The Forbes China International Education Forum was held at UIC to discuss the trend of global education on 12 October 2024.
Executives and scholars from renowned institutes attended, including UIC, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen), Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST (GZ)), the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and Shenzhen MSU-BIT University (SMBU).
Forbes China's Chief Revenue Officer Mr Herman Chik noted the increasing trend of Chinese youth choosing international education, especially cooperative educational institutions. He said that with the accelerated emergence of AI, the world is facing unprecedented changes, demanding innovative education models, and there is an urgent need to cultivate globally competitive talents.
Forbes China's Chief Revenue Officer Mr Herman Chik
Chief Executive Officer of Xie Tong Education Group Mr Mike Sun emphasised the urgent demand for international talents. In an era of educational surplus, individual speciality development and adaptability are crucial. He shared his impression of UIC student Yin Jiaying, whose interdisciplinary exploration led to a master's offer from Cambridge University, demonstrating extraordinary adaptability and passion.
Chief Executive Officer of Xie Tong Education Group Mr Mike Sun
UIC President Prof Chen Zhi explored the future trends and challenges of education from a global perspective during his keynote speech at the forum, emphasising the importance of liberal arts education in the AI era.
UIC President Prof Chen Zhi
He shared UIC's innovative practices in liberal arts and international education, pointing out its important role in cultivating well-rounded talents. "It will have a positive and profound impact on human growth," he said. He also discussed the challenges facing education in the future, urging educators to actively respond and explore to promote the continuous advancement of education.
The forum held three discussions focusing on different topics: "New Opportunities and Challenges in International Education Cooperation", "How International Schools Empower Students' Career Success in the Go-Global Era" and "Global Citizenship: Building Intercultural Communication Skills on the Basis of Mother Tongue Culture".
Regarding the first topic, hosted by UIC's Assistant to President, Deputy Registrar and Chief Strategic Development Officer Ms Ashura Lam, top scholars from different universities shared their experiences and challenges, including UIC Vice President (Academic) and Executive Director of Institute for Advanced Study Prof Zhou Yongming, Advisor to the President and Master of the Seventh College of CUHK-Shenzhen Mr Laurie Pearcey, Vice Chancellor for WKU Academic Affairs Dr Eric Yang, Executive Assistant to the President and Head of the Department of Academic Governance and Senate of HKUST (Guangzhou) Dr Liu Yingbo, Vice Provost in Global Engagement and Partnerships of UNNC Dr Alain Chong, and Deputy Director of Academic Affairs of SMBU Ms Wang Manli.
Discussion on "New Opportunities and Challenges in International Education Cooperation"
They discussed issues such as cultural and educational system integration, innovative practices, and the use of AI to enhance educational quality and efficiency. The importance of innovative thinking in education was also emphasised.
Prof Zhou said that in the AI era, students' focus should shift from knowledge acquisition to applying AI for societal value creation. Despite challenges, he affirmed UIC's commitment to cultivating globally competent talents.
UIC Vice President (Academic) and Executive Director of Institute for Advanced Study Prof Zhou Yongming
Dean of the UIC's School of Culture and Creativity Prof Eugene Ch'ng was invited to deliver a speech. He highlighted the need for careful integration of AI into arts education, which should complement rather than replace creativity. He also introduced UIC's AI Media Lab, demonstrating the critical role of critical thinking skills in the use of AI.
Dean of the UIC's School of Culture and Creativity Prof Eugene Ch'ng
Director of UIC's Admission Office Ms Lin Qunying introduced the audience to UIC's commitment to cultivating students with high qualities, such as professional knowledge, comprehensive skills, a global outlook. She noted that over 80% of their graduates pursue further studies, mostly at top global universities.
Director of UIC's Admission Office Ms Lin Qunying
From MPRO
Reporter: Cecilia Yu
Photographer: Season Li, Hanna He and Forbes China
Editor: Deen He
