On the afternoon of April 7, 2025, the School of Computer Science & Technology at HUST successfully hosted an academic lecture titled “Exploring the Future of Education: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Intelligence Amplification (IA)” in Room 210 of Building East 5. The event, hosted at the invitation of Professor Qiang HE, featured a keynote address by Professor Minjuan Wang, Chair Professor at the Education University of Hong Kong, Co-Director of the Global Institute of Emerging Technologies (GIET), and Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies (IEEE-TLT). The session drew significant attention from faculty and students with a keen interest in educational technology and was moderated by Dr. Luo Ruikun, postdoctoral researcher at the School.
Professor Wang opened the session by introducing her academic background and research expertise, which span future thinking and talent development, the future of education, extended reality (XR) and immersive learning, as well as the design and implementation of artificial intelligence in teaching, learning, and training among various areas.
In her keynote, Professor Wang offered an in-depth analysis of the prospects for artificial intelligence and extended reality technologies in the education sector. She traced the developmental trajectory of these technologies and presented vivid case studies and cutting-edge research that illustrate their transformative impact on education and training. From enhancing instructional efficiency to enabling personalized teaching and fostering students' independent learning capabilities, AI is redefining educational practices. Her demonstrations of AI applications—ranging from image generation to virtual avatar creation—offered a compelling glimpse into the powerful potential of these technologies.
A key highlight of the lecture was Professor Wang’s emphasis on the complementary relationship between AI and human intelligence. She stressed that AI is not a substitute for human capabilities, but rather a valuable collaborator. The shared growth and learning between humans and AI, she noted, would pave the way for a more promising future. Addressing the trending topic of the metaverse, Professor Wang elaborated on the application of augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and other immersive technologies within the metaverse. Through the real-world virtual environment examples such as the Vorbela iLRN Campus, she provided participants with a vivid, hands-on understanding of how these innovations are reshaping digital learning spaces.
The lecture concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which faculty and students actively interacted with Professor Wang. The audience posed insightful questions on AI-driven educational innovation, the evolving landscape of virtual learning environments, and future developments in educational technology, etc.
Afterwards, attendees all reflected that the session was highly enriching. Not only did it deepen their understanding of the application of AI and XR in education, but it also inspired excitement and curiosity about the future direction of educational development. Professor Wang’s compelling presentation sparked strong interest among the participants in the field, offering our faculty and students valuable academic perspectives and intellectual space for exploration.
