EdUHK Organises “Bridging Borders Through Technology: Belt & Road Conference on Special Education”
Organised by the Integrated Centre for Wellbeing (I-WELL) and Department of Special Education and Counselling (SEC) at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), The ‘Bridging Borders Through Technology: Belt & Road Conference on Special Education’ was held on 20 May at its Tai Po Campus, in collaboration with SDU University in Kazakhstan and Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) in Malaysia.
This hybrid conference featured a variety of programmes, including talks, keynote speeches, and an exhibition. It was attended by nearly 250 participants both online and in person, comprising scholars, educators, entrepreneurs and industrial experts from across Hong Kong, mainland China, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. They shared their latest findings on advancing education and diversity learning, and exploring the integration of artificial intelligence and educational technology in special education.
EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin delivered a speech via video, stating that, as one of HKSAR's eight publicly-funded universities, EdUHK was the largest institution focusing on teacher education. He said he hoped the conference would serve as a cross-regional medium, connecting special education experts and industry leaders worldwide to exchange their professional knowledge and experience in the fields of artificial intelligence, education technology, inclusive education, special education and education policy. “Let’s work together to provide youngsters with diversified, high-quality education, equipping them to face life’s challenges,” he added.
Professor Bruce Macfarlane, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Human Development of EdUHK delivered welcoming remarks for the event. The conference encompassed 37 talks focusing on three themes: ‘AI, Technology, and Inclusion in Education’, ‘Special Education, Pedagogy, Psychological Interventions’, and ‘Inclusive Education Policies, History, and Global Perspective’. Over 40 leading experts and scholars presented their research findings and practical case studies.
Among the distinguished speakers were Dr Fu Hong, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, Associate Director of the Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology, and Co-Director of the Institution of Special Needs & Inclusive Education of EdUHK, who addressed the topic of ‘The use of AI and multimodal sensory systems in special education and the role of eye-tracking in research’. Also, Professor Song Yanjie, Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology of EdUHK addressed the topic of ‘Enhancing positive emotions through the AI-Powered App: EmoCare’.
Moreover, five renowned scholars delivered keynote speeches on a range of topics at the conference. They were Professor Connie Sung, Professor of Social Work at the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor; Dr Abdul Halim bin Masnan, Deputy Dean (Student Affairs and Alumni) and Associate Professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education of the Faculty of Human Development at UPSI; Dr Nurbieta binti Abd Aziz, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Special Education of the Faculty of Human Development at UPSI; Ms Madina Suleimen, Head of the Social and Inclusive Education Research Center at SDU University; and Professor Zulfiya Movkebayeva, Professor in the Department of Special Education at Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University.
The conference also featured an exhibition area with participation from eight organisations from Hong Kong and Malaysia, including universities, NGOs and EdTech companies, which demonstrated how AI-driven, Big Data and innovation tools can address challenges in education, and support students with special educational needs within communities, schools and families. For more details, please visit: https://obor2025.eduhk.hk/
The Belt and Road Initiative is an important national development strategy. EdUHK has long been committed to building interdisciplinary research networks and collaborating with universities in Belt and Road countries, by jointly organising academic symposiums and conducting collaborative research projects in a bid to promote systematic innovation in international talent development.
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EdUHK Organises “Bridging Borders Through Technology: Belt & Road Conference on Special Education”
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