On the morning of October 14, the 20th International Association of University Presidents Triennial Conference opened at the Beijing Convention Center. During the two-day conference, more than 700 global education leaders, university presidents, experts and scholars from more than 50 countries and regions around the world gathered in Beijing to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of higher education，promote innovative education models and concepts, optimizing and enhancing teaching & learning via technology , fostering collaborations and knowledge exchange on educational research and work together to advance the development of higher education worldwide .
At 9 a.m., the opening ceremony of the conference was held. UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a congratulatory message, and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini delivered a video message. Ambassador of Mexico to China Jesus Seade, Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council of Education, Kakha Shengelia, President of the Board of Directors of IAUP, Fernando León García, current President of IAUP, and Chen Xiaochun, President-elect of IAUP and founder of Sias University, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Ma Jiansheng, Secretary of the CPC SIAS Committee, Liu Xiangyu, President of Sias University, Wu Hua, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sias Committee, Executive Vice President, and Chairman of the Labor Union, and Lu Yang, Vice President of Sias University, attended the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was presided over by Fernando Galvàn, Secretary-General of IAUP.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated the conference on its opening and stressed the huge potential of artificial intelligence in areas such as health, climate change, food, and transportation. In particular, he referred to The Pact for the Future, adopted by UN Member States in September this year, and called on the IAUP to contribute to the implementation of this global agreement, using artificial intelligence to contribute to global higher education and future development.
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Education, pointed out that while AI is meeting the growing demand for higher education, it is also profoundly reshaping the way universities operate. She stressed the need for university leaders to guide the application and development of AI in education with a people-oriented approach, while focusing on maintaining academic integrity and preparing students to use new technologies critically.
Jesus Seade, Ambassador of Mexico to China, pointed out that the rapid development of technology, especially the rise of artificial intelligence, is profoundly changing the way people live and work, but also putting forward new challenges and requirements for education. He called on global educators to work together to help students possess the three important qualities of openness, global vision, and curiosity to better adapt to this rapidly changing world.
Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education, said artificial intelligence will revolutionize teaching and learning across geographic and political boundaries. In particular, he mentioned the customized, interactive nature of AI in teaching and learning, and its growing support for students’ learning. At the same time, he also reminded global educators to pay attention to the gap that artificial intelligence may bring, and actively take measures to bridge it.
Kakha Shengelia, President of the IAUP, stressed the importance of cooperation and collaboration. He noted that the global education field is undergoing profound changes, and it is only through close cooperation with global leaders that innovative methods can be created to better meet the challenges.
Fernando León García (2021-2024), the current President of the IAUP, reviewed the achievements of the association over the past 60 years and thanked its members for their tireless efforts to maintain the mission of the organization and promote its prosperity. He made special mention of the challenges and opportunities faced by higher education during the pandemic, and called on universities to actively embrace change and innovate in the post-pandemic era to meet the changing needs of society.
Dr Chen Xiaochun, President-elect of the IAUP (2024-2027) and the founder and Chairman of Sias University, said that the mission of the IAUP is to promote international cooperation, exchange ideas, and meet challenges through common progress. As the new president, he will work to strengthen the interaction, communication, and cooperation between the IAUP and universities around the world to jointly advance the global vision of education. He believes that the theme of the conference, “AI and the Future of Higher Education,” is both timely and urgent, and he anticipants participants to engage in in-depth discussions on the innovative application of artificial intelligence and work together to shape the future of global education.
After the opening ceremony, the keynote speech session began. The session was moderated by Tomás Morales, President of California State University, San Bernardino. Prof. Michael Levitt, 2013 Nobel Laureat delivered the keynote speech, “The future of artificial intelligence and higher education,” which explained the impact of generative artificial intelligence on the reform of higher education from the aspects of biological intelligence, human intelligence, and artificial intelligence. Prof. Ian White, President of the University of Bath, delivered the keynote speech, “Educational Innovation AI：Helping Students Master AI rather than Serve it,” which called on universities to cultivate well-rounded professionals in the era of artificial intelligence. Fanta Aw, Director of NAFSA, delivered the keynote speech, “AI: Challenges and Opportunities Around Ethics,” focusing on major ethical dilemmas such as bias, access issues, and the risk of disinformation in AI. Professor Xi Youmin, Executive President of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, delivered the keynote speech titled “Future education: what ‘Education + AI’ could be and do” during the conference. He argued that education providers to adapt to the needs of the new era and make the necessary transformations to cope with the uncertainties of the future. Professor Lamont Repollet, President of Kean University, emphasized the positive role of artificial intelligence in promoting the transformation of higher education, improving education equity and innovative teaching methods, and shared the practice and exploration of Kean University in the application of artificial intelligence in his keynote speech.
On the afternoon of the 14th, the MOU signing ceremony was held. Professor Lu Yang, Provost and Vice President of Sias University, represented the Sias University to sign a memorandum of understanding of cooperation with Millersville University, University of California, Riverside, Escuela Monica Herrera and Alte University, hoping they will jointly promote in-depth cooperation in the cultivation of innovative international talents.
It is the first time in 60 years for this conference to be held in China, with a total of 9 parallel forums, 1 MOU signing activity, and 1 technology project transformation forum. The parallel forum includes a wide range of topics, covering five aspects: AI leading the innovation and development of college teaching, AI helping the reform of college talent training mode, AI empowering the modernization of higher education governance, AI reshaping the scientific research paradigm, and ethical review of AI application and educational response. Nearly 70 world-renowned experts and scholars from more than 50 countries and regions, including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Thailand,et.al., will deliver wonderful reports and speeches at the forum. Lu Yang, Vice President of Sias University, will chair parallel Forum 5 — “Educational Innovation via AI” Li Hua, former President of Sias University, and founder of ELITE Innovation College Cambridge, will chair parallel Forum 8 — “AI Helps Transform Talent Cultivation Models in Universities” to meet with experts in the field of artificial intelligence and global education and jointly explore the limitless potential of scientific and technological innovation.
During the conference, a variety of exchange activities such as cocktail dinner, welcome light show, welcome dinner, and theatrical performances were arranged to welcome education leaders, principals, experts, and scholars from all over the world.
Meanwhile, Dr Chen Xiaochun, Founder and Chairman of Sias University officially took over the presidency of IAUP and delivered speech at the inauguration ceremony on the 15th Oct.
20th International Association of University Presidents Triennial Conference
20th International Association of University Presidents Triennial Conference
Opening Ceremony Warm-up
Guest Admission
Fernando Galvàn, Secretary-General of the IAUP, Presided over the Opening Ceremony of the Conference
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Delivered a Congratulatory Message
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Delivered a Video Message
Ambassador of Mexico to China Jesus Seade Delivered a Speech
Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council of Education, Delivered a Speech
Kakha Shengelia, President of the IAUP, Delivered a Speech
Fernando León García, current President of the IAUP, Delivered a Speech
Chen Xiaochun, President-elect of the IAUP and founder of Sias University, Delivered a Speech
Ma Jiansheng, Secretary of the CPC SIAS Committee, Wu Hua, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sias Committee, Executive Vice President, and Chairman of the Labor Union Attended the Opening Ceremony
Tomás Morales, President of California State University, San Bernardino, Served as Moderator
Prof. Michael Levitt, 2013 Nobel Laureat, Delivered the Keynote Speech “The Future of Artificial Intelligence and Higher Education”
Prof. Ian White, President of the University of Bath, Delivered the Keynote Speech, “Educational innovation AI：Helping Students Master AI rather than Serve It”
Fanta Aw, Director of NAFSA, delivered the keynote speech, “AI: Challenges and Opportunities Around Ethics”
Professor Xi Youmin, Executive President of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Delivered the Keynote Speech, “Future Education: What ‘Education + AI’ Could Be and Do”
Lamont Repollet, President of Kean University, Delivered the Keynote Speech
MOU Signing
