Speech at Centre for Information Technology in Education Research Symposium 2024

Prof GONG Peng, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development), Prof YANG Rui, Dean (Faculty of Education), Prof Gary WONG, Director of CITE, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

   Good afternoon.  I am pleased to join you today at the Centre for Information Technology in Education (CITE) Research Symposium this year.  This event provides a platform for us to delve into the latest advancements and the transformative use of technology in learning and teaching.

2.   Formally established in 1984 but with its roots dated back to 1917, the HKU’s Faculty of Education has been a cradle of talent, nurturing generations of educators for Hong Kong. It has demonstrated remarkable excellence in not only professional training but also research and knowledge exchange in education and across different disciplines such as information management, social data science, and speech-language pathology.  As a testament to its outstanding achievements, the Faculty has been ranked among the top 10 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for ten consecutive years and is ranked 7th in 2024.  As we always emphasise, it is not ranking per se, but the internationalisation and quality that underpin the ranking, that we treasure most.  Hong Kong, as a cosmopolitan city with global connectivity and strong support from our nation, has the distinctive advantage and aspiration to develop as an international hub for higher education and networking.  Collaboration with different parts of the world is ingrained in our culture.  Extending the local, national and global networks, Hong Kong attracts prominent scholars and young talents from different countries for work and collaboration.  Our openness, inclusivity and diversity create a vibrant and favourable environment to support the global learning community.

3.   Hong Kong always attaches great importance to education, which accounts for around one-fifth of our recurrent government budget. We treasure HKU, including the Faculty of Education, as one of our key partners.  I commend the outstanding contributions of CITE in providing professional school-based support services, particularly in the realms of e-learning and STEAM-related projects for local schools.  The centre has been most proactive in its collaboration with school teachers, thereby empowering them to seamlessly integrate the use information technology into learning and teaching.  Pleasingly, CITE’s endeavours align with the Government’s vision to enhance students’ interest and capabilities in science, IT and I&T and nurture talent for Hong Kong, our nation and the world.

4.   Today’s symposium touches on topics dear to our heart, as we all live in a world witnessing unprecedented and irreversible advancement of new and disruptive technology that constantly reshape the human world. It is the best of times and it is the worst of times.  Preparing our younger generations to survive and thrive in this ever-changing technology-driven world is not a matter of choice but a responsibility.  We must constantly deep dive to examine the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats of new technologies, particularly the ABCD, namely Artificial Intelligence (A), block chain (B), cloud computing or cybersecurity (C) and data analytics (D) of information technology.  First and foremost, we must go to the basics of enhancing digital literacy and ethics as human beings, so that we are masters, and not servants, of new technologies.  We have to equip ourselves not only to become responsible users and powerful enablers but also contributors of ongoing technological advancement.  We should also seize the abundant opportunities to harness technology to enhance quality of learning and teaching.  Let us maximise the potential for customised learning experience anytime, anywhere, and at our own pace and using our own style to cater for learner diversity so that everyone can succeed and no one is left behind.  We can also enrich learning and teaching to make it more interesting and interactive, and engage students, teachers and stakeholders in multiple ways.  Teachers and schools can also explore how to outsource certain mundane tasks to AI and other technologies and spare more quality time for learners and their own self-improvement.  We can experiment new approaches for diagnosis and assessment, collaboration and benchmarking to enhance teaching and learning effectiveness. 

5.   Zooming in the hot topic of AI, it is timely for us to find where human and artificial intelligence converge and diverge, compete and collaborate. AI offers abundant opportunities for students, educators, and the entire educational ecosystem to succeed.  However, along with its promises, there are significant challenges.  One concern is the potential misuse of generative AI, such as academic dishonesty, plagiarism, undermining development of human skills and competencies.  Safeguarding students' well-being is always our primary concern.  The education sector must approach this matter with caution and collective wisdom.  Teachers should exercise professional judgment when using AI in education, aligning pedagogical approaches, learning materials, and curriculum objectives with students’ needs.  

6.   Here, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to CITERS 2024 for providing an excellent platform for experts and the wider education community. I am confident that our concerted efforts and collective wisdom will inspire new ideas, foster co-operation, and explore innovative approaches to education.  May I extend my best wishes for a resounding success of this symposium and a fruitful experience for all participants.  Thank you.