ECNU Review of Education reports on how global education leaders are responding to AI

The latest annual meeting for the Global Education Deans Forum brought together 53 representatives from 40 institutions across 29 countries in Shanghai and Lijiang, China. An article published online in ECNU Review of Education on May 27, 2025, attempts to  capture how a group of global education leaders view the promise and perils of AI amidst a rapidly changing educational landscape.

The Global Education Deans Forum (GEDF) is an annual meeting co-organized by East China Normal University (China) and the University of Kansas (USA). The inaugural meeting took place in October 2018 in Shanghai, with 30 deans from 16 countries across six continents. The most recent forum was held from October 31 to November 2, 2024, in both Shanghai and Lijiang, China, welcoming 53 representatives from 40 institutions across 29 countries.

In the opening remarks, Dean Zhenguo Yuan from East China Normal University outlined a shift in education research from the “small science era” led by individual scholars, to the “big science era,” defined by interdisciplinary collaboration between humans and machines. He emphasized the growing need for cross-disciplinary innovation, international platforms for idea exchange, and the creative application of AI technologies.  

In his remarks, Dean Rick Ginsberg from the University of Kansas reflected on progress made on initiatives that were planned  at past GEDF meetings in Shanghai, Boston, and Dublin. These included establishing thematic continuity, developing organizational bylaws, and launching projects like the “Deans’ Dialogue” online series. He stressed the urgency of building a global network of education leaders to collaboratively navigate the AI era.

During the discussions sessions that followed, deans reported on how their higher education institutions, faculty, and students are responding to generative AI. In small groups, participants explored the impact of AI on: teacher education, school reform, the economy and culture; and instruction and evaluation.  Issues that emerged included: equitable access to AI tools, the need for responsible use policies, and the broader societal implications of AI-driven education.

The closing session featured real-time AI-based transcribed translation. In closing, Dean Yuan noted that despite the benefits of machine translation, the presence of human translators, faculty, and student volunteers remained essential in fostering understanding, warmth and connection. He pointed out that while AI handles repetitive tasks well, creativity, emotional connection, and personal engagement remain distinctly human domains. As summarized in the McDiarmid and Yin (2025) article, GEDF reinforced the message that “the heart of education lies in the unique human qualities.”

To explore more about the Global Education Deans Forum, including related articles, videos, and updates, please visit:

1. ECNU Review of Education: journals.sagepub.com/home/ROE   
2. GEDF X account: @GEDF2018
3. GEDF videos on YouTube: youtube.com/@ecnureviewofeducation6270

This summary draws on the McDiarmid and Yin (2025) article, official meeting notes, and the second author’s meeting experiences. While it captures key themes and discussions, it does not encompass the full depth and diversity of perspectives shared during the forum.

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Reference

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311251327228