Teaching innovators gather in Suzhou to explore AI-era education reform

As artificial intelligence (AI) makes its way into classrooms, is it reshaping the essence of education? From 15 to 18 May, the 10th Annual Conference on Innovation in Higher Education and the 10th XJTLU National University Teaching Innovation Award were held at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in Suzhou.

The event attracted nearly 400 renowned education experts, scholars, teachers, and industry representatives from home and abroad to explore how AI is reconstructing the education ecosystem and address the challenges to teaching and governance posed by accelerating technology.

Professor Liqun Zhang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and President of Xi'an Jiaotong University (pictured below), stressed in his keynote speech: "Amid the global wave of technological competition, higher education shoulders the mission to break new ground and transform technological momentum into educational potential. Xi'an Jiaotong University actively adapts to the exploration and challenges of AI and has consistently been at the forefront of AI research and application."

Since 2017, Xi'an Jiaotong University has pioneered AI talent cultivation by launching a pilot programme for elite AI talent cultivation. This programme enrolled its first undergraduate cohort in 2018 and became one of the earliest universities in China to offer AI undergraduate education. In 2019, the university officially established one of the country's first undergraduate programmes in AI. Leveraging high-quality educational resources and advanced research platforms, Xi'an Jiaotong University continuously deepens education and teaching reform, focusing on cultivating leading talents in the AI field.

Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of XJTLU (pictured below), said: "Education must remain human-led, with AI serving only as a tool¡ªnot the driver. The essence of education is still the growth of 'people'." He emphasized that while AI empowers various industries, the core value of education can never be replaced by technology.

"If education continues to rely primarily on knowledge transmission, AI may surpass human capabilities and weaken the purpose of education. Therefore, the future education curriculum system, training schemes, and teaching methods must be based on a renewed understanding of 'what kind of talent the future needs', building an interest-driven, personalised, socialised and ecological lifelong learning platform," Professor Xi added.

Professor Daguang Wu from Xiamen University's Institute of Education pointed out: "The real transformation in education lies not in slogans, systems or platforms, but in how teachers teach and students learn in each classroom." He stressed that prompted him to rethink students¡¯ learning habits and readiness for AI integration.

Ming Fang, Vice President of iFLYTEK Group, introduced the company's specific practices in empowering talent cultivation in the AI era: "The Group is actively advancing the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Industry School, exploring a multidisciplinary collaborative model involving government, industry, and academia. This initiative aims to deeply integrate education, industry, and innovation chains, while comprehensively incorporating AI technologies into educational settings."

Upholding Interdisciplinary Education in the AI Era

Since its launch in 2016, the XJTLU National University Teaching Innovation Competition has been held annually for ten consecutive years. This year¡¯s conference featured a special roundtable forum titled Future Innovators in Education in the Age of AI, where four leading educators ¡ª each a past participant of the competition and representing fields such as medicine, humanities and social sciences, architectural design, and economics and management ¡ª joined Professor Xiaojun Zhang, the competition¡¯s initiator, for a cross-disciplinary dialogue.

"No matter how advanced the technology becomes, there is no room for error in medicine," said Professor Baorong Chi, an 83-year-old chief physician and internal medicine professor at the First Hospital of Jilin University. "Beyond assisting with diagnosis, AI must respect the fragile trust that underpins the doctor¨Cpatient relationship."

Professor Weiwei Zhang from the School of Foreign Languages at Huanggang Normal University noted that while AI learns quickly, it is human critical thinking that forms the non-negotiable foundation of education. Associate Professor Qian Huang from the School of Architecture and Planning at Hunan University also emphasised that education is a lifelong process ¡ª in the age of AI, emotional connection, spiritual grounding, and the physical experience of engaging with the world are more essential than ever. Associate Professor Na Li from the School of Economics and Management at Dalian Jiaotong University cautioned: ¡°The convenience of AI can easily draw people into a ¡®sweet swamp¡¯. Teachers should guide students to use technology wisely while maintaining a strong sense of agency.¡±

Left: Associate Professor Na Li, Associate Professor Qian Huang, Professor Baorong Chi , Professor Xiaojun Zhang, Professor Weiwei Zhang

The conference also hosted the premiere of the documentary A Decade of the XJTLU National University Teaching Innovation Competition. Through vivid storytelling and compelling visuals, the film captures the real-life journeys and practical explorations of teaching innovators over the past ten years. It offers a moving portrayal of educational innovation as a legacy passed from educator to educator ¡ª a spark that grows into a transformative force.

Premiere scene of the documentary: A Decade of XJTLU National University Teaching Innovation Award

The conference also saw the release of the ten-year Impact Report of the XJTLU National University Teaching Innovation Competition and the formal launch of its 11th edition. In addition, through pre-event parallel workshops, a teaching-innovation seminar and a range of teacher-development activities, the meeting systematically showcased higher-education innovation achievements and practical case studies. Concurrently, the eighth board meeting of the Sustainable Development Alliance of University Teacher Development Centres concluded successfully.

Professor Xiaojun Zhang, Chief Officer of Education at XJTLU and Executive Dean of the Academy of Future Education, remarked: "Education should never lose sight of the human perspective. Emotional regulation, self-motivation, and patterns of thinking ¡ª these essential aspects of growth cannot be handed over to AI. The true fulcrum of human¨Cmachine collaboration lies in whether students can leverage AI to solve real-world problems."

the 10th Annual Conference on Innovation in Higher Education was hosted by Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). This event was organised by the Institute of Leadership and Education Advanced Development (ILEAD), and supported by the Tongji Charitable Foundation Beijing Office and the Sustainable Development Alliance for University Teacher Development Centres.

By Xiaoyan Jin

Edited by Bo Kou

Translated by Ruolin Li