During the 2025 World Digital Education Conference, Central China Normal University’s (CCNU) Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education hosted 24 distinguished guests from 12 universities and research institutions across eight countries and regions—including Singapore, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Russia. The visit centered on cutting-edge developments, innovative applications, and opportunities for global collaboration in AI and digital education.

Over the course of a week, the faculty signed strategic cooperation agreements with several world-renowned institutions, reaching broad consensus on joint research, talent development, and faculty-student exchange. This round of international engagement not only highlights the faculty’s growing global presence in AI-powered education, but also lays the groundwork for future innovations in digital education worldwide.

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

On May 12, CCNU President Peng Shuangjie met with a delegation from the National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University. In a meeting held at the university’s administrative building, both parties engaged in detailed discussions on implementing joint initiatives and reached consensus on academic exchanges, co-hosting international conferences, and collaborative research.

During the visit, Professor Wu Di, Executive Deputy Director of both the National Engineering Research Center for Digital Learning and the National Engineering Research Center for Educational Big Data Technologies, signed a cooperation agreement with Associate Professor Chua Chia Yee, Dean of Teacher Education and Undergraduate Programs at NIE. The two sides agreed to pursue strategic collaboration in four key areas:

l Joint academic research and the development of academic alliances

l Faculty exchanges and formation of joint research teams

l Co-organization of international conferences and high-level training programs

l Exploration of new models for digital education innovation

This partnership is expected to significantly advance Sino-Singapore collaboration in education informatization and provide a new model for digital education transformation in Asia.

Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany

On May 14, Vice President Liu Sannüya of CCNU and Professor Nils Pinkwart, Vice President of Humboldt University of Berlin, signed a cooperation agreement that focuses on:

l Joint undergraduate and graduate programs, including short-term exchanges and degree initiatives

l Establishment of interdisciplinary research teams and enhanced academic collaboration

l Mechanisms for sharing educational resources and research outputs

At the signing ceremony, Vice President Liu awarded Professor Pinkwart a “Visiting Professorship” from CCNU. This partnership marks a significant step toward deepening Sino-German collaboration in higher education and research and provides strong support for building a new platform for academic cooperation between the two countries.

University College London, UK

On May 13, Vice President Ren Youzhou met with Professor Mutlu Cukurova from University College London (UCL). The two sides reached consensus on enhancing joint research, co-developing talent training programs, and strengthening collaboration in STEM education. During the visit, Professor Cukurova was awarded a “Visiting Professorship” by CCNU, further cementing the institutional partnership and laying a solid foundation for deeper academic cooperation.

Moscow City University, Russia

On May 14, CCNU Party Secretary Xia Lixin held a friendly meeting with a delegation from Moscow City University. The two sides agreed to jointly promote the development of a “China-Russia Digital Education Center,” enhance exchange mechanisms for faculty and students, and intensify collaborative research. The talks achieved substantial progress, with both institutions committing to a long-term cooperation framework. This engagement opens new channels for educational cooperation between China and Russia, especially in the areas of teacher training and shared resources.

Expanded International Engagement

In addition to the above, the faculty also held meetings and academic exchanges with representatives from Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, the Russian Academy of Education, and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE). Agreements were reached on joint research projects and faculty-student exchanges. Visiting experts showed particular interest in CCNU’s pioneering digital interventions for children with autism, and both sides expressed willingness to collaborate in technology development and evaluation systems.

Throughout the week, delegations visited CCNU’s smart classrooms, the National Engineering Research Center for Educational Big Data Application Technologies, and the National Engineering Research Center for Digital Learning. They gave high praise to the university’s innovative practices in AI-powered education.The signing of multiple cooperation agreements marked a new milestone in the international development of CCNU’s Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education. Looking ahead, the faculty will continue to deepen global partnerships and promote innovation in digital education—contributing to the creation of a more open, inclusive, and intelligent global learning ecosystem.

The visiting delegations also participated in the parallel forum “Transforming Teachers’ Roles and Competencies in the Age of Intelligence,” held as part of the 2025 World Digital Education Conference. Guided by the Department of Teacher Affairs of the Ministry of Education and hosted by CCNU, the forum brought together over 150 participants from 15 countries and regions, including education policymakers, institutional leaders, experts from international organizations, and scholars specializing in digital education.