

- Like
- Digg
- Del
- Tumblr
- VKontakte
- Buffer
- Love This
- Odnoklassniki
- Meneame
- Blogger
- Amazon
- Yahoo Mail
- Gmail
- AOL
- Newsvine
- HackerNews
- Evernote
- MySpace
- Mail.ru
- Viadeo
- Line
- Comments
- Yummly
- SMS
- Viber
- Telegram
- Subscribe
- Skype
- Facebook Messenger
- Kakao
- LiveJournal
- Yammer
- Edgar
- Fintel
- Mix
- Instapaper
- Copy Link
The Department of Finance (DOF) in the Philippines is establishing
an online-based payment gateway to enable taxpayers and other state clients to
remit fees and other charges electronically to government agencies.
This is in line with the Philippine Government’s efforts
to cut red tape and improve the ease of doing business in the country.
The PHPay system is designed to be a secure and reliable
collection system in which government clients can transfer payments online for
government services, anytime and anywhere, minimising the need for human
contact and eliminating long queues in state offices.
Even after PHPay is in place, taxpayers and other government
clients, can still opt to use other payment methods.
Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran updated officials from
the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) and of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the National
Competitiveness Council; along with Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista of this
DOF initiative during a recent meeting to discuss the measures being done to
improve the ease of doing business in the country.
Reducing procedures
and processing time
Complementing this DOF effort, the Bureau of Internal
Revenue (BIR) has minimised the processing time and procedures for paying
taxes, registering properties and starting business. They have reduced the
number of steps for registering a new business from six days to one day.
For tax payment, the BIR has cut the number of procedures
from twenty to only seven steps, while for simple transactions in registering
properties, the processing period has been brought down from 15 to six days.
Besides these measures, Beltran said to ease trading across
borders, the simple export and import processes of the Bureau of Customs (BOC)
will be done online.
He said the BOC will tap Tradenet.gov.ph, a fully-owned
Philippine government digital platform, which will automate the licensing,
permit, clearance, and certification systems for regulatory agencies.
Launched last December, the TradeNet platform will also
serve as the Philippines’
link to the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) gateway and is expected to minimize
the costs of doing business and cut the processing time for the issuance of
import and export permits.
The ASW gateway is a regional initiative that aims to speed
up cargo clearances and promote economic integration by enabling the electronic
exchange of border documents among the organisation’s 10 member-states. It
integrates the National Single Windows (NSW) of member states and provides
the secure IT architecture and legal framework that will allow trade, transport,
and commercial data to be exchanged electronically among government agencies or
the trading community.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are already
using the ASW to exchange information on customs clearances.
Undersecretary Beltran said TradeNet.gov.ph will allow
traders to initially use the system to apply for import and export permits for
rice, sugar, used motor vehicles, chemicals (toluene), frozen meat medicines
(for humans, animals or fish) and cured tobacco.
Multiple ongoing initiatives
to improve ease of doing business
Besides TradeNet, the DOF implemented several innovations in
2017 anchored on the use of digital technology to improve the ease of doing
business and electronically interconnect with other member-states of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to help speed up the region’s
economic integration.
These innovations include the establishment of the
Philippine Business Data Bank (PBDB); the ongoing computerisation program at
the Department and the Bureaus of Internal Revenue (BIR) and of Customs (BOC);
and the continuing efforts to reduce the procedures and requirements in
securing government documents or applications.
PBDB, currently being piloted in Quezon City, will
eventually allow the online processing of business permits, down to the local
government level. It targets to cover all 1,634 local government units
nationwide within a two-year period.
“Economic zone data will likewise be progressively be made
available covering all economic zones in the country,” said Undersecretary Beltran.
The precursor to the PBDB—the Online Unified Business Permit
Application Form—is being fine-tuned to further simplify the process and allow
businesses to apply for LGU (local government unit) business permits regardless
of location.
DOF and other involved agencies are now finalising the data
elements for the online business permit application form.


- Like
- Digg
- Del
- Tumblr
- VKontakte
- Buffer
- Love This
- Odnoklassniki
- Meneame
- Blogger
- Amazon
- Yahoo Mail
- Gmail
- AOL
- Newsvine
- HackerNews
- Evernote
- MySpace
- Mail.ru
- Viadeo
- Line
- Comments
- Yummly
- SMS
- Viber
- Telegram
- Subscribe
- Skype
- Facebook Messenger
- Kakao
- LiveJournal
- Yammer
- Edgar
- Fintel
- Mix
- Instapaper
- Copy Link
According to Masagos Zulkifli, Second Minister for Health at the recently concluded 8th Advance Care Planning International Conference, person-centred care includes prioritising the patient’s choices and involving the patient and their family in care decisions. As a result, advance care planning (ACP) allows individuals to communicate their enhanced healthcare preferences.
ACP has been adopted in Singapore under the Advance Medical Directive Act and the Mental Capacity Act. Over 35,000 Singaporeans have completed their plans under the “Living Matters” programme, which promotes ACP.
In the future, the Ministry of Health hopes to raise awareness and acceptance of ACP, which has earned global prominence for aligning care with individual beliefs.
Minister Masagos noted that three issues must be overcome to promote the wider adoption of ACP. To begin, Singapore’s traditional society requires a mindset shift to normalise dialogues about death and dying, particularly among the elderly.
Second, additional facilitators, particularly trustworthy doctors, should be included to effectively engage the community. Finally, the present ACP facilitation approach requires an improved structure that can accommodate a larger group without losing quality.
In addition, technology should be used to reach out to digitally literate populations and increase scalability. Overcoming these obstacles will allow ACP to gain wider support and implementation in Singapore.
The Ministry of Health hopes to improve accessibility and ease in the ACP process as Singapore embraces technology. Individuals can now complete their ACP autonomously, without the necessity for in-depth talks with facilitators, thanks to the use of digital technologies, especially for those who are generally healthy.
This transition to digital solutions tackles the scalability and resource intensity issues that have plagued traditional ACP facilitation. It also serves a growing generation of digitally literate consumers who want more control over their healthcare decisions.
The ACP community must work with the healthcare system’s continuing improvements, particularly the Healthier SG project, which emphasises preventive care. Key shifts are required to enhance ACP knowledge and implementation.
Also, a societal mindset shift is required, which includes outreach, providing ACP outside of clinical settings, and establishing a statewide Pre-Planning Campaign. Roadshows, workshops, and a digital campaign on the My Legacy site will be part of this effort.
Individuals can use this gateway to get extensive information about ACP, start conversations, and make informed decisions about their life preferences. These programmes not only empower individuals but also promote early planning, ensuring that their values and priorities fit with their care goals.
Individuals and their families will benefit from these efforts, which aim to stimulate talks and early planning for end-of-life care. It is critical to begin these discussions and make the appropriate arrangements, including as purchasing insurance and establishing a durable power of attorney and wills.
Two critical shifts must occur for ACP to be widely adopted. First, healthcare personnel should be encouraged to incorporate ACP dialogues into routine treatment, giving them the knowledge and ability to discuss end-of-life planning with their patients.
This involves starting early dialogues with people who have significant illnesses about how to connect their care plans with their values. Second, to improve the ease, the ACP procedure should be digitalised.
While third-party facilitators are still required in some circumstances, digitally savvy persons who are relatively healthy can self-facilitate the broad ACP without in-depth conversations. Citizens can empower themselves to finish the ACP process independently by leveraging technology and digital platforms.
- Like
- Digg
- Del
- Tumblr
- VKontakte
- Buffer
- Love This
- Odnoklassniki
- Meneame
- Blogger
- Amazon
- Yahoo Mail
- Gmail
- AOL
- Newsvine
- HackerNews
- Evernote
- MySpace
- Mail.ru
- Viadeo
- Line
- Comments
- Yummly
- SMS
- Viber
- Telegram
- Subscribe
- Skype
- Facebook Messenger
- Kakao
- LiveJournal
- Yammer
- Edgar
- Fintel
- Mix
- Instapaper
- Copy Link
The University of Sydney recently entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Australian subsidiary of a pharmaceutical company based in South Korea. The partnership aims to leverage the power of artificial intelligence in identifying potential compounds for accelerated development into treatments for cancers and rare diseases.
Under the MoU, the University’s Drug Discovery Initiative will gain access to the pharmaceutical company’s advanced AI drug development platform, known as Chemiverse. This collaboration will enable the University to harness the capabilities of AI in identifying promising compounds for drug development. Additionally, the company will benefit from collaborating with the University’s esteemed team of researchers and using their cutting-edge drug discovery infrastructure.
The Director of the Drug Discovery Initiative expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with the company. He highlighted the complexity involved in developing drugs for treating diseases and emphasised the significance of working with Pharos and their advanced artificial intelligence platform, Chemiverse.
The use of Chemiverse in this partnership is expected to greatly enhance the University’s capacity to develop innovative treatments for unmet medical needs. Moreover, the synergies between the platform and the Drug Discovery Initiative will foster innovation and facilitate the establishment of new drug discovery pipelines.
The Drug Discovery Initiative, situated within the School of Chemistry, serves as an interdisciplinary academic network that aims to expedite the early-stage development of drugs by leveraging top-tier individuals, technologies, and tools.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Enterprise) emphasised the University’s dedication to translating fundamental research into practical solutions. The partnership with the company is viewed as an opportunity to capitalise on the expertise housed within the Drug Discovery Initiative. Together, they strive to advance the development of potentially life-saving targets for cancer and rare diseases.
The co-CEO of the company’s Australia branch expressed excitement about collaborating with the University and the Drug Discovery Initiative. He said the use of state-of-the-art infrastructure to accelerate drug discovery efforts.
The firm’s Chemiverse platform is a versatile tool that can be employed across the entire spectrum of new drug development, encompassing target discovery to lead compound generation. This advanced platform incorporates a vast amount of big data, approximately 230 million data points, and uses advanced algorithms to facilitate the drug development process.
The company is actively engaged in ongoing research and development as well as commercialisation efforts using the Chemiverse platform. They are currently working on approximately 10 pipeline projects, which include the development of a treatment called “PHI-101” for acute myeloid leukaemia. Notably, PHI-101 is currently undergoing phase 1b clinical trials.
On the other hand, the Drug Discovery Initiative plays a prominent role in the development of new compounds and the identification of collaborative pipelines. They are highly active in their pursuit of advancing drug discovery and forging partnerships in this field.
In March, the NSW Government provided funding for the establishment of the NSW Organoid Innovation Centre. This state-of-the-art facility is a collaborative initiative involving multiple institutions. It focuses on using cutting-edge stem-cell techniques to expedite the process of drug discovery and design.
The pharmaceutical company, earlier this year, became a part of the Sydney Knowledge Hub, which serves as a startup incubator and coworking space located at the University of Sydney. This strategic collaboration aims to foster partnerships and facilitate seamless collaboration between industry and the research community in Sydney.
- Like
- Digg
- Del
- Tumblr
- VKontakte
- Buffer
- Love This
- Odnoklassniki
- Meneame
- Blogger
- Amazon
- Yahoo Mail
- Gmail
- AOL
- Newsvine
- HackerNews
- Evernote
- MySpace
- Mail.ru
- Viadeo
- Line
- Comments
- Yummly
- SMS
- Viber
- Telegram
- Subscribe
- Skype
- Facebook Messenger
- Kakao
- LiveJournal
- Yammer
- Edgar
- Fintel
- Mix
- Instapaper
- Copy Link
In light of the risks posed by the advancement of information technology and the internet, the government, state, and the entire political system have taken significant measures to enhance the safeguarding of children within the online environment.
According to UNICEF, children are increasingly exposed to various risks, including the concerning issue of cyberbullying. The agency reports that one in five young individuals have experienced online bullying.
Reports have shown that the national emergency telephone number for child protection, 111, received nearly 420 calls about child protection in the online environment and 18 notifications about channels or video clips with harmful content for children in 2022. The figures in the first five months of this year were 128 calls and three notifications.
An expert from UNICEF’s children’s protection programme said that strategies to address cyber-bullying and abuse should be part of the broader child protection strategies. Cooperation and coordination among stakeholders are key to success in this work.
The Guidelines for Industry on Child Online Protection, developed by UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), serve as a framework for businesses. These guidelines offer solutions that businesses can adopt to ensure the protection and well-being of children, while also promoting a healthy and creative internet experience for children themselves.
Dang Hoa Nam, Director of the Department of Child Affairs under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, emphasised the importance of collective efforts in establishing a digital environment that is both safer and healthier for children. He highlighted the significance of drawing from both domestic and international experiences to implement targeted and practical measures aimed at ensuring children’s safety in the online realm.
Vietnam has established a comprehensive legal framework to protect children in the digital sphere, including laws such as the Law on Children, the Law on Cyber Information Security, and the Law on Access to Information. These laws provide a crucial legal foundation for child protection initiatives.
To safeguard children in the online environment, the government and the Prime Minister have issued several significant documents. These include the National Action Programme for Children in the 2021-2030 period and the programme on protection of and support for children.
Furthermore, Vietnam, alongside other ASEAN member nations, has collectively endorsed crucial agreements to protect children’s welfare online. This includes the adoption of the Declaration on the Protection of Children from all Forms of Online Exploitation and Abuse in ASEAN in 2019, as well as the Declaration on the Elimination of Bullying of Children in ASEAN.
The Authority of Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and several city Information and Communications Departments held a conference earlier this May on the launch and evaluation of the national cyber security and safety strategy. The event was held in Ha Long City.
As OpenGov Asia reported, servers are the primary targets of cyber-attacks in the country, aimed at stealing passwords and data. Last year in Vietnam, computer viruses resulted in economic losses amounting to VND 21.2 trillion (US$ 903 million). To ensure cybersecurity, MIC collaborated with various agencies to conduct three nationwide security exercises. The authority directly prevented over 3,600 fraudulent websites, safeguarding nearly 4 million people or approximately 6% of internet users.
Vietnam has set a goal to establish a cybersecurity research and development centre, safeguard information systems in 11 critical sectors, and establish cybersecurity forces at ministries, sectors, and state agencies by 2025.
- Like
- Digg
- Del
- Tumblr
- VKontakte
- Buffer
- Love This
- Odnoklassniki
- Meneame
- Blogger
- Amazon
- Yahoo Mail
- Gmail
- AOL
- Newsvine
- HackerNews
- Evernote
- MySpace
- Mail.ru
- Viadeo
- Line
- Comments
- Yummly
- SMS
- Viber
- Telegram
- Subscribe
- Skype
- Facebook Messenger
- Kakao
- LiveJournal
- Yammer
- Edgar
- Fintel
- Mix
- Instapaper
- Copy Link
Indonesia has embarked on an exciting journey towards revolutionising its healthcare landscape by embracing the power of 5G technology and introducing the groundbreaking concept of Robotic Telesurgery. This ambitious endeavour aims to elevate the quality of healthcare services, overcome geographical barriers, and provide access to cutting-edge surgical procedures for patients nationwide.
In support of the government’s agenda through the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, a pilot test and demonstration of the implementation of the 5G Robotic Telesurgery (remote robotic surgery) use case, the first of its kind in Indonesia is being conducted.
Robotic Telesurgery is one of the innovative use cases that harness the power of the 5G network, supported by a private network company in Indonesia, enabling the healthcare realm to enhance productivity and efficiency.
In the real-time implementation of Robotic Telesurgery technology, a large bandwidth capacity and low latency are required for data controlling functions, intra-abdominal accurate image transfer, and video communication. In the pilot test and demonstration, the doctors are located at RSUP Dr Hasan Sadikin in Bandung, while the patients are at RSUP Dr Sardjito in Yogyakarta. The distance between Bandung and Yogyakarta is approximately 563 km.
Reliable and low latency 5G network infrastructure is utilised at both pilot project hospital locations to accommodate Robotic Telesurgery. It ensures high visual precision and ergonomic remote instrument accessibility and reduces the risk of complications during surgical procedures and recovery.
Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Dante Saksono Harbuwono, explains that telerobotic surgery technology is beneficial for addressing the shortage of specialist surgeons and eliminates geographical barriers and distance limitations. This technology can assist surgeons and patients in remote areas, providing them access to the latest surgical procedures.
Considering that Indonesia is an archipelago with thousands of islands, this advanced technology addresses the country’s geographical challenges, reducing the risks and dangers associated with long-distance travel.
Director of Planning and Transformation at the private network, Wong, stated that in continuing the commitment to make the leading 5G broadband network ecosystem, both the government and private sector must take a leading role in implementing mobile digital services and solutions that exceed user expectations and support the nation’s economic growth.
The partnership between the private sector and the public hospitals showcases the synergy in driving technological innovation to benefit the nation’s healthcare landscape. By pushing the boundaries of technology in healthcare, Indonesia demonstrates its commitment to embracing the digital era and harnessing its transformative potential.
The government is optimistic that such collaborations can continue with all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and national healthcare service providers, to explore further opportunities for advancement in accelerating the digital transformation of national healthcare services. It will bring progress in the healthcare sector and various other industries that can support the nation’s development.
- Like
- Digg
- Del
- Tumblr
- VKontakte
- Buffer
- Love This
- Odnoklassniki
- Meneame
- Blogger
- Amazon
- Yahoo Mail
- Gmail
- AOL
- Newsvine
- HackerNews
- Evernote
- MySpace
- Mail.ru
- Viadeo
- Line
- Comments
- Yummly
- SMS
- Viber
- Telegram
- Subscribe
- Skype
- Facebook Messenger
- Kakao
- LiveJournal
- Yammer
- Edgar
- Fintel
- Mix
- Instapaper
- Copy Link
The “PHABtastic” autonomous delivery robot, created by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) of the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), is now being used in real-world scenarios.
Beginning in March 2023, a six-month trial has been initiated at the Hong Kong PHAB Association Jockey Club PHAB Camp. The objective is to leverage technology to foster a culture of integration between individuals with physical disabilities and those who are able-bodied in Hong Kong.
In response to workforce shortages across various industries in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong PHAB Association Jockey Club PHAB Camp has implemented the HKPC-developed autonomous delivery robot called “PHABtastic” as part of the “Public Sector Trial Scheme – ITF Projects”.
This innovative solution aims to alleviate the impact on daily operations by assisting staff with simple delivery tasks. By introducing “PHABtastic,” the camp reduces the workload for frontline workers while enhancing the overall experience for camp guests.


To ensure seamless integration into a barrier-free environment and promote PHAB integration, the HKPC team has incorporated various design elements. These include visual and audible cues, height adjustment capabilities for the robot, and a simplified user interface, making it more accessible for disabled individuals.
The Autonomous Delivery Mover (MiniMover) was developed by HKPC in 2018 with funding from the ITF of the ITC. The research focused on deep learning and sensor fusion technologies to enable robots to automatically plan suitable walking paths. This technology has been made available to the industry for further development and application in various testing solutions, including an indoor patrol robot. In collaboration with the Hong Kong PHAB Association, the core technology of MiniMover was leveraged to create the adaptable autonomous delivery robot known as “PHABtastic,” designed for barrier-free environments.
The project demonstrates HKPC’s careful consideration during the R&D phase, ensuring flexibility and scalability of the system architecture for diverse application scenarios, particularly for disabled individuals. Future collaboration with the Hong Kong PHAB Association aims to optimise “PHABtastic” and extend its benefits to a wider range of disabled individuals, fostering a community with PHAB integration and meaningful human touch.
The Hong Kong PHAB Association Jockey Club PHAB Camp comprises the main building and the dormitory. In the past, when campers required additional supplies in the dormitory, they had to make repeated trips between the camp office in the main building and the dormitory. This posed inconveniences, particularly for campers and staff members with mobility difficulties.
With the introduction of ‘PHABtastic’, staff members can now fulfil camper requests more efficiently. They place small-sized supplies into designated storage boxes, provide basic information/instructions, and ‘PHABtastic’ delivers the supplies to the respective campers.
Throughout the design process, the HKPC R&D team actively considered and addressed staff requests and feedback, continuously adjusting and improving the system to align with daily operations. Enhancements include reinforcing anti-collision and anti-vibration functions, allowing ‘PHABtastic’ to deliver supplies accurately and efficiently to specific campers or designated areas without impacting other service users.
By incorporating personalised design with technological advancements, the Hong Kong PHAB Association believes that the quality of life for individuals with disabilities or special needs can be improved. This approach not only integrates them into the community, enabling them to access community resources but also boosts their confidence by showcasing their abilities and contributions. The objective of the Hong Kong PHAB Association is to foster a “Friendly community” where individuals of all abilities can enjoy equal access to societal resources.
It is hoped that “PHABtastic” will find extensive application in various barrier-free environments, thereby promoting innovation and technological advancements in Hong Kong. By doing so, it aims to contribute to the development of a smarter and more sustainable city.
- Like
- Digg
- Del
- Tumblr
- VKontakte
- Buffer
- Love This
- Odnoklassniki
- Meneame
- Blogger
- Amazon
- Yahoo Mail
- Gmail
- AOL
- Newsvine
- HackerNews
- Evernote
- MySpace
- Mail.ru
- Viadeo
- Line
- Comments
- Yummly
- SMS
- Viber
- Telegram
- Subscribe
- Skype
- Facebook Messenger
- Kakao
- LiveJournal
- Yammer
- Edgar
- Fintel
- Mix
- Instapaper
- Copy Link
Ivan John Uy, Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), stated that the Department will implement e-Governance initiatives to promote interoperability and facilitate ease of doing business in the country; and that the Department has undertaken the enormous task of interconnecting government systems.
Secretary Ivan added that citizens engage in numerous online transactions but they tend to avoid conducting business with the government because they are frequently required to wait in queue multiple times for government dealings.
Hence, agencies are confronted with the difficult task of unifying these disparate and disconnected systems of governance. The only constant among these systems is the absence of any shared components.
Each organisation has selected its own standards, data formats, and service providers. Consequently, the objective is to identify a solution that can effectively integrate these disparate elements.
The ICT Chief also discussed the Department’s progress in connectivity, cybersecurity, and digital skills development. Through its flagship Broadband ng Masa Programme, the Department is accelerating the implementation of necessary digital infrastructure and wireless broadband technologies, particularly for those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
DICT tends to bring connectivity to all mountainous regions and island groups. The telcos have been hesitant to make these investments primarily due to economic concerns; therefore, the government must intervene and provide first-mover connectivity in these areas.
When they initially provide this connectivity, it is hoped that the economies in these regions will begin to improve, and the population will begin to develop better applications or use cases for this connectivity.
E-governance has been getting a lot of attention in the Philippines for the last few years as the government tries to use technology to improve public service delivery, simplify administrative processes, and improve governance.
The country is moving towards e-governance because more and more of its people use the internet and other digital tools, and because people see the benefits of digital transformation.
One of the most important parts of e-governance in the country is getting people involved online. The government has set up several online platforms and portals that allow people to get information, share their concerns, and give feedback on government policies and services. This helps make the decision-making process more open, accountable, and inclusive, and it gives people a chance to directly shape public policies.
Also, the streamlining of government services has made them easier to use and cut down on unnecessary paperwork. Citizens can now apply for papers like passports, driver’s licences, and birth certificates online through portals. This saves them time and effort. This has also led to a big drop in corruption and bribes since people don’t have to talk to government officials as much when they do business online.
E-governance has also made it easier for government departments to share and combine data, which has led to better service delivery. By using standard data formats and putting in place interoperable systems, information can be quickly accessed and shared between departments.
This cuts down on duplicate work and makes it easier to work together. This has made it easier for the government to do its work and cut down on the time it takes to do things.
Even though success has been made, there are still challenges with how e-governance is being used in the Philippines. Lack of Internet access in remote places, especially in rural provinces, makes it hard to get to and take part in things. There is also a need to improve the digital literacy of the population, making sure that people have the skills they need to use online platforms and e-government services successfully.
- Like
- Digg
- Del
- Tumblr
- VKontakte
- Buffer
- Love This
- Odnoklassniki
- Meneame
- Blogger
- Amazon
- Yahoo Mail
- Gmail
- AOL
- Newsvine
- HackerNews
- Evernote
- MySpace
- Mail.ru
- Viadeo
- Line
- Comments
- Yummly
- SMS
- Viber
- Telegram
- Subscribe
- Skype
- Facebook Messenger
- Kakao
- LiveJournal
- Yammer
- Edgar
- Fintel
- Mix
- Instapaper
- Copy Link
With each passing day, technology continues to evolve and flourish in our society. Its rapid advancement encompasses and profoundly impacts numerous aspects and industries, compelling professionals to adopt artificial intelligence-driven (AI-driven) solutions to augment their productivity and efficiency. This technology has inevitably penetrated the realm of education, enabling teachers to utilise generative AI in assessing pupils’ work.
In light of its subjectivity and limited capabilities in assessing complex academic content, the Ministry of Education in New Zealand recommends that teachers carefully consider using generative AI technology to mark pupils’ work.
The ministry strives to uphold fair and accurate evaluation methods that align with educational standards and objectives, “Without understanding the basis for seeing inside the algorithm, this can be leading to discrimination and unfairness.”
Furthermore, there are instances where technology can be fallible due to the absence of human intervention (human touch). Generative AI systems trained solely on internet data may need more exposure to the specific work produced by children and young individuals, resulting in a limited understanding of what is suitable and expected from them, leading to a limited understanding of what is deemed appropriate and expected from this demographic.
Victoria University Senior Lecturer in software engineering, Simon McCallum, said that he agreed teachers should be wary of using generative AI for marking pupils’ work. However, McCallum believed generative AI tools would eventually be very good for grading students’ work.
Utilising generative AI, in the educational setting is recommended by employing it purposefully and judiciously. Ultimately, teachers can leverage its potential to teach students critical literacy skills, specifically empowering learners to question the accuracy of the information they encounter and to identify bias. With generative AI as a valuable resource, the educational experience becomes a dynamic and engaging journey of exploration and critical thinking.
Technological evolution can bring various advantages and disadvantages. However, humans cannot entirely rely on it, especially considering the technology has yet to reach its potential fully. Vaughan Couillault, president of the Secondary Principals Association, says, “There are many advantages to having machines automate certain tasks, but the quality is not yet at the desired level.”
As advancements in generative AI persist, its reach extends beyond its initial domains, finding applications in diverse fields and sectors. Several countries are now witnessing firsthand the transformative impact of generative AI on traditional business, even government policy models.
In New Zealand alone, there is a strong emphasis on promoting technology integration in education, with initiatives designed to support teachers adapting to technological advancements. One such initiative is the tech programme for teachers, which aims to equip educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to incorporate technology into their teaching practices effectively.
These initiatives aim to empower teachers to impart their newly acquired knowledge to students, especially those who are digitally inclined. By doing so, these programs foster a culture of technological fluency and inspire the next generation to embrace the digital world. One of the initiatives is the tech program for teachers, which aims to provide educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to integrate technology into their teaching practices effectively.
The curriculum emphasises the significance of fostering critical literacy, including digital literacy. Teachers can leverage generative AI by creating texts and incorporating them into lessons to develop students’ critical literacy abilities. Additionally, teachers can utilise a series of texts to enhance students’ understanding of the effective use of prompts.







