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EDUCAUSE 2023: IT Leaders Meet to Discuss Higher Ed Technology Trends

Higher education IT professionals will head to Chicago for the 2023 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference, with the option to attend in person or virtually.

Amy McIntosh

Amy McIntosh is the managing editor of EdTech: Focus on Higher Education.

Held Oct. 9-12 at Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center (and online Oct. 18-19), the EDUCAUSE annual conference will feature programming on higher education IT issues and offer opportunities to see innovative technology at work.

Conference tracks will cover trends and topics in higher education IT, including:

Cybersecurity, privacy and compliance
Data insights
Future of work and today’s workforce
Infrastructure, support and networking
Innovation and emerging technologies
Leadership, partnerships and strategy
Frictionless student experiences
Research computing
Teaching and learning

An exhibit hall will showcase the latest educational technologies from solutions providers, and virtual and in-person networking opportunities will allow attendees to interact and create connections.

The virtual event will give attendees access to featured sessions plus a number of exclusive online-only live sessions. Virtual attendees can chat with others during breakout sessions, turn their cameras on during poster sessions, and set up one-on-one meetings with colleagues and presenters. All in-person attendees will have access to the virtual event.

Click the banner below to stay on top of all the latest trends after this year's conference.

General Sessions Cover Top Issues in Higher Education IT

Tressie McMillan Cottom, a MacArthur Fellow, cultural critic, sociologist and award-winning writer will open EDUCAUSE 2023 on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in a moderated fireside chat. She will discuss pressing issues in higher education, the future of work and technology.

On Wednesday, Oct. 11, Susan Grajek, EDUCAUSE's vice president for partnerships, communities and research, will present the organization's annual Top 10 IT Issues for 2024. She will outline why higher education leadership must expand beyond growth and innovation to address risk and prepare for what lies ahead.

On Thursday, Oct. 12, keynote speaker and sociologist Kim Lear will discuss generational trends in the workforce and explain why multigenerational teams often outperform homogenous groups. In her talk, “Prepare for the Future,” she will discuss how these trends play a role in higher education, both in the workplace and in interactions with parents and students.

LOOK BACK: EDUCAUSE’s 2022 Top 10 Higher Ed IT Issues list addressed foundational models.

Don’t Miss These EDUCAUSE 2023 Presentations and Panels

The conference agenda includes hundreds of timely and thought-provoking sessions covering the latest in higher education technology. Here are a few we think you shouldn't miss:

At “Supplier Diversity: Be Intentional about Doing Business with a Diverse Group of IT Providers,” experts from CDW and the University of Massachusetts will discuss why doing business with diverse suppliers is important for promoting economic equity and social justice.
At “CISO to Operations: Cybersecurity Remote Office and Retention Wins,” members of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s cybersecurity team will discuss their experience with giving staff hybrid and flexible work options.
Artificial intelligence is a hot topic at EDUCAUSE this year, for good reason. Sessions such as “Beyond ChatGPT: Exploration of AI in Higher Education” and “The End of Business as Usual: Embracing Generative AI within Higher Ed” will explore AI’s place in higher education today and in the future.
At “What Students Want CIOs to Know,” attendees will hear from a panel of students offering feedback to higher ed IT leaders about what’s working and where they might find opportunities for change.
At “Representation Matters: Getting IT Staff Involved in DEI Events On and Off Campus,” a panel will discuss how university IT staff can build a community that prioritizes diversity, equity and inclusion to create inclusive spaces where all cultures are welcome.
At “Esports: A New Evolution in Learner Support and Community Development,” a panel of esports leaders will discuss how esports has shaped their institutions.