Peking University, May 9, 2026: 120 scholars and experts from around the world converged in London for an international symposium from April 28 to 29, offering trenchant analysis of AI's impact on education and pedagogy.
The symposium, titled "Global Approaches to Generative AI in Education", was jointly organized by Peking University, London School of Economics and Political Science, and King's College London, all of which are members of the Digital Intelligence International Development Education Alliance (DI-IDEA), an alliance of top global universities launched by Peking University (PKU) in 2023. 36 of the alliance's higher education institution members were represented at the symposium.
Jiang Guohua speaking in a discussion session.
In a discussion session, Jiang Guohua, vice chair of PKU Council, noted that it is imperative to encourage university faculty and students to embrace AI as an engine that drives innovation. "We need to pay attention to the gap in AI use between teachers and students, and strengthen interdisciplinary AI research." He also introduced PKU's overarching vision on digital and intelligent education.
The effect of AI in enhancing learning outcomes is being increasingly recognized around the world, and PKU is far from alone in experimenting with its application.
Throughout the two-day event, guests from academia and industry shared diverse perspectives on AI development and real cases of AI application in education. They came from an assortment of higher education institutions, professional bodies, and companies, including Harvard University, Nanyang Technological University, OpenAI, IBM, the Institute of Student Employers, among others.
Adding to the sense of techno-futurism, Sun Hua, secretary general of DI-IDEA, announced the official launching of the Third Global Digital Intelligence Education Innovation Competition, which offers a platform for exploring AI's use in teaching and learning. The competition will have three main tracks: AI for Science, AI for Teaching and Learning, and AI for Medicine.
On the sidelines of the symposium, Jiang Guohua engaged in discussions with delegates from King's College London, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, and University of Cambridge on cooperation regarding DI-IDEA. Moreover, multiple agreements were reached between the PKU delegation and Dublin City University.
The symposium underlined PKU's pragmatism and initiative in facilitating multilateral cooperation in an era marked by sweeping changes driven by AI.
Written by: Chen Shizhuo
Edited by: Zhang Jiang
