On April 24, coinciding with the 113th anniversary of Tsinghua University, the fifth session of the Educator Development Virtual Salon was successfully held. The event was jointly organized by the Tsinghua University Faculty Development Center and the Tsinghua Alumni Academia Club (TAAC). Under the theme "Opportunities and Challenges in Educator Development in the AI Era," the salon featured four distinguished alumni who shared their insights and engaged in discussions with faculty members. Nearly 30 teachers attended the event in person, while over 100 students and faculty members participated via live broadcast, exploring the profound impact of artificial intelligence on higher education.
Professor Jia Xue, an alumnus of the Law School and now an Assistant Professor cross-appointed by the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Faculty of Information, delivered a compelling report. Her presentation focused on the influence of artificial intelligence on social science research methods and theories. She highlighted the increasing demand for humanities skills and perspectives within the AI field during this technological revolution. Additionally, she discussed strategies for maintaining and developing social science education and research to balance opportunities and challenges.
The other three guest speakers included Xihong Lin, an alumnus of the Department of Mathematics, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a tenured professor in the Faculty of Biostatistics and Statistics at Harvard University; Yiran Chen, an alumnus of the Department of Electronic Engineering and a distinguished professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University; and Xiaopeng Li, an alumnus of the Department of Civil Engineering and a professor in the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
During the discussion session, the four guests and participating teachers delved into the opportunities and challenges brought by artificial intelligence to teaching and research. They examined the cultivation of skills and the transformation of educational methods in future teaching processes, as well as ethical alignment in AI applications. The attending teachers emphasized that addressing the transformations and challenges posed by artificial intelligence has become an essential aspect of faculty development. They highlighted the necessity of further clarifying the essence of education and the true goals of talent cultivation. Moreover, they stressed the importance of considering artificial intelligence as a significant auxiliary role in teaching, which warrants in-depth consideration by every university educator.
Liu, Y., & Wang, Y. (2024, April 26). Tsinghua University and the Tsinghua alumni academia club hosted the fifth virtual salon on educator development, a dialogue across oceans on opportunities and challenges of educator development in the AI era.
Wang, Y., & Gu, Y. (2024, April 17). Meet on April 24 | We invite you to join us for a cross-sea conversation on the opportunities and challenges of educator development in the AI era.
TAAC-THU Educator Development Virtual Salon
The TAAC-THU Educator Development Virtual Salon is a series of communication events organized by the Tsinghua University Faculty Development Center and the Tsinghua Alumni Academia Club (TAAC). These events aim to enhance the international communication abilities of young educators and support their career development.
TAAC
The Tsinghua Alumni Academia Club (TAAC) is a nonprofit academic organization registered in the United States, established in early 2018. Its mission is to foster academic and professional exchanges among its members, providing mutual support and encouragement, collectively striving for improvement, and benefiting society. The association serves both as an academic organization and an alumni network for Tsinghua graduates. Its members include Tsinghua alumni (those who have obtained a degree from Tsinghua University or completed a national-level postdoctoral program) who are full-time tenured or tenure-track professors at accredited North American universities.
