In 2023, the ASEFClassNet Team introduced a new element to the ASEFClassNet project: the ASEFClassNet Faculty Collaboration. This initiative was designed considering the significance of connecting teacher trainers and academic experts with teachers. This is a new element of the ASEFClassNet project that aims at strengthening collaboration across Faculties of Education and supporting innovation in teaching and learning at the K-12 level.
The initiative was first introduced as part of the ASEFClassNet16 project. The ASEFClassNet16 Faculty Collaboration was a 6-month (June-December 2023) exchange and dialogue project for academics and teacher trainers working at higher education institutions (HEIs) or Government Institutions responsible for teacher training. It created avenues for scholarly discussions and resource creation on the topic of “Leading Change: Digital Transformation of Education in the Era of AI” to support educators at the K-12 level as well as to foster collaboration among Faculties of Education.
Programme Design
The programme of the ASEFClassNet Faculty Collaboration consists of 3 key stages:
Stage 1 – Cross-Faculty Dialogues
In this phase, the experts share ideas with each other through a series of dialogues on the project topic to identify crucial areas that need to be prioritised to support innovation and education transformation in schools effectively and ethically. The dialogue series took place in 2 phases:
Individual Presentations: In this stage, selected experts delivered sessions to share their ongoing work, exchange information with each other, and look for synergies. The sessions were interactive, allowing for knowledge exchange, and dialogues on the topic.
Group Discussions: In this stage, experts with similar interests jointly develop ideas for collaboration among their institutions e.g., joint curriculum development, pedagogy enhancement, joint research, joint PhD programme etc. They come up with ideas that could lead to sustainable peer networks with concrete outputs. Actionable ideas are presented at the ASEFClassNet’s annual on-site Conference.
Stage 2 – ASEFClassNet16 Conference
An on-site ASEFClassNet conference takes place every year alternating between Asia and Europe. In 2023 the conference took place between 12 to 16 November 2023 in Ljubljana, Slovenia that brought the successful participants of ASEFClassNet16 Faculty Collaboration together.
Stage 3 – Collaboration in Action
In this stage participants continue to work and actively implement the project they have designed during their group discussion phase. In total 8 collaboration projects were designed. The projects are:
- Critical Studies of AI&ED International Network and Conference
Lead: Dr Wayne HOLMES, Associate Professor, UCL Knowledge Lab, University College London, United Kingdom -
Comparative Study on the Introduction of AI into Schools for Equitable and Qualitative Education
Lead: Prof Miki SUGIMURA, Professor, Faculty of Education, Sophia University, Japan -
AI&ED Resources for Educators and Learners
Lead: Dr Omar SEGUNA, Education Officer, Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills, Ministry of Education Malta -
Organising the Wanju Education Fair
Lead: Dr Hyoseon AN, Supervisor, Wanju Education Office, Korea -
A Global Scan Report on the Issues, Impacts and Constraints of Digital Transformation of Education and AI to Teacher Training
Lead: Prof Maria Ruth REGALADO, Philippine Normal University, Philippines -
SMART (Safeguarding Morality and Accountability in Responsible Teaching with AI): Modules for Teachers and Education Leader
Lead: Mr John Carlo RAMOS, Executive Director & Assistant Professor, Association of Southeast Asian Teacher Education Network (AsTEN) & Philippine Normal University -
Creating an AI & Cyber Security Module for Trainee Teachers in Malaysia
Lead: Ms Julieyana JARIS, Academic Lecturer, National Teaching Institution, Malaysia
Currently 2 teams are actively working on their designed initiative. The two initiatives are:
- Critical Studies on AI&ED Symposium led by Dr Wayne Holmes, University College London: Dr Holmes successfully conducted the Online Symposium on Friday, 2 February, 2024. The Symposium welcomed over 300 participants from all over the world who engaged in an inspiring conversation with the speakers on AI&ED issues. More information on this Symposium and the outcomes will be shared in late February on ASEF’s Website and social media channels. To learn more about the Symposium check here.
- Comparative Study on AI&ED across Asia and Europe, led by Dr Miki Sugimura, Sophia University: This initiative is currently designing a comparative survey to map out AI&ED status that will be transformed into a report. It is also organizing a hybrid event in November 2024 where the report will be launched.
Learn more about this new project element and the outcomes from ASEFClassNet16 project that took place in 2023: here
If you have any questions write to us: classnet@asef.org