Communication Studies and Pedagogy: Challenges, Innovations, Solutions

<p dir="ltr">Communication Studies programs in Australian Higher Education face new and evolving pedagogical challenges as they respond to the increasingly diverse and rapidly evolving technologically world we live in. The prevalence of generative AI usage, for instance, has disrupted both the education and communication spaces. Against this backdrop, and with a view to understanding how universities can create innovative pedagogical solutions to the rapidly changing communication and media ecosystems humans inhabit, we convened two online roundtable discussion, one with seven industry professionals and one with six higher-education academics and post-graduate students across Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America and Vietnam. We found that the teaching of non-vocational subjects, courses and material compliments Communication Studies degree programs with active listening, adaptability, and ethical research being key. These skills provide context for students who will be the communication professionals of tomorrow with an understanding of the diverse world they inhabit. Moreover, this project found that curiosity which is encouraged through humanities, arts and social sciences provides students with an appreciation of lifelong learning, as our societies face challenges due to rapidly evolving communication technological ecosystems leading to social and cultural change.<br></p>