The 1st AI and Education Forum cum Launching Ceremony of Artificial Intelligence Research and Education Alliance

^ Group photo of delegates and invited speakers of AIREA 1st AI and Education Forum cum the Launching Ceremony of AIREA (From left to right: Dr Henry So Chi Fuk, Dr Gary Cheng Kwok Shing, Prof Xu Guandong, Prof Zhang Min, Prof John Lee Chi-Kin, Prof May Cheng May-hung,  Prof Lionel Ni Ming-shuan,  Prof Gong Zhiguo, Prof Looi Chee Kit, Mr Edmond Kuo Hoi)

[Hong Kong, September 16, 2024] — The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) has taken a significant step towards advancing the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education by launching the Artificial Intelligence Research and Education Alliance (AIREA) on September 16. The establishment of AIREA is a collaborative effort between EdUHK and renowned experts and professionals from universities, research centres, and industry entities worldwide, aiming to foster a more inclusive and responsible AI research and education ecosystem.

The launching ceremony was attended by distinguished delegates and guests, including President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, Vice President (Academic) Professor May Cheng May-hung, Professor Xu Guandong, Director of Centre for Learning, Teaching, and Technology (LTTC) and the Director of University Research Facility of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (UDSAI), senior management members, staff and students of EdUHK.

In his address, Professor Lee emphasized the importance of developing AI in education, as its application has become widespread in society. He highlighted the University’s goal of preparing future educators who can adapt to the industry’s evolving demands while remaining mindful of ethical implications and traditional virtues. Professor Lee also mentioned the crucial requirements for developing AI, including facilities with computing power, high-quality data, and experts proficient in the field.

Professor Cheng discussed the University’s initiatives to leverage innovative technologies, such as establishing the Large Language Model Studio (LLM Studio) to create in-house AI tools to benefit students and teachers. She expressed the University’s commitment to exploring innovative measures to ensure EdUHK remains at the forefront of educational innovation while maintaining the highest academic quality and integrity standards.

Professor Xu expressed his gratitude to all participants for supporting the initiative and emphasized the significance of establishing AIREA as a milestone in the development of AI education. He stressed the importance of creating a collaborative platform to foster innovative thinking and provide solutions to the challenges and opportunities faced in the education sector.

On the same day, AIREA held an AI and Education Forum featuring three talks by distinguished scholars: Professor Lionel Ni Ming-shuan, Founding President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) and Chair Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at HKUST; Professor Zhang Min, Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Technology at Tsinghua University; and Professor Gong Zhiguo, Head of the Department of Computer and Information Science at University of Macau. With the three speakers and the joining of Professor Looi Chee Kit, Research Chair Professor of Learning Sciences of Department of Curriculum and Instruction, EdUHK as panellists, A panel discussion titled “Navigating AI in Education: Opportunities and Challenges” was held and moderated by Professor Xu Guandong, to explore the role of AI in education.

As AI continues to develop rapidly, concerns have arisen regarding its impact on professional ethics and morality, data privacy, and the well-being of students and teachers. Through AIREA, EdUHK aims to establish a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing, bringing together the best minds from academia, industry, and practitioners to promote AI’s application and development in education. AIREA plans to organize more forums, workshops, and seminars featuring innovative minds in the educational landscape to explore the boundless potential of AI in education.

The launch of AIREA marks a significant step towards addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid development of AI in various sectors. By fostering global collaboration on research, driving innovation, and advancing AI technologies in the education sector, EdUHK and its partners aim to create a more inclusive and responsible AI research and education ecosystem that will benefit students, teachers, and the wider community.

^ Invited speakers of the AIREA 1st AI and Education Forum (From top-left to bottom-right: Prof Lionel Ni Ming-shuan, Prof Zhang Min, Prof Gong Zhiguo, Prof Looi Chee Kit)

^ Panel discussion titled “Navigating AI in Education: Opportunities and Challenges” moderated by Professor Xu Guandong

^ Group photo of delegates, speakers and paricipants on the Launching Ceremony of AIREA