AIEXPO2020 kicked off in Suzhou International Expo Centre on 14 August 2020, sponsored by the Artificial Intelligence Industry Technology Innovation Strategy Alliance (AITISA). With the theme of “Revival of Everything - Future Intelligence" and integrating exhibitions, conferences, competitions, prize-giving, and performances, AIEXPO2020 aims to create a grand international event for AI technology.
Jing Degang, secretary of the Party Committee and president of the Open University of China (OUC), was invited to address the main forum. According to Jing Degang, digitalisation, intellectualisation, lifelong learning, and integration are the future of education, and AI technology will have a far-reaching impact on the reform of education and teaching methods. In this context, the OUC will create a public service system for lifelong learning through the construction of “One Road, One Network, and One Platform” based on the new generation of information technology, including AI. The OUC will actively explore new patterns and models of intelligent learning and smart services in order to meet the continuous need for personalised lifelong learning and contribute to the construction of an education system serving lifelong learning for all.
On the afternoon of 15 August 2020, the AI + Education Development Sub-Forum of AIEXPO2020, which was jointly organised by the OUC, Beijing Baidu Netcom Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (Baidu), Suzhou University, and Beijing Baizhi Tiantuo Education Technology Co., Ltd., was held at the International Expo Centre at Jinjihu Lake, Suzhou. Ju Chuanjin, vice president of the OUC; Liu Yawen, vice president and general manager of Baidu's ACG smart city division; and Zhang Weimin, Joint Secretary General of AITISA, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Qian Weining, dean of the School of Data Science and Engineering of East China Normal University; Zhang Min, dean of the Computer School of Suzhou University; Xun Endong, dean of the Language Intelligence Research Institute of Beijing Language and Culture University; Yuan Yaxing, director of the OUC Information Technology Department; Liu Fan, executive vice president of Baidu ABC Cloud College; and Li Zhenghua, associate professor of the School of Computer Science of Suzhou University, delivered speeches on AI and talent training for vocational education. In addition, the White Paper on AI + Higher Education was released and presented at the meeting, which was presided over by He Jing, deputy director of the OUC’s Publicity Department.
Ju Chuanjin noted that AIEXPO2020 is an opportunity for us to promote the deep integration and development of AI and education and realise a smooth connection between education and talent, and industry and innovation. The OUC will actively use information technology to expand the coverage of its high-quality resources and promote education equality. It will remain committed to serving economic and social development through education and cultivating a a large number of multi-levelled AI professionals with innovative abilities and a cooperative spirit for the new era through university-enterprise cooperation and the integration of industry and teaching.
Liu Yawen said that Baidu, which has always called for the training of AI professionals in China, has created a new joint training model for AI professionals together with the government, enterprises, and universities. The comprehensive cooperation between Baidu, the OUC, and Baizhi Tiantuo will consolidate the leading position of the OUC’s intelligent online education team, promote the social training ability and effects of AI, and give impetus to and help realise Baidu's strategic goal of training 5 million AI professionals in five years.
Zhang Weimin pointed out that “AI + Education" refers to both education in AI technology and the cultivation of AI talents, and the application of AI in education and how it can be used to enable education. It is hoped that an “AI + Education Development” forum will be held annually along with the AIEXPO.
From left to right: Zhang Jiansheng, chairman of Baizhi Tiantuo Co. Ltd; Ju Chuanjin, member of the party committee and vice president of the OUC; Liu Yawen, vice president and general manager of Baidu’s ACG smart city business division
Ju Chuanjin signed an agreement with Beijing Netswift Technology Co., Ltd. and Beijing Baizhi Tiantuo Education Technology Co., Ltd. on behalf of the OUC to jointly build the “New Generation Information Technology College of the OUC.” The agreement lays out a plan for and marks the official launch of the training of new vocational technology professionals.
In the post epidemic era, the OUC will continue to serve China's national strategy and respond to the demands of the market. It will follow the market-oriented principle of “taking coordinated actions within the OUC system, integrating resources, aiming for win-win cooperation, using projects as a driving force, engaging in market segmentation, and emphasising efficiency” in order to accumulate high-quality resources and and develop strategic partnerships. It will aim to “train skilled professionals for the new generation information technology” and cooperate with leading technology enterprises to develop and expand social training and facilitate enrolment, teacher training, certification, employment, and credit conversion. This will help the OUC to become a national brand known for the cultivation of “the new generation of information technology professionals” in China, and cultivate a large number of AI professionals with innovative abilities and cooperative spirits for the new era.
By OUC