NextEd Group Limited (ASX: NXD) has announced a partnership with OpenAI to deploy ChatGPT Edu, marking the first large-scale vocational education rollout of the platform in Australia.
The partnership positions NextEd — one of Australia’s largest listed private education providers — among a select group of global institutions leading the responsible integration of generative AI into education. Under the collaboration, ChatGPT Edu will be introduced to a substantial cohort of students and educators across NextEd’s national network, spanning campuses in Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.
According to NextEd CEO Mark Kehoe, the initiative represents a defining moment for the group and for vocational education more broadly.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with OpenAI on this pioneering project,” Mr Kehoe said. “It’s an exciting opportunity to build capability, learn directly alongside OpenAI, and position NextEd at the forefront of how AI is transforming education globally.”
The 12-month deployment will explore how ChatGPT Edu can support student learning, enhance teaching effectiveness, and streamline operations. Planned use cases include:
- personalised student and educator assistance
- curriculum design support
- administrative automation
- advanced data-driven learning and assessment insights.
ChatGPT Edu is a secure, enterprise-level version of ChatGPT designed for education environments. It includes enterprise-only features such as custom GPTs, workspace management, and robust data-privacy and governance safeguards.
For OpenAI, the collaboration reflects its commitment to partnering with education leaders globally to harness AI for positive impact.
“Education is evolving rapidly, and the institutions that adopt AI early will shape its future,” said Andy Brown, OpenAI’s Head of Go-To-Market for APAC. “Our work with NextEd is part of OpenAI’s global effort to collaborate with forward-thinking education leaders who are redefining how people learn, teach, and work in an AI-powered world.”
The project builds on NextEd’s growing investment in AI innovation, complementing ongoing work in automation, AI literacy, and digital capability development. NextEd anticipates the rollout will deliver both growth and efficiency gains, strengthen internal capability, and accelerate AI literacy among students and staff — critical skills in a rapidly evolving labour market.
The collaboration also supports NextEd’s broader strategic focus on building a balanced, future-ready education business that integrates new technologies to enhance learning outcomes while creating long-term value for investors.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to education and work, NextEd’s partnership with OpenAI highlights how Australian institutions can lead the way in embedding ethical, effective, and transformative AI tools into their teaching models.
With deployment commencing this month, the initiative marks not just a technological milestone, but a bold statement: AI, when guided responsibly, is not replacing education — it’s redefining it.
