The 2022 International Forum on AI and Education was held online on Dec. 5. Co-organized by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, the China National Commission for UNESCO, and UNESCO, the forum’s theme was “Steering AI to Empower Teachers and Transform Teaching.” China’s Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng attended the forum and delivered a speech, as did Santiago Mourão, President of the 41st Session of the UNESCO General Conference, and UNESCO Assistant Director-General Stefania Giannini. More than 500 participants, including over 50 high-ranking educational officials from 17 countries, as well as representatives of international agencies, the private sector, China’s local education administrations, and universities in China, attended the forum.
Huai stated that AI technology has entered a new era of human-machine collaboration and cross-border integration. In this context, it is crucial to empower teachers, transform teaching and learning, and provide more inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education by leveraging AI-enabled solutions.
The minister highlighted that education is a priority in China’s economic and social development. The Chinese government places great importance on the transformative power of AI technologies and on the development and well-being of the teaching force in the digital age. China is committed to providing AI-empowered, high-quality and balanced education, optimizing education governance, and promoting teachers’ professional development, as part of its efforts to build a more equitable, inclusive, and resilient educational system.
In response to the Vision Statement on Transforming Education released by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Huai urged the international community to re-examine the significance of digital transformation in education from the perspective of building a community with a shared future for humanity, and to promote equity in education. He also called for respecting and prioritizing the role of teachers in driving educational change and making technology available to teachers to improve the effectiveness of education and teaching.
