On the afternoon of January 23, 2026, a delegation led by Professor Jiannong Cao, Vice President of PolyU, visited the National Engineering Research Center for E‑Learning (NERCEL) and the National Engineering Research Center for Educational Big Data (NERC-EBD) at CCNU. A special symposium was held with the participation of Professor Zongkai Yang, Senior Professor and Director of the NERCEL and the NERC-EBD; Feng Hong, Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan Affairs; Di Wu, Executive Deputy Director of the NERCEL and the NERC-EBD; and Jianwen Sun, Deputy Director of the NERCEL and the NERC-EBD. Dan Wu, Vice President of CCNU, also attended the related events. Both sides held in‑depth discussions on innovative concepts, practical pathways, and prospects for collaboration in AI‑empowered digital transformation of education.

Professor Zongkai Yang extended a warm welcome to Vice President Cao and his delegation. He then presented the center’s exploratory achievements in the deep integration of artificial intelligence with education, the application of educational big data, and the construction of smart education platforms. In turn, Vice President Cao shared PolyU’s experience and strategic initiatives in the fields of higher education research and digital transformation.

Both sides agreed that, in the age of artificial intelligence, education must move more quickly toward a learner-centered approach. Teaching models should shift from imparting knowledge to fostering competencies. Curriculum systems, instructional methods, and evaluation mechanisms need systematic redesign. Ultimately, this will create a more personalized and adaptive learning ecosystem.

During the discussion, the two sides reached preliminary consensus on several fronts, including collaborative research and innovation, talent exchange and training, joint platform development, and project cooperation. They also agreed to move forward with the signing of a framework agreement, thereby laying the institutional groundwork for deeper collaboration in the future.

During the visit, the delegation also toured the smart classrooms and the exhibition hall of the NERCEL and the NERC-EBD.

Editor: Ruye LI    

Reviewer: Xiaoxiao ZHU