ENGL Co-organises International Summit on the Use of AI in Language Learning and Teaching 2026 

Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government (3rd from left); Prof. Wong Wing-tak, PolyU Deputy President and Provost (2nd from right); Dr Anissa Chan Wong Lai-kuen, Chairperson of SCOLAR (3rd from right); Dr Jeff Sze, Under Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government and Chairperson of the Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Digital Education (2nd from left); Prof. Cao Jiannong, PolyU Vice President (Education) (right); and Dr Chan Pik Wa, Deputy Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government (left), officiated at the opening ceremony.

The Department of English and Communication (ENGL), in collaboration with the Education Bureau (EDB) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR), hosted the International Summit on the Use of AI in Language Learning and Teaching 2026 (AIinLT 2026) from 21 to 24 June. Building on the success of the first summit in 2025, AIinLT 2026 provided a dynamic platform for teachers in primary, secondary, and tertiary education, as well as education researchers and professionals, to exchange insights and experience. The four-day event attracted over 5,000 attendances.

The opening ceremony was held at PolyU’s Jockey Club Auditorium. Officiating guests included Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government; Prof. Cao Jiannong, PolyU Vice President (Education); and Dr Anissa Chan Wong Lai-kuen, Chairperson of SCOLAR.

In his opening address, Prof. Cao highlighted PolyU’s commitment to advancing language education through the integration of AI in language learning and teaching. Through the PolyU Education 4.0 initiative, the University has embraced purposeful, pedagogically sound applications of AI to enrich learning and equip students with the skills needed to thrive in future workplaces. The first keynote by Prof. Mairéad Pratschke, an independent researcher and adviser, explored language education within hybrid communities—learning environments in which human educators, peers, and AI agents each play integral roles.

Prof. Jenifer Ho (2nd from left) and Dr Rickey Lu (left) of ENGL moderate the invited panel discussion. Themed “AI Across Educational Landscapes: Insights, Challenges, and Knowledge Exchange,” the panel consisted of educators from local primary and secondary schools, as well as scholars in the fields of education innovation and languages, promoting cross-sector dialogue.

Other keynote speakers were Prof. Alan Cheung (The Chinese University of Hong Kong), Prof. Jang Ho Lee (Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea), Prof. Benjamin Luke Moorhouse (City University of Hong Kong), Prof. Tony McEnery (PolyU), and Prof. Hongxia Yang (PolyU). The first two days of the Summit also featured an invited expert panel discussion and 93 paper presentations and teaching demonstrations.

As part of AIinLT 2026, 22 hands-on workshops were held on 23 and 24 June to provide educators with practical solutions for integrating AI into the classroom, thereby creating more engaging and personalised learning experiences that more effectively meet individual student needs.

For more information about AIinLT 2026, please visit: https://events.polyu.edu.hk/aiinlt2026