Keynote Speakers



Prof. Qing Li
IEEE, AAIA and IET Fellow
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China


Bio: Qing Li is a Chair Professor and Head of the Department of Computing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He received his B.Eng. from Hunan University (Changsha), and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Southern California (Los Angeles), all in computer science. His research interests include multi-modal data management, conceptual data modeling, social media, Web services, and e-learning systems. He has authored/co-authored over 500 publications in these areas, with over 45,000 citations and H-index of 87 (source: Google Scholars). He is actively involved in the research community and has served as Editor-in-Chief of Computer & Education: X Realitty (CEXR) by Elsevier, associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence (TAI), IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems (TCDS), IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering (TKDE), ACM Transactions on Internet Technology (TOIT), Data Science and Engineering (DSE), and World Wide Web (WWW) Journal, in addition to being a Conference and Program Chair/Co-Chair of numerous major international conferences. He also sits/sat in the Steering Committees of DASFAA, ER, ACM RecSys, IEEE U-MEDIA, and ICWL. Prof. Li is a Fellow of IEEE, AAIA, and IET.

Speech Title: KCUBE: A KG-based University Curriculum Framework for Student Advising and Career Planning

Abstract: Knowledge representations and interactions are at the forefront of teaching, learning, and career planning activities in all endeavors of education and career development. University students are increasingly faced with a myriad of interdisciplinary topics that are seemingly unrelated when unstructured knowledge representations are presented, especially during advising and career orientation sessions. This is especially challenging in fast-changing technical domains such as Computer and Data Science where university curricula are reviewed on an annual basis. This makes it increasingly difficult for instructors and administrators to present both the big picture as well as the detailed knowledge components of degree programs to students who face problems in choosing a career and/or establishing a plan of study and assessment. In this talk, I shall introduce the KCUBE project, a knowledge graph (KG) framework equipped with virtual reality for structuring and presenting both the overviews of the Computer Science curriculum taught at the Department of Computing in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, as well as for students to develop their study with the help of virual tutor/mentor. We employ computational information storage and retrieval methods, machine learning, and interactive virtual reality to facilitate users (instructors and students) to better understand, manipulate, and visualize abstract concepts and relationships in the development of teaching and learning activities in our department.

 

Prof. Jin Yang
Former Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of China to UNESCO
East China Normal University, China


Bio: Prof YANG Jin has developed his career as both a civil servant and an academic researcher in the Chinese education system. He is currently an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Education of East China Normal University. He worked progressively in different branches of the Ministry of Education of China, as Director of Division of Teaching and Learning Support of Department of Vocational and Adult Education, Deputy Director-General of Department of Basic Education, and then as Director-General and Research Professor of the Central Institute for Vocational and Technical Education (CIVTE). He was appointed as a member of the 10th session of the National Inspectorate of Education of China, and elected as Vice President of both the Chinese Adult Education Association and the Chinese Society for Technical and Vocational Education.
He obtained international experiences in three successive positions as Senior Programme Specialist in UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), Minister Counsellor for Education in the Embassy of China to France, and then Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of China to UNESCO.
He holds a B.Sc degree in mechanical engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University in China, an M.Ed degree in comparative education and a PhD in economics of education from the University of Manchester in the U.K.
His fields of research cover comparative education, lifelong learning, learning science, STEM education, and education for international understanding.

Speech Title: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education

Abstract: UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is a specialized agency dedicated to strengthening the shared humanity through the promotion of education, science, culture, and communication in its 194 Member States. It sets standards, produce tools and develop knowledge to create solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform every facet of society, it has the potential to address some of the biggest challenges in education today, innovate teaching and learning practices, and accelerate progress towards SDG 4: quality education and lifelong learning opportunity for all. However, rapid technological developments inevitably bring multiple risks and challenges, which have so far outpaced policy debates and regulatory frameworks. This presentation will highlight UNESCO’s recent endeavor and its perspective for supporting Member States to harness the potential of AI technologies for achieving the Education 2030 Agenda and its implications for the future of education, while ensuring that its application in educational contexts is guided by the core principles of inclusion and equity.

 

Prof. Jiyou Jia
Head of the Department of Educational Technology, Graduate School of Education
Peking University, China


Bio: Dr. Jiyou Jia is a full professor and the Head of the Department of Educational Technology, Graduate School of Education, Peking University, China and is also the founding director of International Research Center for Education and Information at Peking University. He was invited to work as a guest professor in 2015 by School of Education, Technical University of Munich, Germany, Distinguished Professor at Institute for Research in Open and Innovative Education, the Open University of Hong Kong from August 2017 to December 2018, and Visiting Professor at the Education University of Hong Kong in 2023 and 2024.
Dr. Jia received B. S. and Master of Education from Peking University, and Ph.D. in artificial intelligence from Augsburg University, Germany. His research interests include educational technology and artificial intelligence in education, especially in TELL (Technology Enhanced Language Learning), math education with ICT, and decision making support system. He has been responsible for a dozen of national projects and international cooperation projects. His research has won a number of national and international prizes including Outstanding Paper Award from Emerald Publishing 2023, the First Class Award of the Fifth National Award for Outstanding Achievements in Educational Research, from Ministry of Education, China, 2016.

Speech Title: The Development and Application of a Math Intelligent Assessment and Tutoring System (MIATS V2.0) in Math Education Based on Big-data Mining

Abstract: This speech introduces an intelligent mathematical assessment and tutoring system MIATS V2.0, which can not only provide adaptive assessment for students based on big data mining, but also guide students individually to solve difficult questions step by step. Three quasi-experiments in schools were conducted to evaluate the effect of this system on students’ performance. The analysis of the collected data demonstrates that the system can provide personalized assessment and tutoring and enhance the students’ learning performance, and is an effective approach to realize the value-added evaluation, the integration of testing and learning, and the promotion of learning through testing. This study provides a valuable reference for utilizing intelligent assessment and tutoring systems to help implement the macro policies such as student assessment reform, reducing the students’ burden and increasing the educational efficiency.

 

Prof. Jianhua Zhao
Deputy Director at the Center of Studies for Future Education
Director at the Center of Studies for AI in Education
Southern University of Science and Technology, China


Bio: Prof. Jianhua Zhao is a Deputy Director at the Center of Studies for Future Education, a Director at the Center of Studies for AI in Education at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). He is a Senior Programme Specialist at the International Center for Higher Education Innovation (ICHEI) under the auspices of UNESCO. He served as different roles in various academic institutions, associations, or societies, such as a deputy board member of the Learning Sciences Society in China Higher Education Society, an an adjunct professor at Northwest Normal University, an Executive Committee Member for Shenzhen Education Association, a member of the Steering Committee of the Online Open Course for Undergraduate Colleges and Universities in Guangdong Province, etc. He has been serving as editorial board member for various journals, including the Journal of Open Education Research, the Journal of Open Learning Research, the Journal of Computers in Education, the Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, the International Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments, etc. His research interests include Learning Sciences, Future Education, and AI and Education.

Speech Title: Innovation in Teaching and Learning in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract: The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) presents profound challenges and opportunities for education, necessitating a fundamental innovation in teaching and learning paradigms. This analysis argues that the demonstrated capability of pre-trained large models to master knowledge and logical reasoning renders traditional, teacher-centered, and examination-oriented educational models increasingly obsolete. Consequently, education must urgently shift towards a student-centered approach, transitioning its core objective from knowledge transmission to capacity building, as underscored by the framework of Education 4.0. This new paradigm prioritizes the development of higher-order thinking skills, including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and socio-emotional competencies. AI-driven pedagogical innovation should be fundamentally grounded in active learning methodologies—such as project-based and inquiry-based learning—where students transform from passive recipients into active constructors and co-creators of knowledge. This transformation further necessitates a systemic evolution in curriculum design, multidimensional assessment strategies, and the redefined role of educators, coupled with a critical emphasis on enhancing AI literacy and addressing the pivotal ethical implications to ensure technological alignment with human values. Ultimately, the successful integration of AI in education hinges on the holistic adoption of a new teaching paradigm that fosters a synergistic human-AI ecosystem, thereby empowering holistic student development and effectively preparing learners for a future decisively shaped by intelligent technologies.

 

Prof. Hang Hu
Director of the Institute of Big Science Education
Southwest University, China

Bio: Hang Hu is a Professor, Doctoral Supervisor (Postdoctoral Supervisor), Director of the Institute of Big Science Education at Southwest University, and Director of the Chongqing Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Sciences for the Strategic Development of Civilization Mutual Learning. He also serves as Director of the Research Office of Scientific and Technological Civilization and Digital Humanities at the China-Greece Civilization Mutual Learning Center (a construction unit of the Joint Research Institute for Regional and Country Studies of the Ministry of Education, and a key research base of philosophy and social sciences in Chongqing). Additionally, he holds the positions of Director of the Virtual Teaching and Research Office for "Big Science Education" in the Southwest University Group of the "Collaborative Quality Improvement" Program for Normal Education of the Ministry of Education, Rotating Executive Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Greek Studies, and Convener of the National (Big Science) Education Alliance. He is a TOP 1% Highly Cited Scholar of CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure).
He is an Expert at the National Education Examinations Authority, Vice Chairman of the Primary and Secondary School Information Technology Education Special Committee of the Chinese Society of Education, and Vice Chairman of the Experimental Teaching Equipment Branch of the China Educational Equipment Industry Association. He also acts as Standing Director of the Information Technology Education Special Committee of the China Association for Educational Technology, Director of the Learning Sciences Branch of the Chinese Society of Higher Education, Member of the Group Standard Expert Committee of the China Educational Equipment Industry Association, Director of the Digital Humanities Alliance, Expert for Basic Education Quality Monitoring in Chongqing, and Popularization Expert of Social Sciences in Chongqing. He is the Column Planner of the journals Civilization Mutual Learning and Journal of Teacher Education.
His main research field is in-depth learning and its educational application; Science and technology with intelligent education; Intelligent computing and digital humanities; History and philosophy of science and technology.

 

Prof. Zehui Zhan
Deputy Director of the Research Center for Innovative Talent Cultivation
South China Normal University, China

Bio: Zehui Zhan (Ph.D.) is a Professor at South China Normal University, holding distinguished titles such as the Young Pearl River Scholar and Hong Kong Scholar. She currently holds several key leadership positions, including Deputy Director of the Research Center for Innovative Talent Cultivation, Deputy Director of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area University-School STEAM Education Alliance, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Smart Education, and Deputy Director of the Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Big Data in Educational Assessment. Additionally, she serves as President of the Interdisciplinary Research Committee of the Guangdong College Entrance Examination Research Association and Secretary-General of the Global Chinese Society for Inquiry Learning. Her extensive editorial contributions include roles as an International Advisory Board Member for the International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, Associate Editor of the Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Editorial Board Member for Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence and Future in Educational Research. Her primary research focuses on interdisciplinary and innovative education, learning sciences, and AI education.She has published more than 100 papers in renowned academic journals. Her outstanding academic contributions have been recognized with multiple awards, such as the National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Nomination Award, the Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation Award for Young Faculty, and the First Prize in the National Educational Software Awards. She has also been consistently named an Elsevier Highly Cited Chinese Researcher for five consecutive years since 2020 and was listed among the World's Top 2% Scientists in 2025.