Officials, scholars discuss smart education at 21st Beijing Forum

The 21st Beijing Forum was held on Nov 1, 2024, bringing together over 7,000 officials and scholars to discuss innovations in smart education and new engineering education and unveiling a white paper on digital intelligent education development. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 21st Beijing Forum was held on Friday, bringing together officials and scholars to discuss innovations in smart education and new engineering education and unveiling a white paper on digital intelligent education development.

Gong Qihuang, president of Peking University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlighted that universities, as key hubs for talent development, technological innovation, and cultural exchange, are now expected to meet higher standards and fulfill greater responsibilities in tackling common challenges.

Romano Prodi, former prime minister of Italy and former president of the European Commission, noted that ongoing uncertainties in international relations require collaborative efforts to address global challenges. "Scientific cooperation among universities is essential for fostering peace," he said.

During the forum, the Digital Intelligence Education Development International Alliance (DI-IDEA), founded by 30 global universities in 2023, released a white paper on digital intelligence education development.

The white paper reviews the concept, talent landscape, and educational system of digital intelligence, collects diverse cases from renowned universities around the world in this field, so as to provide specific action plans to further promote the development of digital intelligence education.

The four major action plans proposed in the white paper are to enhance digital intelligence educational leadership, establish digital intelligence educational standards, develop a digital intelligence educational framework, and share a digital intelligence educational platform.

Currently, DI-IDEA member Camtree, a new online education platform, has created the DI-IDEA Hub, an international university cooperation platform for teaching academics and faculty development, aiming to guide educators to effectively leverage emerging technologies such as generative AI to innovate teaching methods.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former prime minister of Pakistan, called for valuing artificial intelligence and establishing ethical principles to steer its progression. He anticipated cooperation among countries to share technology and knowledge to jointly shape a future where technology and humanity coexist harmoniously and prosper together.