The Inaugural HKU-THU Education Symposium:
Educational Traditions in the Age of AI: What and How?

The Faculty of Education at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Comparative Education Research Centre (CERC) co-hosted the inaugural HKU-THU Education Symposium, with the theme “Educational Traditions in the Age of AI: What and How?”, on November 7, 2025. This event was organised in collaboration with the School of Education at Tsinghua University (THU) and attracted over 400 participants from diverse regions and backgrounds joining online. It featured insightful presentations from eight distinguished speakers from HKU and THU, fostering dynamic dialogue and exchange on the evolving role of education in the AI era.

The morning session commenced with opening remarks by Professor Yang Rui, Dean of Education at HKU. Professor Yang emphasised the significance of educational traditions in addressing the rapid technological changes and reaffirmed the long-standing commitment to societal service shared by HKU and THU. Professor Wen Wen, Vice Dean in the School of Education at THU, expressed gratitude for the collaboration and stressed the need to adapt educational traditions to meet the challenges of the AI era. She also outlined the core principles of education as a key imperative.

Following their remarks, Professor Liz Jackson, Karen Lo Eugene Chuang Professor in Diversity and Equity and Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Education at HKU, examined the philosophical distinctions between human and artificial intelligence, articulating the risk of conflating the two. Dr Qin Fei, Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Education at THU, explored the potential benefits and limitations of AI implementations in higher education. Professor Yang Rui provided a historical examination of scholarship in the Republican era and outlined the meaning of being a Chinese scholar in the age of AI. Professor Wen Wen elaborated on the concept of “Cong You” as central to the traditional Chinese teacher-student relationship and addressed the ethical implications of integrating AI into educational interactions. These presentations sparked vibrant discussions among the speakers and the audience.

The Symposium continued in the afternoon with further stimulating explorations. Dr Long Yun, Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Education at THU, presented on the use of AI for analysing classroom dialogue. Professor Yang Lili, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at HKU, critically discussed the concept of “Agent AI” by examining the ontological foundation of agency. Professor Wei Jun, Associate Professor in the School of Education at THU, demonstrated how AI can be applied to enhance parent-child interactions and support personalised parenting strategies through innovative platforms. Professor Jeremy Rappleye, Professor and Director of CERC at HKU, offered alternative ontological perspectives through the lens of Buddhist philosophy.

The Symposium concluded with enthusiastic discussions chaired by Professor Jeremy Rappleye and Professor Wen Wen, during which Professor Yang Rui reaffirmed the need for a balanced approach that embraces both tradition and innovation. He also encouraged scholars to continue engaging with these evolving themes.

This event not only set the stage for meaningful intercultural and interdisciplinary exchange but also highlighted the importance of critically reflecting on the roles of tradition, philosophy, and cultural context in shaping the future of education in the age of AI.