Rector Jun Liu chairs “AI-empowered education and teaching” training program, providing insights on educational challenges in AI era
The “AI-Empowered English Language Teaching and Learning” training program, jointly organized by Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU) and The International Research Foundation for English Language Education (TIRF), was recently held at BNBU. Prof. Jun Liu, rector of City University of Macau (CityU) and president of TIRF, was invited to chair the event and deliver the opening address, while Professor Zhu Tianqing, associate dean of the Faculty of Data Science (FDS) at CityU, attended as a keynote speaker. The event brought together education experts, scholars and industry leaders worldwide to explore AI-driven transformations in English language education and innovative development in education.
Rector Jun Liu elaborated on the significance of AI technology in language education during his opening address, emphasizing the current critical juncture of digital transformation in education. He called for global educators to jointly address the educational challenges of the AI era. The event featured two in-depth panel discussions: the first focused on “The Dialogue Between Artificial Intelligence and English Education”, while the second examined “AI-Empowered Academic English and Corpus Research”. Both sessions were moderated by Rector Jun Liu.
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During the morning session, Rector Jun Liu facilitated a lively debate between two experts on the paradigm shift in language education in the AI era. Demonstrating agile academic insights, he posed challenging questions to test scholarly perspectives and offered humorous commentary to resolve technical disputes, sparking intellectual exchanges on stage and among the audience.
The afternoon session focused more on practical applications, with Rector Jun Liu guiding two keynote speakers through a professional discussion on integrating academic English and corpus linguistics with AI technologies. The participants engaged in group collaboration, followed by experts comments. He first invited the participants to propose research questions, then brought in an expert panel for immediate feedback on the responses. This immersive approach transformed the venue into an interactive workshop, effectively converting theoretical discussion into feasible solutions.
The two panel discussions, moderated by Rector Jun Liu, not only deepened the theoretical foundations presented in the keynote speeches but also expanded practical application scenarios. This interactive format earned unanimous acclaim from participants, achieving a genuine integration of academic thought and practical wisdom.
During the program, Associate Dean Zhu Tianqing delivered a keynote speech titled “AI for Language Education: New Opportunities and Challenges”, providing an in-depth analysis of AI’s multidimensional impacts on language education, with particular emphasis on its potential for creating personalized learning pathways and making educational resources more accessible, while also highlighting challenges including data privacy and ethical considerations.
During the closing session, Rector Jun Liu delivered a concluding address titled “The Future of ELT is Unwritten,” where he succinctly summarized the key outcomes of the training program and offered profound insights into the future trajectory of English language education. Rector Liu emphasized, “the future of English education holds infinite possibilities, requiring concerted efforts from educators, researchers, policy makers, and technology developers.” He stressed the need for English education to maintain its crucial role as a global communication bridge amid digital transformation, encouraging educators to remain open-minded and embrace innovation. This forward-looking concluding speech resonated deeply with all attendees and stimulated thoughtful reflection among all participants.
