“Higher Education at the Crossroads: Pioneering AI-Driven Paradigm Shifts”
Co-hosted by the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance (GMA), Tsinghua University, XuetangX, and UNESCO International Institute for Information Technologies in Education, the second Online Education Dialogue (OED) session of 2025 was successfully held on June 3, 2025. Themed “Higher Education at the Crossroads: Pioneering AI-Driven Paradigm Shifts”, this dialogue explored how generative AI is reshaping the landscape of higher education, driving paradigm shifts in teaching, learning, and institutional strategy.
Speakers for the session, including Professor Liu Yi (Vice Provost and Dean of Academic Affairs of Tsinghua University), Professor Alan Spivey (Associate Provost of Imperial College London), and Dr. Dasha Karzunina (Senior Director of Content Strategy of edX), shared their expert perspectives on the theme of “Higher Education at the Crossroads: Pioneering AI-Driven Paradigm Shifts.” Wang Shuaiguo, Director of Online Education Center of Tsinghua University, Secretary-General of Global MOOC and Online Education Alliancehosted the session. The dialogue was broadcast live on XuetangX, attracting a global audience of over 7,000 views.
Professor Liu Yi emphasized Tsinghua University’s deep foundation in AI, tracing back to 1978, and its continued efforts to pioneer AI-powered education. He shared that over 220 AI-empowered courses are now being implemented, featuring intelligent functions such as AI learning partners, virtual teaching assistants, and AI-driven grading tools. The AI assistant “Xiaoda,” launched in 2024 for freshmen, has answered more than 142,000 questions with a 95% accuracy rate, supporting both academic guidance and mental health. To address limitations like hallucinations and outdated information, Tsinghua is developing disciplinary knowledge engines grounded in academic data. Liu also introduced Wuqiong College, a new initiative to cultivate future leaders with AI-native thinking, alongside Tsinghua’s AI education guidelines, underscoring the university’s commitment to responsible and forward-looking use of AI.
Alan Spivey
Professor Alan Spivey highlighted the institution’s response to generative AI. Facing academic integrity challenges from tools like ChatGPT, Imperial appointed “AI Futurists” to redesign curricula and established AI ethics principles (Respect, Collaboration, Excellence, Integrity, Innovation). A mandatory “Introduction to GenAI” course for students covers machine learning, prompt engineering, and data privacy. Technologically, Imperial developed a multi-LLM portal (accessing GPT, Claude, etc.) for students to compare models ethically. Initiatives like hackathons and the “Generative AI Guidance Guild” foster innovation in virtual interviews and digital pedagogy. Spivey stressed the need to train students to think with AI, not let AI think for them, prioritizing higher-order skills over foundational tasks.
Dasha Kazunina
Dr. Dasha Kazunina shared the edX’s AI applications. Its “Expert” suite offers personalized course recommendations, content summarization, and AI-powered translations. Tools like “Skills Builder” align learning with career goals, while AI tutors provide Socratic feedback to enhance engagement. On academic integrity, edX advocates shifting from “high-stakes testing” to “mastery-based assessment,” using AI for formative feedback and early intervention for struggling learners. The platform also addresses bias and accessibility, ensuring non-native English speakers and underserved learners can leverage AI tools equitably.
Wang Shuaiguo
In the panel discussion, experts delved into how artificial intelligence is reshaping learning and teaching, sharing insights from diverse institutional and platform perspectives. The discussion explored AI’s role in enabling personalized learning, enhancing teaching support, and deepening student engagement, while also addressing the associated challenges of ethics, inclusiveness, and systemic transformation. Liu emphasized that AI is not merely enhancing efficiency in higher education but is fundamentally transforming educational paradigms and the role of educators, fostering a more creative and student-driven learning environment. Spivey shared how AI-powered chatbots at Imperial College have improved accessibility to course support, though students’ reactions have been mixed, highlighting the need for thoughtful integration. Kazunina observed that learners increasingly use AI tools to navigate and personalize their study paths, boosting both efficiency and engagement. Wang concluded that AI is driving higher education to transcend the traditional knowledge transmission model and transform towards a more open and flexible direction. It is urgently necessary for all parties to join hands and explore together to build a future education ecosystem centered on learners, which is more adaptable and inclusive.
As a key dialogue platform in global higher education, the Online Education Dialogue will continue to convene thought leaders worldwide, offering forward-looking perspectives and practical insights into education transformation in the AI era. Stay tuned for 2025 OED Session 5 as we continue to explore new paradigms in teaching and learning.