On October 19-20, 2023, the "Promoting Lifelong Learning in Higher Education: From Institutional Strategies to Practical Implementation" jointly organized by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning and Shanghai Open University was successfully held in Shanghai. Professor Li Ming, Director of the UNESCO Innovation Center for Higher Education Institution (UNESCO-ICHEI), was invited to attend the conference and presided over session 5 "Lifelong Learning Opportunities Supported by Technology: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Learning Tools in Higher Education". Prof. Cher Ping Lim, Chief Expert of the UNESCO-ICHEI International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) and Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation at the Education University of Hong Kong, China (EdUHK), shared the keynote speech entitled "Inclusive and Equitable Quality Higher Education Enabled by Digital Technologies: Building the Capacity of Teachers and Leaders", and discussed with Ms. Torunn Gjelsvik, Secretary General of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) and Mr. Francesc Pedro, Director of the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC).

Plenary 5: "Lifelong Learning Opportunities Supported by Technology: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Learning Tools in Higher Education"

Professor Li Ming pointed out that with the advancement of technology, the digital transformation of higher education has accelerated significantly, including the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and higher education to form new digital tools, which provide new opportunities and challenges for the fairness, quality and inclusiveness of higher education. UNESCO-ICHEI is collaborating with several UNESCO regional offices and other international organizations to conduct research on higher education digital transformation in nine subregions around the world, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and needs of different regions and countries in the digital transformation process, explore possible best practices and solutions, and hope to contribute to promoting the fairness, quality and efficiency of higher education.

Professor Li Ming, Director of the UNESCO-ICHEI

Professor Lim presented an in-depth speech on how digital technology can promote the fairness, quality, and efficiency of higher education. He specifically mentioned that when facing marginalized groups of students, such as those with special learning needs, living in remote areas, or facing socio-economic constraints, the education sector should effectively utilize digital technology to provide them with tailored online learning resources and strategies. Professor Lim emphasized that to ensure that these students can enjoy high-quality education, relevant parties should collaborate to ensure the accessibility of educational infrastructure, equipment, and learning resources.

Professor Lim also shared relevant cases of AI, virtual reality, and augmented reality technologies empowering higher education to support teaching practices. He specifically pointed out that the emergence of generative AI ChatGPT has brought changes to higher education policies, curricula, teaching, and evaluation, and has also put forward higher standards and requirements for the capabilities of university teachers and leaders. Professor Lim also shared relevant cases of teacher capacity building in the era of AI and introduced various teacher capacity building projects carried out by the IIOE to support the digital capacity building of higher education teachers worldwide and promote more inclusive and equitable higher education.

Chief Expert of IIOE, Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation, EdUHK

Ms. Torunn Gjelsvik, Secretary-General of the ICDE

Mr. Francesc Pedro shared the situation of higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean. He pointed out that when exploring the integration of AI in higher education, the needs of the higher education system should be considered first, and how AI technology can help us deal with these needs and the inequality of higher education. Meanwhile, he further pointed out that the application of AI in higher education poses new needs and challenges to the capabilities of institutions and teachers, as well as the policy environment.

Mr. Francesc Pedro, Director of UNESCO-IESALC

The conference lasted for three days. Under the theme of "Promoting Lifelong Learning in Higher Education: From institutional strategies to practical implementation", eight plenary session topics, two principal forums and a roundtable forum were set up. More than 260 experts and scholars from 35 countries and regions, representatives of international organizations, education decision-makers from various countries and regions, and senior managers of higher education institutions attended the conference.