DEI Perspectives in Information Technology Education

Information Technology (IT) has become deeply intertwined with business and society across many, if not all sectors of the economy. The accelerated pace of development has resulted in regulatory frameworks and societal expectations lagging behind the design and use of IT artefacts. Education plays a fundamental role in ensuring that advancements in the field create benefits for all parts of society. To achieve societal benefits and mitigate potential disadvantage, it is imperative that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) perspectives are embedded in the design and delivery of IT education. However, there are growing indications that the needs of learner populations have been shifting, and educational systems are struggling to adapt. The scale and diversity of the learner population has increased multi-fold, and at the same time shifts in learner expectations, have led to a rapid growth of new learning opportunities, e.g., through short online credentials, and community-based discussion forums. These challenges have initiated calls for urgent action for the educational landscape to evolve [1]. In this talk I will discuss some of these challenges. I will also share experiences and strategies for embedding DEI perspectives in (1) education of IT/CS including implications for curriculums; (2) education for future work environments that are inseparable from IT; and (3) education with technology enhanced education platforms and tools, including how the data management community can play a prominent role in the burgeoning Educational Technology (EdTech) and Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIEd) [2] research and development.