The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and Shandong University (SDU) co-organised the first New Liberal Arts Online Seminar Series on April 18^th under the theme “Digital Intelligence-Driven Educational Reform.” The event brought together over 200 participants, including experts, scholars, faculty and students from both institutions, fostering in-depth discussions on AI and technology-enhanced education.

 

Opening Speech

Professor Shen Shuxin, Deputy Dean of SDU’s Undergraduate School, emphasised the significance of advancing the New Liberal Arts initiative, promoting interdisciplinary integration, modernisation, and internationalisation in higher education. She expressed hope for strengthened collaboration between the two universities. Professor Michelle Gu Mingyue, Dean of EdUHK’s Graduate School, extended gratitude to SDU and highlighted the shared vision in New Liberal Arts development as the foundation for this online forum.

Keynote Presentations & Highlights

• Professor Chen Zhumin, Deputy Dean of the School of Artificial Intelligence at SDU, delivered a presentation on Advances in AI Large Model Technology and Empowerment of Education. Using DeepSeek as an example, he elaborated on the collaborative application of AI technology in educational scenarios and proposed a ternary educational model of “Teacher-AI-Student” interaction.
• Dr Kevin Yung Wai Ho, Associate Professor from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) at EdUHK, shared his team’s research on Empowering university students’ academic reading and writing literacy through generative artificial intelligence. Dr Yung proposed the “GUIDE-S” pedagogy framework, encompassing six dimensions: Ground, Utilise, Inspect, Demonstrate, Establish accountability, and Students.
• Dr Yu Zhiyuan, Assistant Dean of SDU’s School of Journalism and Communication, shared SDU’s experiences in constructing an AI-based experimental teaching system for journalism and communication, featuring a curriculum system that integrates all media and
• Dr Joy Yang Lan, Dr Pei Leisi and Dr Ba Shen collectively discussed AI-Powered Educational Assessment, covering formative evaluation, EEG-driven personalised learning, and AI analytics.

Roundtable Discussion: AI and Educational Transformation

Scholars debated how AI reshapes talent development. Prof Chen (SDU) advocated for digital thinking as a core competency, while Dr Pei (EdUHK) emphasised learners’ ability to collaborate with AI.”

Q&A Highlights

Participants raised questions on AI’s role in disciplinary expansion and collaborative learning. Key responses included:

• Dr Joy Yang Lan on dynamic assessment for knowledge extension.
• Dr Kevin Yung Wai Ho on AI’s dual role in de-skilling and re-skilling educators.
• Dr Yu Zhiyuan on AI’s applications in smart media production and public opinion analysis, sparking discussions on digital reconstruction of journalism workflows.

 

Follow-Up Events

This online seminar marked the New Liberal Arts series’ initial session. Updates on future events  are planned, and further details will be announced via EdUHK’s EdUHK Research and SDU’s Undergraduate School official platforms.