From July 7 to 9, 2026, the 4th Tsinghua University, PolyU, the University of Macau and Shanxi University quartet exchange programme was successfully held in Taiyuan, Shanxi. The event was hosted by the Rixin College of Tsinghua University and organised by the School of Philosophy of Shanxi University.
Themed "Future Humanities: Possibilities and Realities," the three-day exchange programme brought together nearly eighty teachers and students from the four universities. Through keynote lectures, parallel academic discussions, and cultural field trips, participants jointly explored new pathways for the humanities in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This year's exchange programme also marked a milestone with the first-time participation of Shanxi University, officially inaugurating a new cooperative framework among the four universities.
On the morning of July 7, a grand opening ceremony was held. Prof. Gu Tao (Dean of the School of Humanities, Tsinghua University), Prof. Xu Jie (Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Macau), Prof. You Yang (Dean of the School of Philosophy, Shanxi University), and Prof. Hang Xing (Head of the Department of Chinese History and Culture, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) attended the ceremony and delivered remarks. They collectively expressed their high expectations for safeguarding the humanistic spirit and fostering cross-institutional academic integration in the AI era. Following the ceremony, four teachers from diverse academic backgrounds across the four universities delivered highly inspiring keynote speeches, from which the participating teachers and students benefited immensely.
In terms of academic discussions, the students from the four universities were divided into four groups for three rounds of discussion. Engaging in deep intellectual exchanges on their respective research topics, students received feedback from teachers of all four universities, achieving a cross-regional and interdisciplinary academic dialogue.
Stepping out of the conference rooms, teachers and students also engaged in hands-on cultural field trips to immerse themselves in history. On the afternoon of July 8, students conducted a field study at the Jinci Museum and Jinci Park, experiencing firsthand the ancient architectural charm of royal gardens and exquisite Song Dynasty clay sculptures. On the afternoon of July 9, the delegation visited the Shanxi Museum to explore the roots of Chinese civilisation, deepening their understanding of the humanistic spirit through the intersection of history and modernity.
On the morning of July 9, the closing ceremony of the exchange programme was held at the Jinci Hotel. Student representatives from each university shared their fruitful experiences, agreeing that the intellectual collision of diverse backgrounds had not only broadened their academic horizons but also forged precious friendships.
In her concluding address, Prof. Xia Ying, Dean of Rixin College at Tsinghua University, expressed her gratitude to Shanxi University, and to all the participating teachers and students. Addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence to the humanities, she encouraged the students with two philosophical propositions: "Do not be the person beside the machine" and "The 'I' is 'We'." She urged them to always uphold the humanistic spirit, pay close attention to the connections between individuals, others, society, and communities, and courageously shoulder the mission of a new era of humanities scholars amid ongoing historical changes.
With the successful conclusion of the closing ceremony, Prof. Hang Xing, Head of the Department of Chinese History and Culture at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, extended a warm invitation on behalf of next year's host, looking forward to welcoming faculty and students to Hong Kong next year.
The successful organization of this year's four-university academic exchange programme has not only built a high-level platform for young scholars to exchange academic ideas but has also further advanced deep cooperation in the humanities between universities in Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau. It has laid a solid foundation for cultivating future scholars who possess international perspectives, humanistic values, and innovative spirits.
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