This page helps education leaders develop thoughtful, culturally aligned strategies for integrating AI in their organisations.

This is guide 6 in a 6-part series from Ako Aotearoa, designed to help educators explore AI in education — safely, ethically, and in ways that reflect our values in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Each guide offers practical steps, real examples, and reflective tools to support your journey. Whether you’re just starting or deepening your practice, these resources are here to support your next steps — practically and purposefully.

Practical steps for AI strategy, capability, and leadership in Aotearoa’s tertiary sector.

Why leaders need a clear AI strategy

AI is already reshaping education

From learner support to content creation, AI is affecting how teaching and learning happen. Leadership matters — not just to manage risk, but to shape direction.

Risks of inaction:

• Unchecked AI use by staff and students
• Inequities and bias built into tools
• Staff fatigue and uncertainty
• Reputational and compliance risks
  
  

Leadership responsibility:

• Align use of AI with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, learner wellbeing, sector expectations (e.g. NZQA) and own TEO’s policies.
• Ensure values and people—not just productivity—guide decisions
  
  

From strategy to action – Core leadership domains

Helpful reference points:

• TEQSA GenAI Toolkit
• JISC AI Maturity Model
• UNESCO’s ethical guidance
• NZQA integrity guidelines
  

Emerging practice from Aotearoa + Australia

Examples of sector-aligned leadership:

• TEQSA GenAI Toolkit: Governance templates and strategic questions
• ACODE (2024): Productivity, PLD, and procurement strategies
• University of Melbourne: Transparency in staff-student use
  
  

Research-led guidance:

• Inquiry submissions (UoM)
• Systematic reviews on GenAI in HE
• Practice-informed white papers (e.g. Jisc, Liu et al.)
  
  

Ako Aotearoa response:

This series offers responsive, values-based support tools for your team

Collaborative action:

• Co-create shared PTE sector frameworks
• Develop living documents, not static rules

Resources to explore and use

 Want to go deeper?

• UNESCO – Guidance for Generative AI in Education and Research
• Jisc – AI Maturity Toolkit for Tertiary Education
• TEQSA – GenAI Strategies for Australian Higher Education
• ACODE – Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
• University of Melbourne – Navigating GenAI
• University of Melbourne – GenAI Inquiry Submission
• UTS Systematic Review – GenAI in Higher Education

Printable resource references

1. UNESCO. (2023). Guidance for Generative AI in Education. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/guidance-generative-ai-education-and-research
2. Jisc. (2024). AI Maturity Toolkit. https://www.jisc.ac.uk/ai-maturity-toolkit-for-tertiary-education
3. TEQSA. (2024). GenAI Strategies for Higher Education. https://www.teqsa.gov.au/guides-resources/resources/corporate-publications/gen-ai-strategies-australian-higher-education-emerging-practice
4. ACODE. (2024). Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education. https://acode.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/717-Article-Text-Non-ASCILITE-Conference-submissions-5032-1-10-20240118.pdf
5. University of Melbourne. (2024). Navigating GenAI. https://le.unimelb.edu.au/teaching-learning-assessment/preparing-for-teaching/navigating-genai
6. University of Melbourne. (2023). GenAI Inquiry Submission. https://about.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0032/396446/UoM-Submission-Inquiry-into-Generative-AI-in-Education-FINAL.pdf
7. UTS. (2024). GenAI in Higher Education: A Systematic Review. https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/186952/2/1-s2.0-S2666920X25000475-main.pdf

Where to next?

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