Hong Kong’s leading scholars are spearheading the integration of cutting-edge technologies to transform education. The “Metaverse and Artificial Intelligence for the Future of Education” workshop, co-hosted by PolyU and the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), was the second workshop of the Centre for Immersive Learning & Metaverse in Education (CILME). Organised in collaboration with the PolyU-Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute, the event attracted academics and industry professionals from around the world who examined the profound impact of artificial intelligence and immersive technologies on contemporary pedagogical practices.

Responding to the rapidly evolving educational technology landscape, CILME was established to promote the use of metaverse and immersive technologies among educators through workshops and seminars. Professor Wong Kwok-yin, PolyU Vice President (Education), remarked: “This workshop is an important chance for educators to share ideas and explore new concepts, building a collaborative environment that will have a considerable impact on education. As AI rapidly develops, we aspire to create a future where technology and education work hand in hand.” 

Professor Chetwyn Chan Che-hin, Co-Director of CILME and Vice President (Research and Development) at EdUHK, underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing AI and metaverse applications in an educational context.

Scholars present cutting-edge educational solutions
Keynote speakers, including Professor Sangmin-Michelle Lee from Kyung Hee University, Korea, and Professor Ong Yew-Soon from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, examined AI’s role in teaching innovations and introduced digital human teachers integrating VR and AI-assisted learning environments. Their insights highlighted the significance of metaverse technologies in shaping the future of AI-driven education.

During plenary sessions, scholars from PolyU and EdUHK presented research on educational innovations with practical applications. Professor Henry Duh, Director of the PolyU Research Centre for Cultural and Art Technology, and Professor Hu Xiangen, Director of the PolyU Institute for Higher Education Research and Development, explored AI as an “interactive learning partner” in language and design subjects. Meanwhile, Professor Philip Yu, Associate Director of the EdUHK University Research Facility of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Professor Song Yanjie, Associate Director of the EdUHK Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, examined how VR platforms powered by large language models can enhance students’ language, communication skills, and general knowledge.

The workshop concluded with a round-table discussion led by Professor Li Ping, CILME Co-Director and Dean of the PolyU Faculty of Humanities, which addressed critical issues in technology-enhanced learning environments. 

Co-founded by PolyU and EdUHK in 2023, CILME aims to facilitate interdisciplinary research on technology-enhanced learning, with particular emphasis on innovative tools, including Virtual Reality (VR), the metaverse, and AI, to enhance cognitive processes, attention, and memory among students. 

Prof. Wong Kwok-yin noted that the workshop provided an invaluable platform for educators to exchange ideas and explore new concepts, fostering a collaborative environment poised to fundamentally transform educational paradigms.

Prof. Chetwyn Chan Che-hin stressed the need for fostering interdisciplinary and inter-university collaborations in promoting AI and metaverse applications in education.