The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), and East China Normal University (ECNU) have announced a pioneering partnership on August 31 to drive research and development in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within education. The partnership has been formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), establishing the Artificial Intelligence and Education Futures Alliance.

This groundbreaking collaboration will enable the three universities to harness their individual strengths in a collective endeavour to address the evolving educational needs of the country, the Greater Bay Area, and Hong Kong. In addition to establishing dedicated research centres, the alliance will host international conferences and seminars to facilitate dialogue and exchange within the field.

HKUST’s Provost, Prof. GUO Yike, expressed enthusiasm about the prospective impact of the alliance. “HKUST is committed to leading the application of AI in education, and we believe in its transformative potential. Our extensive experience and successful track record in this area will be leveraged to further our technological capabilities in education, ultimately benefiting future generations,” Prof. Guo said.

EdUHK's Acting President and President (Designate) Prof. John LEE Chi-Kin who has started to assume presidency from September 1, views the establishment of the alliance as a powerful platform to intensify the interaction between local and mainland universities. “This cross-institutional and cross-regional collaboration will allow us to bring together our unique expertise to propel the growth of AI and its applications in education, thereby advancing both technology and education,” stated Prof. Lee.

ECNU’s Secretary of the Party Committee, Prof. MEI Bing, underscored the importance of the alliance, especially in the context of the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Co-operation Conference Mechanism. Prof. Mei stated, “This tripartite alliance aligns with the ongoing trends in educational transformation. It places a focus on the results of educational technology collaboration between Hong Kong-Shanghai and Mainland-Hong Kong. Moving forward, our hope is that the partner universities will consolidate their resources in intelligent education, teacher education, and AI to foster closer cooperation and contribute to the advancement of future education and technology.”

About HKUST, EdUHK, and ECNU 
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), and East China Normal University (ECNU) are leading academic institutions committed to research and development. This tripartite alliance aims to leverage their combined strengths to advance AI applications in education, shaping the future of learning and teaching in the Greater China region.