- 17, 24 & 31 March 2026
Introduction
Hosted by The Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE), this webinar series provides an international platform for scholars and academics to discuss issues related to the value of higher education in the contemporary society with rapid social, economic and political changes. Universities are increasingly influenced by the growing impact of geo-politics, the call for AI and STEM in education and pressure to meet economic purposes. This webinar series critically examines diverse topics/issues related to the purposes and roles of university education, and how universities across different parts of the globe respond to the complexity of changes highlighted above.
Session
Focus on AI and Teacher Education in Macao: Issues, Challenges and Innovations in Higher Education ｜17 March 2026
Date: 17 March 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM GMT+8
Speaker(s):
- Professor Lianghuo FAN, University of Macau (Bio)
Abstract:
Like in many other parts of the world, the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has profoundly impacted all aspects of higher education in Macao, including university-level teacher education for both pre-service and in-service teachers. In this webinar, the speaker intends to examine and discuss the issues and opportunities that AI—especially generative AI—brings to teaching and learning for teachers at the classroom and school levels, as well as the challenges it poses for university-level teacher education, with a focus on Macao’s educational context. The speaker will also share his experiences and reflections on how university education can address the challenges through innovative, multi-facet measures, which include, among others, offering faculty professional development programmes at the university level, integrating AI into existing university courses to transform teaching and learning practices, and providing a systematic and diverse range of new pre-service and in-service training programmes for school teachers and practitioners.
Reframing Educational Diplomacy in the AI Era: From Cultural Affinity to Organizational Diffusion ｜24 March 2026
Date: 24 March 2026 (Tuesday)
Time: 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM GMT+8
Speaker(s):
- Professor Sheng-Ju CHAN, National Chung Cheng University (Bio)
Abstract:
This study investigates whether cultural soft power generated through educational exchange produces measurable institutional outcomes, using alumni of the Taiwan ICDF scholarship programme as an empirical case. While prior research demonstrates that international scholarships foster cultural affinity and intercultural competence, less is known about whether these attitudinal shifts translate into behavioral and organizational change. Addressing this gap, the study proposes and tests a three-stage framework — Affinity → Integration → Influence — linking individual experience to institutional diffusion.
Drawing on survey data from over 500 alumni across countries, sectors, and cohorts, the analysis examines whether Taiwan-related knowledge application and sustained transnational networks predict behavioral integration, defined as the adoption of Taiwan-influenced practices in alumni’s home contexts. It further assesses whether integration is associated with organizational influence, particularly among alumni in leadership roles. Results highlight that affinity alone is insufficient; practice transfer and positional authority are critical conditions for converting soft power into institutional impact.
The findings contribute to education diplomacy literature by clarifying the mechanisms through which cultural attraction becomes organizational diffusion. The framework also has contemporary relevance, as AI-enabled transnational networks and digital alumni platforms may further accelerate practice transfer and influence pathways in global knowledge diplomacy.
Institutional logics of knowledge exchange via social media in the Age of AI: Chinese academics' perspective ｜ 31 March 2026
Date: 31 March 2026 (Tuesday)
Time:
Location:
Speaker(s):
- Professor Gaoming ZHENG, Tongji University (Bio)
Abstract:
Nowadays, driven by AI, such as recommendation algorithms, content ranking, and automatic summaries, social media increasingly shapes how academics discover, share, and engage with knowledge. This has transformed the environment for knowledge exchange, creating new expectations for academics to be accessible, efficient, and responsible communicators. Drawing on nineteen semi-structured interviews with Chinese academics and platform representatives, this study examines the institutional logics underlying the current Chinese academic environment for knowledge exchange via social media and the strategies academics adopt in response. The study’s insights aim to prompt reflection on how AI-mediated social media platforms are reshaping academic knowledge exchange and offer practical guidance for academics to enhance public engagement in China and beyond.
Registration
17 Mar 2026 : Register here for online attendance.
21 Mar 2026: Register here for online attendance.
31 Mar 2026: Register here for online attendance.
*You do not need to register if you are attending in-person*
Contact Us
For enquires, please contact us at gs-event@hsu.edu.hk.