EdUHK Hosts Delegation from Durham University, United Kingdom Advancing Dialogue on Data-Driven Education and Immersive Learning
From 30 October to 6 November 2025, the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (FLASS) and the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology (MIT) at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) welcomed a delegation led by Professor Alexandra I. Cristea, FBCS FHEA SMIEEE, Chair in Computer Science at Durham University, and her PhD student Ms PAN Ziqi. The visit aimed to foster international collaboration at the intersection of learning sciences and educational technology, with a focus on AI learning systems and predictive learning analytics. During the programme, FLASS organised a Faculty Postgraduate Seminar examining the pedagogical design and ethical implications of AI in education. Meanwhile, MIT coordinated Professor Cristea’s engagements, which included technical workshops on AI learning platform. Through this series of events, the visit successfully established a cross‑institutional platform for advancing research on personalised and data‑informed teaching and learning.
First-Day Engagements: Visits to Teaching and Technology Centres
On the morning of 31 October, the delegation visited the Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology (LTTC) and the Artificial Intelligence and Digital Competency Education Centre (AIDCEC). Accompanied by Dr SUN Daner (Associate Professor and Associate Head, Department of Mathematics and Information Technology; Associate Co-Director of the Global Institute for Emerging Technologies at EdUHK), both sides exchanged insights on technology-enhanced pedagogical innovation and teacher professional development.
Group photo in the Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology (LTTC), featuring Prof Alexandra Cristea from Durham University
Following the visit, the delegation then engaged in discussions with Professor KONG Siu Cheung (Chair Professor, Department of Mathematics and Information Technology; Director, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Competency Education Centre). A subsequent table meeting involving MIT staff, including Dr Ling Man Ho Alpha (Associate Professor, Acting Head, Department of Mathematics and Information Technology) and Dr SUN Daner, facilitated the establishment of a collegial atmosphere conducive to further academic exchanges.
Prof Cristea and from Durham University meeting with Prof KONG
Prof Cristea from Durham University meeting with Dr LING and Dr SUN
Series of Academic Activities: Research Consultations and Team Meetings
During their stay, Prof Cristea participated in several academic events for the university’s postgraduate community. On 1 November, Prof Cristea presented a seminar for research postgraduate and EdD students titled “Beyond the Shine: Gamification in Education – An Overall Taxonomy, Novelty and Familiarisation Effect, and Personalised Gamification” for research postgraduate and EdD students. Moderated by Dr SUN, the presentation examined how gamification can enhance educational engagement, introducing Toda’s taxonomy, discussing its motivational effects over time, and advocating for personalised gamification tailored to learners' preferences. This aimed to deepen participants' understanding of sustainable learner engagement.
Group photo of the seminar
On 3 November, consultation sessions were reserved for EdUHK’s research staff and students to meet with Prof Cristea. In the morning, Dr SUN's team participated, focusing on expert guidance in research design, data analysis, and academic publishing. In the afternoon, Professor YAN Zi (Head, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Executive Co-Director, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching) led the session for his team, providing tailored insights and support for their specific research needs.
Prof Cristea and the Research Team led by Dr SUN
Prof Cristea and the Research Team led by Prof YAN
On 4 November, Prof Cristea held a working meeting with Professor LI Wai-keung (Dean of FLASS, Research Chair Professor of Data Science), to discuss collaborative research directions and data-sharing frameworks. This meeting facilitated a deeper exploration of potential partnerships between EdUHK and Durham University. A subsequent working lunch with FLASS colleagues further strengthened academic networks.
Group photo with Prof Cristea, Prof LI and Dr SUN during the working meeting.
Flagship Event: Faculty Postgraduate Seminar
The “Faculty Postgraduate Seminar” on 5 November was the highlight of the academic programme. Structured into three sessions, it featured:
Session 1: Keynote Speech
Prof Cristea delivered a keynote speech titled “Data-driven Evaluations of Engagement Theories' Applicability in E-Learning”, chaired by Professor Li Wai-keung, Dean, and moderated by Professor Daniel CHOW, Associate Dean (Research & Postgraduate Studies). The session included participation from PhD student, RPg/EdD students and their supervisors, FLASS staff members, and other attendees. Prof Cristea discussed the applicability of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) in mapping interactions derived from tracking student behaviour. She detailed how dimensions of Autonomy, Relatedness, and Competence can distinguish engaged from disengaged students, introducing the Engage Taxonomy as a framework for monitoring MOOC engagement parameters aligned with multiple engagement theories. The session also showcased a large-scale evaluation of the SDT theory, providing metrics for measurable engagement such as completion rates and answer ratios, thereby offering insights into enhancing student interest and engagement in online learning.
Prof Cristea delivering the keynote speech titled “Data-driven Evaluations of Engagement Theories' Applicability in E-Learning”
Pro LI, Prof CHOW, and Dr SUN presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Prof Cristea in recognition of her contributions to the seminar
Session 2: Poster Presentation Session
During the poster presentation session, Prof Cristea and Prof CHOW served as adjudicators, offering valuable feedback on the research projects presented by EdUHK’s eight postgraduate students: Ms HUANG Dongxiang, Ms HUANG Kunyi, Ms HUANG Xiaowei, Mr XIE Zhiwei, Mr LO Shing Him, Mr ADIGUN Basit Akolade, and Mr XU Zhiqi, Mr ZHANG Wenhao. Prof Cristea also engaged in discussions with the students about their projects, providing constructive suggestions and insights to encourage a collaborative academic environment.
Prof Cristea stands beside the poster for the Faculty Postgraduate Seminar (FPS) on 5 November 2025
Session 3: Postgraduate Oral Presentations
The afternoon oral presentation session featured Prof Cristea as the adjudicator, providing feedback on the research projects and selecting the best speaker(s) from EdUHK. The session was moderated by Dr YANG Yin Nicole (Research Assistant Professor, MIT). Six students delivered their research presentations, including Ms ZHENG Zhizi, Ms YASMIN Khadeza, Mr KORMOKER Tapos, Mr XU Zhiqi, and Ms TSANG Hei Jaclyn, alongside Ms PAN Ziqi, an invited PhD student. Ms PAN presented her research on “Immersive Learning: Exploring the Transformative Potential of Virtual Reality in Education.” She argued that Virtual Reality (VR) serves not merely as a technological instrument but as a key pedagogical medium capable of enhancing engagement and facilitating experiential learning. The presentation also showcased interdisciplinary case studies and explored the integration of physiological data, NLP, and tangible interfaces with VR for deeper learning analytics.
Prof Cristea critically evaluating the oral presentations and facilitating enriching discussions on the research conducted by postgraduate students
Visit Conclusion and Future Collaboration
This week-long academic visit, structured around centre tours, thematic seminars, research consultations, and a faculty-level symposium, has effectively advanced the dialogue between EdUHK and Durham University in educational technology and learning sciences. The programme provided EdUHK postgraduate students with direct interaction with an internationally recognised scholar and established a robust foundation for sustained collaboration between the two institutions in data-driven educational research and immersive learning technology development.
