In April 2025, BNBU officially launched its School of Artificial Intelligence and Liberal Arts (SAI), an ambitious initiative that brings together liberal arts education and cutting-edge artificial intelligence to cultivate well-rounded, future-ready talents.
When referring to the SAI, BNBU President Prof Chen Zhi quoted, "Know yourself" from the Delphic Maxim. The true essence of education should never be limited to teaching knowledge. He believed that when machines can instantly process vast amounts of information, universities must return to the original purpose of education: nurturing well-rounded individuals with creativity, humanistic values, and wisdom for life.
BNBU President Prof Chen Zhi at the unveiling ceremony of the School of Artificial Intelligence and Liberal Arts
SAI is built on four pillars: whole-person education, innovative practice, global vision, and technology for good. Its goal is to nurture students with strong technical capabilities in AI, interdisciplinary thinking, and a deep sense of ethical responsibility.
"What is the essence of being human? How can we ensure that technology serves the development of humans? These questions are driving a profound transformation in educational philosophy, from a knowledge to holistic human development, from instrumental rationality back to humanistic care, making education back to human," said Prof Chen.
"BNBU's SAI combines the advantages of the university, the needs of our students and society," said Dr Ricky Hou, Executive Dean of SAI and Associate Dean of the Graduate School. It plans to recruit around 20 faculty members worldwide with expertise in both AI and interdisciplinary teaching, and its curriculum is anchored in four domains—Mathematics, Business, Computational Media, and Digital Global Communication—strategically aligned with BNBU's strengths and emerging industry needs, shared by Dr Hou.
Executive Dean of SAI and Associate Dean of the Graduate School at BNBU Dr Ricky Hou
"SAI will personalise curricula for students within each faculty and school, tailoring four-year study plans based on the strengths of the academic unit and the characteristics of individual students, while integrating liberal arts education and artificial intelligence," Dr Hou added. "Our goal is to cultivate talent equipped to meet the needs of an AI-driven future through an innovative curriculum framework."
In the 2025 fall semester, SAI will admit 30 outstanding freshmen from each of BNBU's other four faculties and schools for a personalised learning experience. Students will not only cross disciplinary boundaries but also participate in a customised academic journey guided by their strengths and interests.
Dr Hou, an experienced researcher in autonomous driving, P2P networks, streaming technologies and more, also serves as the Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at BNBU.
He believes that the essence of human value in the AI age lies in our irreplaceable emotional depth and originality. Though machines may be powerful, they lack empathy and true creativity, Dr Hou shared, and the mission of education is to foster human qualities in emotions and creativity.
Dr Hou sees AI not merely as a tool, but as a companion. "Treating AI as a partner rather than a servant encourages mutual understanding and coexistence. That's how we can achieve true harmony between technology and humanity."
The launch of SAI coincides with the graduation of BNBU's first cohort of undergraduates of the Artificial Intelligence Programme. These students have already made their mark by securing offers from top universities like the University of California, Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon University, publishing high-quality research papers, and excelling in competitions such as the Chinese Collegiate Computing Competition and ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest.
Hu Junpu (left) and Zai Tong, BNBU students of AI Programme
BNBU's AI programme is unique for its interdisciplinary integration and global approach, according to Dr Fan Wentao, Associate Head of the Department of Computer Science. "We work closely with fields like mathematics, economics, psychology, and sociology, helping students understand AI through multiple lenses," he said. "Students also benefit from lectures by international scholars and exchange opportunities that broaden their horizons."
Dr Fan Wentao, Associate Head of the Department of Computer Science
Looking ahead, Dr Fan encourages graduates to define clear career paths and to sharpen their communication and collaboration skills. "AI is my partner," he said. "We each bring something unique to the table, and by working together, we can build a better future."
As BNBU continues to expand its AI initiatives, Dr Hou and his team are committed to keeping humans —our values, creativity, and compassion —at the heart of technological advancement.
From MPRO
Reporter: Cecilia Yu, Koga Song
Photographer: Owen Li, Hanna He, Season Li, Xu Luo, Zhang Yutong
