China has one of the largest education systems in the world. Today, there are 47.6 million students and two million full-time educators involved in higher education across more than 3,000 institutions. But learners are facing a landscape where artificial intelligence is set to replace the majority of repetitive and routine jobs.

So when we think about resilience, we’re really asking: how can we make sure future generations of talent have unique value — building the skills that make them irreplaceable? And how can we use AI to support our efforts?

These are questions we’ve begun answering in China. Powerful examples from Wuhan University of Technology, Central China Normal University, and Xidian University are already showing us the value of AI-supported learning in building resilience in learners, educators, and institutions.

Data and AI can power large-scale, personalized education

In the industrial era, teachers were the transmitters of knowledge. Education centered on teachers, textbooks, and exams in a one-size-fits-all system. Essentially, the educational approach was analogic to mass irrigation from a single focal point.

In the AI era, we’re looking at an alternative: a drip irrigation paradigm, where educators work collaboratively with AI, assisted by data. It means richer content, backed up by machine learning. And the ability to analyze learning data so educators can offer more personalized learning for each student.

That means both students and teachers will need to learn and hone digital skills. Educators will need to learn to work effectively with machine models, while students need greater digital literacy to navigate a new type of learning environment.

Resilient students need diverse resources

Textbooks are no longer the default resource. Students will need a rich bank of online and offline resources to customize their learning. And they need opportunities to collaborate.

At Central China Normal University, we developed the Xiaoya platform — an AI-powered intelligent teaching and learning management system. It’s connected to one of the largest education resource platforms in the world, Smart Education of China, which unlocks resources on more than 20,000 subjects. It also allows sharing across universities with a physical smart classroom and a learning hub. 

They also need to grow skills that go beyond traditional academic measures

In our fast-changing workplace, skills like critical thinking, computational thinking, creativity, and problem-solving are essential. Students need to develop these in higher education — in line with their individual needs and aspirations.

To support this, Xidian University has developed digital profiles for students that go far beyond academic grades to give a comprehensive view of each student’s capabilities. It includes awards, achievements, and learning behavior. And all of these can go into a certificate that is highly valued by employers who can get a picture of that student’s real-world skills.

Educators have three new roles to play

To make the most of AI-assisted learning, educators need to be resource creators, performance analysts, and problem-solving guides.

They need to learn to use AI to develop quality resources and make sure they are available to every student. They must understand each student’s needs and offer targeted support. And they need to be on hand to help students navigate using digital tools to tackle challenges.

That means a new era for education management, too

If we want real collaboration and to use data effectively, we need to rethink the flow of information. The traditional hierarchy of the industrial era — through faculties, schools, departments, and educators — must give way to a flat structure in the AI era.

At Wuhan University of Technology, we’ve placed an Intelligent Operations Center (IOC) at the core of how we work. Thanks to transparency across administrators, educators, and students, as well as data analysis, we can manage the whole learning process. To give just one example of how that’s already improved outcomes, we use the IOC to power a ‘traffic light’ system where a red signal can alert educators to step in and support a struggling student.

AI offers a pathway to resilience

For students, it unlocks the power of customized learning anytime, anywhere, and curates a holistic digital portfolio of their abilities, achievements, and aptitudes. For educators, it offers a wealth of analytics to underpin differentiated teaching and individualized support for learners. And for administrators, it’s a way to supercharge data-driven education management.

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Professor Yang Zongkai
President, Wuhan University of Technology