HUST Participates in 2025 World Digital Education Conference: Keynote by President You Zheng on Digital Learning Innovation
From May 14 to 16, 2025, the World Digital Education Conference was held in Wuhan, China. The event was organized by the Ministry of Education, the National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO, and the People’s Government of Hubei Province. The opening ceremony featured Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, who delivered a keynote address. Notable attendees included Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng and Vice Minister of Education Wu Yan.
Plenary Session and High-Level Dialogue
You Zheng, President of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), participated in a plenary session and chaired a high-level dialogue focused on digital education. This marked the introduction of a high-level dialogue dedicated specifically to digital education at the conference. President You Zheng engaged in discussions with prominent figures such as Pia Rebello Britto from UNICEF, Rodrigo Martins of the European Academy of Sciences, Joaquín Goyache Goñi from the Complutense University of Madrid, Yonghua Song from the University of Macau, and Erik Carrera from ETH Zurich.
Key Topics Discussed
Key topics addressed included innovation and talent cultivation driven by technology, global cooperation and equitable education in the age of intelligence, and ethical frameworks in intelligent education. The dialogue highlighted the importance of inclusiveness, collaboration, and a people-centered approach, with President You Zheng advocating for the use of technological innovations to enhance educational quality.
President You Zheng’s Vision
In his remarks, President You Zheng underscored the significance of global collaboration in achieving inclusive and equitable education, as well as the need for developing international standards for smart education. He articulated a vision for the international education community aimed at progressing toward a fair, sustainable, inclusive, and innovative digital future.
Global Digital Education Governance Session
The parallel session titled “Global Digital Education Governance: Openness, Sharing, and Mutual Learning” was co-hosted by HUST, UNICEF, and the Center for Educational Technology and Resource Development of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. During this session, President You Zheng spoke about the role of universities in the digital transformation of education, emphasizing the integration of education, science, and technology.
Conference Theme and Participants
The conference, themed “Education Development and Transformation: The Era of Intelligence,” convened officials from global education departments, leaders from international organizations, and representatives from various educational institutions. The participants sought to explore future pathways for digital education in alignment with the United Nations’ calls for transformative educational practices.
(Source: HUST)
