Global Collaboration on AI in Education Featured at 2024 GMC Hosted by Queen Mary University

Queen Mary University Launches Centre for Excellence in AI Education During Major International Conference

Queen Mary University of London co-hosted the 2024 Global MOOC & Online Education Conference (GMC) with Tsinghua University and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, marking their 20-year partnership. Organized by the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, the two-day event featured over 80 speakers and 300 delegates, focusing on the role of technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), in the future of higher education.

The conference was opened by notable figures, including Professor Colin Bailey CBE, President and Principal of Queen Mary University, Wu Yan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister of State for the Department for Education of the UK, Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, and Li Luming, President of Tsinghua University and Chair of the Board of the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance.

Following the ceremony, the event featured panel discussions and presentations from academics across the UK, China, and Europe. Queen Mary students showcased posters on how technology enhances their education, while the Chinese Higher Education Press demonstrated the effective integration of AI in university lectures and workshops. Queen Mary University hosted the China-UK Universities roundtable, led by Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang, Vice Minister Wu Yan, and Baroness Jacqui Smith, with over 100 delegates from 24 top UK and Chinese institutions. A key highlight was the launch of the UK Young Envoys Scholarship Programme, designed to boost European youth participation in exchange programmes with China, promoting mutual understanding and friendship.

On the conference's second day, Queen Mary announced the launch of a new Centre for Excellence in AI in Education, based in the Queen Mary Academy. The Centre will provide staff with resources and training to integrate AI and digital literacy into teaching, preparing students with sought-after AI skills for the workforce. Professor Colin Bailey CBE, President of Queen Mary University, emphasized the growing role of AI and technology in higher education, benefiting both students and staff. He highlighted the importance of conferences like GMC for fostering collaboration on integrating technology into teaching. Bailey expressed pride in Queen Mary's selection as the conference venue, recognizing its strengths in AI and digital education, and thanked all involved, especially partners in China and the Department of Education.

The conference highlighted the transformative potential of AI in shaping the future of education and underlined the importance of global collaboration and innovation in preparing students for the evolving workforce.

Editor’s Note:

The 2024 Global MOOC & Online Education Conference (GMC) event brought together leading academics, policymakers, and leaders worldwide to discuss innovative educational practices and explore the future of learning in an increasingly digital world. The educational practices involving AI to prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow. Also, the global collaboration between institutions is the need of time to make the education process seamless and accessible for all. Additionally, The launch of the UK Young Envoys Scholarship Programme also provides a promising opportunity for deeper cultural and educational connections between the UK and China.

Skoobuzz believes that as the educational landscape evolves, advanced technology will play a critical role in shaping the experience of the next generations.