The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and East China Normal University (ECNU) have announced a pioneering partnership on 31 August to drive research and development in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within education. The partnership has been formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), establishing the Artificial Intelligence and Education Futures Alliance.
This groundbreaking collaboration will enable the three universities to harness their individual strengths in a collective endeavour to address the evolving educational needs of the country, the Greater Bay Area, and Hong Kong. In addition to establishing dedicated research centres, the alliance will host international conferences and seminars to facilitate dialogue and exchange within the field.
EdUHK's Acting President and President (Designate) Professor John Lee Chi-Kin who has started to assume presidency from 1 September, views the establishment of the alliance as a powerful platform to intensify the interaction between local and mainland universities. “This cross-institutional and cross-regional collaboration will allow us to bring together our unique expertise to propel the growth of AI and its applications in education, thereby advancing both technology and education,” stated Professor Lee.
HKUST’s Provost, Professor Yike Guo, expressed enthusiasm about the prospective impact of the alliance. “HKUST is committed to leading the application of AI in education, and we believe in its transformative potential. Our extensive experience and successful track record in this area will be leveraged to further our technological capabilities in education, ultimately benefiting future generations,” Professor Guo said.
ECNU’s Secretary of the Party Committee, Professor Bing Mei, underscored the importance of the alliance, especially in the context of the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Conference Mechanism. Professor Mei stated, “This tripartite alliance aligns with the ongoing trends in educational transformation. It places a focus on the results of educational technology collaboration between Hong Kong-Shanghai and Mainland-Hong Kong. Moving forward, our hope is that the partner universities will consolidate their resources in intelligent education, teacher education, and AI to foster closer cooperation and contribute to the advancement of future education and technology.”
About EdUHK, HKUST, and ECNU
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and East China Normal University (ECNU) are leading academic institutions committed to research and development. This tripartite alliance aims to leverage their combined strengths to advance AI applications in education, shaping the future of learning and teaching in the Greater China region.
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EdUHK, HKUST and ECNU launch tripartite alliance to drive research and development in the application of AI within education
The alliance will host international conferences and seminars to facilitate dialogue and exchange within the field
EdUHK's Acting President and President (Designate) Professor John Lee Chi-Kin
ECNU’s Secretary of the Party Committee Professor Bing Mei
HKUST’s Provost Professor Yike Guo
EdUHK's Council Deputy Chairman Dr Terence Chan Ho-wah