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The UQU Students’ Rights Collective, under the guidance of the Academic Officer Lucy Den Houting, launched a new body, the ‘Academic Advocacy Network’ (AAN).
During the UQU’s budget meeting, the council voted to encode the AAN in UQU regulation. This means that in the years to come, the Academic Officer must continue to hold AAN sessions and continue its existence.
This provides a greater sense of stability for students seeking academic advice from the union. Unless a regulation amendment removes this requirement, it means that throughout a student’s degree, they will be able to go to the AAN for support in their studies.
Alternatively, if the AAN were not encoded in union regulation, this would run the risk of next year’s Academic Officer terminating the program, leaving students without continual support.
The AAN’s first forum has already taken place, called “The Future of Learning with Generative AI”, where students were invited to attend and learn about how AI can be incorporated into our learning as students.
I unfortunately was unable to attend this session. However, I have been told by attendees that it was informative and gave them a greater understanding of the direction that UQ is taking towards AI.
I did, however, attend the launch party to learn more about this new body.
Lucy opened the session with great enthusiasm, stating how excited she was to be running the AAN. She spoke regarding the need for students to feel empowered with knowledge regarding their academic rights.
Lucy was joined by Lachlan, who holds a senior executive position on the board.
The AAN launch was an entertaining ordeal with members of the body mingling and participating in icebreaker questions.
A Kahoot was run to test and teach attendees the history of UQ.
The AAN will be a union body to keep an eye on throughout the year and see the programs it delivers. The background of the organisation is no doubt highly promising.
Students already seem to have taken an interest in additional information that the union is providing regarding academic rights. If interesting topics such as AI continue, then there is no doubt that this body will continue to grow.
We here at the Semper Floreat wish all the best to the AAN and look forward to seeing its growth in empowering students!
Written by Samuel Wong
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