AI toolkit gains national acclaim for learning and teaching impact
A national education award focused on AI has recognised CQUniversity innovators for their transformative approach to embedding the technology in university classrooms.
The 2025 Regional Universities Network (RUN) Learning and Teaching Awards challenged entrants to showcase practice that responded to and incorporated generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) platforms, attracting a competitive field of 16 finalists.
CQUniversity’s winning team placed second with its AI-Powered Pedagogy Toolkit, a research-informed adoption model that empowers educators to meet the range of learner needs for successful AI use.
The project was named a winner alongside entries from University of New England and University of Southern Queensland.
Congratulating the winning team, RUN CEO Alec Webb said, “This achievement is a testament to your hard work and dedication to improving student outcomes through impactful learning and teaching practices.”
Practical impact
Launched in March this year, CQU’s Toolkit is available on the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency GenAI Hub, and the project findings have been shared nationally and internationally in research publications and events.
In one CQU Information and Communication Technology (ICT) classroom, it’s also informed teaching activities to improve engagement, critical analysis, and submission quality, boosting student success rates by 10 per cent.
As project lead, Associate Professor Ritesh Chugh from CQUniversity’s School of Engineering and Technology highlighted the importance of a research-informed approach to AI adoption.
“This national award recognises our commitment to advancing digital literacy and pedagogical innovation through evidence-based use of GenAI in higher education, not just in the ICT discipline, but right across our learning and teaching,” he said.
Cutting-edge in classrooms
The project team also included CQU’s Dr Fariza Sabrina, Dr Sangeetha Kutty, Dr Md Mamunur Rashid, Dr Ahsan Morshed, Dr Salahuddin Azad, Dr Darren Turnbull, with RMIT’s Dr Shahriar Kaisar and Dr Sudha Subramani from Victoria University.
CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Nick Klomp congratulated the trailblazing team.
“There’s no doubt GenAI is reshaping our world, and it’s so valuable that our academics are taking the cutting edge of the technology, and mapping how it can be most effective, and ethical, in our classrooms.
“I’d encourage all educators to explore this toolkit, to ensure that students and future practitioners are equipped for the digital transformation, and can help drive it in meaningful and responsible ways.”
The team has generously donated the full prize money to the CQUniCares Student Success Scholarship fund.
