead to the new academic year 

Jisc’s involvement in facilitating the Wales AI working group helps empower professionals to address the challenges and opportunities in the FE & Skills sector. The group will be outlining their strategic priorities for 2024-25 over the next couple of months. As the group has matured and evolved, due to the hard work and commitment of our excellent co-chairs, we also see many opportunities for crossover and collaboration with Bryony’s informal network. Both places provide spaces for working together to collectively benefit the community. 

A Medr funded, collaborative project is being led by Cardiff & Vale College and Bridgend College.  The project outputs will be a suite of e-learning materials for staff and learners on using AI effectively, safely and ethically.  

For more information on Jisc’s priorities for Wales in 2024-25, please visit our website. 

If you work in a Welsh FE college, ACL or for a Work Based Learning provider and want to find out more about the Wales AI working group, please contact Catherine Evans 

For more information about the informal Wales AI network that Bryony coordinates, please contact Bryony Evett 

Written by Rosie Hare, Community Intelligence and Impact Lead with contributions from Catherine Evans and our Wales AI co-chairs

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