On 20 January 2026, the Third Education Transformation and Innovation (ETI) Salon was held, marking a transition from the theoretical foundations of Education 4.0 to the identification of practical measures for university-wide implementation. Hosted by Professor Jiannong CAO, Vice President (Education), the event featured a distinguished panel of experts from PolyU, Peking University, and Tianjin University, drawing over 100 participants for a deep dive into how technology can shift students from passive receivers of information to self-directed learners.
Professor Shirley NGAI, Associate Head of PolyU’s Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and a UGC Teaching Award recipient, shared her successful model for transforming allied health education. To address the "clinical gap" where students struggle to apply knowledge in high-pressure hospital settings, Professor Ngai detailed a tiered technology approach: using VR/AR for early immersion, high-fidelity mannequin simulations for decision-making training, and specialised AI tutors to provide personalised feedback on complex anatomy cases. She emphasised that these tools allow teachers to evolve from content providers into mentors who focus on the "human touch" and quality assurance.
Providing a broader institutional perspective, Professor Wenxin LI, Associate Dean of School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science, Peking University, shared her University's comprehensive AI education framework. The model delivers AI literacy across three layers: specialised AI majors, AI-integrated Computer Science majors, and general AI literacy for all students, including those in the humanities. Professor Li highlighted PKU’s requirement for all undergraduates to learn Python since 2018 and introduced "Botzone," a gamified platform where students develop AI programs for competition. This approach, she noted, fosters an environment where students become creators of AI rather than mere users.
Professor Yanli LIU, Associate professor of School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Tianjin University introduced the cutting-edge concept of the "Virtual Professor"—a high-level digital twin designed to assist in teaching. She explained how "AI for Science" (AI4S) is replacing complex calculations, thereby redefining the classroom’s purpose to focus on high-level human intelligence skills like imagination and critical thinking. Her system allows students to offload routine tasks, such as literature reviews, to a digital assistant, freeing them to pursue creative engineering solutions and interdisciplinary exploration.
The salon concluded with a powerful reflection on the future of the teaching profession. The panel reached a consensus that while AI will not replace teachers, teachers who embrace AI will inevitably replace those who do not.
| Research Units | Department of Rehabilitation Science | Peking University | Tianjin University |
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