During the 2025 World Digital Education Conference, the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education at Central China Normal University (CCNU) welcomed 24 distinguished guests from 12 institutions across eight countries and regions, including Singapore, Germany, the UK, and Russia. The visit focused on frontier developments in AI and digital education, and opened new opportunities for global collaboration.

Throughout the week, CCNU signed strategic cooperation agreements with several world-leading universities, reaching broad consensus on joint research, talent development, and academic exchange—further cementing its international influence in smart education.

Forging Global Ties

On May 12, CCNU and Nanyang Technological University’s National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore, agreed to collaborate on research, faculty exchange, conference co-hosting, and digital innovation. The agreement was formalized by Professor Wu Di from CCNU and Associate Professor Chow Jia Yi from NIE. 

      On May 13, Vice President Ren Youzhou met with Professor Mutlu Cukurova of University College London (UCL), with both sides committing to joint research and STEM education collaboration. Professor Cukurova was also appointed a “Visiting Professor” by CCNU.

On May 14, Vice President Liu Sannyuya signed an agreement with Humboldt University of Berlin’s Vice President, Professor Niels Pinkwart. The partnership includes joint degree programs, interdisciplinary research, and shared resources. Professor Cukurova was also appointed a “Visiting Professor” by CCNU:

That same day, CCNU Party Secretary Xia Lixin met with a delegation from Moscow City University. The two institutions pledged to build a China-Russia Digital Education Center and deepen cooperation in teacher training and digital learning.

Expanded International Engagement

CCNU also held talks with the Russian Academy of Education, Herzen University, and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE). Discussions included joint projects and collaboration on AI-supported interventions for children with autism. Visiting experts toured CCNU’s smart classrooms and national engineering research centers, praising its achievements in AI-powered education. These partnerships mark a significant milestone in the faculty’s global development.

The delegations also joined the parallel forum “Transformation of Teachers' Roles and Enhancement of Abilities in the Intelligent Era,” co-hosted by CCNU under the guidance of China’s Ministry of Education. The event attracted over 150 participants from 15 countries and regions, including policymakers, university leaders, and international education experts. Looking ahead, CCNU will continue to expand global partnerships and drive innovation in digital education—contributing to a more open, inclusive, and intelligent global learning ecosystem.