International conference on

Artificial Intelligence, Cultural Narratives, and Educational Futures in India and Australia

to be organised by the Centre for Australian Studies, Dept of English and Culture Studies, The University of Burdwan

in collaboration with Australian Consulate-General, Kolkata

on 20 & 21 January 2026

at The University of Burdwan

Call for Papers

AI is changing not only the corporate world but also people's perceptions about the future of their culture and education in the 21st century. India and Australia, two countries with very different cultural, political and educational backgrounds, are witnessing rapid AI-driven changes in ways that are both similar and different.

AI opens up new possibilities to make education more accessible, improve teaching methods, and encourage dialogue between cultures. Creative as well as non-fictional writing, painting and photography have already been produced using AI as collaborator.  However, the use of AI in the production of texts and in running the education system raises important questions about cultural homogenisation, ethical governance, bias in algorithms, and the protection of indigenous knowledge systems.

The goal of this conference is to bring together scholars, teachers, technologists, policy-makers, and cultural practitioners from both countries to critically look at the intersections between AI, cultural narratives, and the future(s) of education. Using both comparative and collaborative frameworks, the conference aspires to look at how AI is changing the nature of the stories that cultural creators tell, and how these stories affect the production and consumption of cultural texts. It will also critically look into the possible responses to AI-driven changes in education at all levels to guarantee expansion, quality and equity.

The conference, in short, will offer critical perspectives on the twenty-first century AI revolution by focussing on India and Australia, two important countries in the Asia Pacific region, contrasting India's regional diversities and digitally aspirational vision with Australia’s multicultural society, examining indigenous knowledge systems and emphasizing ethical AI frameworks. Moreover, the conference will encourage the exploration of ideas that fuse local conditions with global issues that an AI-mediated world might create in the future.

Subthemes

○       AI and Cultural Storytelling

○       AI and Fiction Writing

○       AI and Poetry Writing

○       AI and Painting

○       AI and Photography

○       The politics of representation in AI-curated cultural archives

○       Comparative perspectives on digital heritage preservation in India and Australia

○       AI literacy as a core educational goal

○       AI and curriculum models

○       The shifting role of teachers in AI-augmented classrooms

○       Machine translation and the future of multilingual education

○       AI as a tool for language revitalisation in indigenous and endangered languages

○       Regulating AI in education

○       Addressing algorithmic bias and ensuring cultural sensitivity in AI systems

○       Collaborative India–Australia research initiatives in AI and education

○       AI as a facilitator of intercultural learning and collaboration

○       Designing culturally adaptive AI systems through bilateral cooperation

○       Public vs. private control of AI tools in education

Abstracts in 300 words are to be sent to cas.buruniv@gmail.com by

15 December 2025. Decisions regarding acceptance of abstracts will be notified by 20 December 2025.

Registration Fee (Includes board and lodging)

Participant Category

(in INR)

Faculty Members: 2500

Students and Research

Scholars of Other Insti-

tutes: 1500

Students and Research

Scholars of The Univer-

sity of Burdwan: Nil

International Participants: 8000

Conference Coordinator

Prof. Angshuman Kar, Director

Centre for Australian Studies, The University of Burdwan

Convenor

Dr Arnab Kumar Sinha, Professor,

Dept of English & Culture Studies,

The University of Burdwan

Head

Dr Sanjoy Malik, Associate Professor, Dept of English & Culture Studies

The University of Burdwan