News
Seminar on the 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report Successfully Held
On November 30th, the joint Seminar on the 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report was successfully hosted at Zhejiang University. The main objective of the Seminar was to raise awareness of the key highlights of the report and provoke discussion. The event, organized by Zhejiang University's UNESCO Research Center and the College of Education, in collaboration with Beijing Normal University's International Education Research Center, and with support from the Secretariat of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Multi-Sectoral Regional Office for East Asia in Beijing, brought together representatives from international organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, industry enterprises, and civil society for a dynamic discussion on the opportunities and challenges of technology in education within the digital era.
The opening ceremony, presided over by Professor Kan Yue, Dean of the College of Education and Director of Zhejiang University's UNESCO Research Center, featured warm congratulations from Ms. Zhu Hui, Vice President of Zhejiang University. Ms. Zhu emphasized the imperative for educational reform in the face of the digital era's transformative changes and highlighted Zhejiang University's enduring collaboration with UNESCO. Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Multi-Sectoral Regional Office, expressed gratitude for China's contributions to the Global Education Monitoring Report, emphasizing the seminar's role in fostering consensus and cooperation towards global education development agenda and SDG4 targets. Mr. Qin Changwei, Secretary-General of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, extended warm congratulation and reiterated China's commitment to contributing to global education agenda and digital transformation.
Session 1 was moderated by Professor Mei Weihui, Assistant Dean of the College of Education and Deputy Director of Zhejiang University's UNESCO Research Center. The Keynote was addressed by Mr. Manos Antoninis, the Director of the Global Education Monitoring Report (GEMR), highlighted the key messages, background, key findings and highlights, policy recommendations, and reflections on educational technology in the digital age. Mr. Robert Parua, Education Programme Specialist at the UNESCO Multi-Sectoral Regional Office, emphasized the potential of educational technology aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4 to strengthen educational system development, facilitate knowledge dissemination, expand information access, and provide more efficient delivery of education services. Professor Wu Fei, Executive Vice Dean of the Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study and Director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence at Zhejiang University, underscored ChatGPT as a pivotal transition from the internet era to the age of artificial intelligence, and examined the intrinsic mechanisms, core content, and developmental trajectory of educational digital transformation, offering insights into the background construction of the educational intelligence base. Mr. Hu Jiang, President of Higher Education Talent Development at iFLYTEK Co., Ltd., outlined iFLYTEK's technological experience, reforms and commitment to advancing higher education in the digital transformation through innovative business development.
Session 2, the roundtable session, was moderated by Dr. He Shanyun, Deputy Director of the Teaching Research Office at the Undergraduate School of Zhejiang University, bringing together perspectives from various sectors. Ms. Rossella Salvia, Head of the Human Resources Bureau at UNESCO Headquarters, discussed the advances in the application of technology use in education settings from the perspective of international organization human resources management and staffing. Professor Han Wei, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Institute of Online Education and Director of the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI), shared the significance and role of technology in education from the perspective of UNESCO's Category II centres. Mr. Wang Huijun, Director of the Zhejiang Education Technology Center, focused on hardware technology, outlining Zhejiang Province's practical measures in enhancing school informatization and intelligent construction and providing ongoing technical and information literacy training for teachers. Dr. Zhai Xuesong, Special Researcher at the College of Education of Zhejiang University, analyzed the potential, advantages, risks, limitations, and specific paths of technology application in education from an academic research perspective. Mr. Tang Caibin, Principal of Hangzhou Qian Xuesen School, shared the challenges and issues faced by primary and secondary schools in applying technology at school level to improve the teaching and learning process.
Session 3 was moderated by Dr. Xu Bingna, from the Institute of Education at Xiamen University. Professor Han Xibin, Deputy Dean of the Institute of Education at Tsinghua University, provided a detailed overview and background and characteristics of the digital transformation of education. Professor Zhao Jianhua, Associate Director of the Center for Future Education Research at Southern University of Science and Technology, provided an analysis of the widespread application of artificial intelligence in education systems and the industrial landscape of artificial intelligence applications in China, constructing a future vision of artificial intelligence development from a theoretical perspective. Professor Li Yan, Deputy Dean of the College of Education at Zhejiang University, pointed out that generative artificial intelligence has changed the knowledge acquisition mode, experimental design mode, and collaborative mode of research in universities, also bringing about challenges such as research ethics, academic integrity, safety, and privacy. Professor Liu Xiao, Deputy Dean of the College of Education at Zhejiang University of Technology, substantiated the specific practices of technology empowering vocational education reform with real cases. Professor Yang Junfeng, Director of the Education Technology Department of the Jing Hengyi School of Education at Hangzhou Normal University, explored the development history of artificial intelligence technology and elaborated on the teaching, learning, management, examination, and evaluation scenarios of artificial intelligence education, as well as the ethical risks and countermeasures facing artificial intelligence education.
Session 4 was chaired by Dr. Duan Shifei, Deputy Director of Zhejiang University's UNESCO Research Center. Mr. Zhang Junlin, Head of Xuejun Primary School, emphasized the need to find a balance between educational technology and educational essence. Mr. Yu Lin, Vice Principal of the Zijingang Campus of Xuejun Middle School, shared understanding and practice of digital benchmark schools in the process of achieving leapfrog development. Ms. Chen Hujun, Head of Zhejiang Lanrun Angel Foreign Language Experimental School, integrated relevant teaching practice experiences and shared exploration cases of student-initiated learning empowered by technology under the background of artificial intelligence. Dr. Yang Yang, Ph.D. in Education of the University of Cambridge, Academic Director of Cheltenham College China and Principal of Junhua Cheltenham Center, expounded on how artificial intelligence changes education systems and knowledge acquisition from the cognitive and practical perspectives. Dr. Zhao Yuchi, Executive Director, and Ms. Fang Yuan'an, Programme Coordinator, of UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education (INRULED), reflected on the application of technology in rural education practices in China based on UNESCO's reports and the work of INRULED. Dr. Yao Rui, Deputy Director of the International Center?for?UNESCO?ASPnet, focused on the innovative practices of internationalizing education in Hainan's Free Trade Port, elaborating on the historical mission and institutional reforms driving innovation in Hainan's education.
The closing ceremony, presided over by Dr. Tian Jing from Hangzhou Dianzi University, included expressions of gratitude and reflections on the seminar's significance. Professor Kan, on behalf of the organizers, called for continued engagement in discussions, urging participants to view technology in education with an inclusive attitude while acknowledging its limitations. Ms. Salvia acknowledged the seminar's contribution to the Global Education Monitoring Report, emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue. Lastly, Mr. Parua in his closing remarks, underlined the importance of using technology as a tool to enhance teaching and learning processes at all levels and expressed deep appreciation to UNESCO Research Centre and College of Education at Zhejiang University, the GEMR Team at UNESCO Headquarter, all the partner institutions, experts who presented at the meeting and the all the participants.
The Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM Report) is a crucial monitoring and assessment mechanism for UNESCO to promote the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4). It is an internationally influential annual report reflecting the global status and trends on education. In July 2023, UNESCO released the 2023 GEM Report with the theme "Technology in Education: A Tool on Whose Terms?" The report critically examined the role of technology in education. This seminar marked UNESCO's first collaborative event in China for the 2023 GEM Report, providing an essential platform for dialogue, understanding and grasping international trends and implications in the application of technology in education. It also facilitated the sharing and exchange of the latest developments and challenges in theoretical research, policy decision-making, technological research and development, and practical applications of educational technology in China.
