Global Education Deans' Forum eyes innovation-driven future

The Shanghai segment of the 2026 Global Education Deans' Forum took place from Thursday to Saturday at East China Normal University in Shanghai, bringing together 76 deans or representatives from prestigious educational institutions across 26 countries, and representatives from academic organizations and educational administrative departments.

Held as the seventh edition of the forum, this year's event centered on the theme "reshaping education, reshaping the future", fostering discussions on innovative practices and collaborative actions in education.

Since its inception at ECNU in 2018, the forum has consistently gathered insights and experiences from global education faculties, promoting international and inter-institutional exchanges.

This year's forum featured keynote speeches, shared innovative initiatives, and consultations aligned with UNESCO's "post-2030 education agenda", discussing ongoing changes in educational institutions and how these explorations can inform global educational issues.

In his address, Gu Hongliang, Party secretary of ECNU, highlighted that global challenges and the development of artificial intelligence demand higher standards for talent cultivation and educational innovation. He emphasized that for 75 years, ECNU has unified academic excellence with its educational mission, promoting interdisciplinary studies and advocating for "empathetic intelligent education".

Olusola B Oyewole, secretary-general of the Association of African Universities, stressed the need to bridge both the digital and cognitive divides in reshaping education. He advocated for expanding access to technology and resources while helping learners understand, question and create knowledge, applying it to real-world challenges.

Furthermore, he called for educational faculties to innovate teacher training and institutional practices to make education a force for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.

Joshua Newman, dean of the School of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Kansas in the United States, noted the importance of global educational collaboration amid uncertainties in globalization. He remarked that AI is profoundly altering interactions between individuals and knowledge, prompting the education sector to reassess human values.

The forum concluded with a declaration summarizing the discussions and reflections into a collective stance, providing a reference for global education faculties to deepen dialogue and foster cooperation. By sharing reform explorations and contemplating future directions, the forum laid the groundwork for continued collaboration, inspiring educational experiences across different countries and regions.