Integrating Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) into ICT Education: A GenAI-Powered Approach to Curriculum Development

As Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) become increasingly central to the global economy and daily life, it is essential for technology professionals to create inclusive systems that reflect equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Without intentionally embedding EDI principles into technology development, there is a risk of perpetuating systemic inequities that exclude marginalized communities. It is therefore critical to equip future ICT professionals with the skills to identify and address biases in their work early in their careers. While there has been significant focus on creating inclusive learning environments, a gap remains in teaching EDI within technical training. This project aims to bridge that gap by redesigning course materials across Australian universities to integrate EDI principles into technical subjects, using EDI-focused datasets and case studies to enhance both technical and EDI skills. Additionally, a Generative AI tool will be developed to help educators seamlessly incorporate EDI themes into existing course content, reducing the time and effort needed for curriculum redesign. The project also aims to create guidelines for educators to effectively integrate EDI topics, providing practical strategies, best practices, and inclusive case studies to ensure that future ICT professionals contribute to more equitable and accessible technologies and workplaces.