“Collaborative, inspiring, challenging, empowering” – these are some of the words used by participants of the 5th ASEF Higher Education Innovation Laboratory (ASEFInnoLab5) to describe the nine-week online programme.
ASEFInnoLab5 brought together 87 participants from 31 Asian and European countries, creating a unique occasion to network and collaborate with individuals from diverse fields and cultures. This diversity allowed participants to learn from each other, contributing varied perspectives to the Position Paper. The most important takeaways from the programme include gaining a comprehensive understanding of AI’s role in education, recognising the critical importance of AI ethics, and the necessity of collaboration. Additionally, the high-quality content and insightful speakers provided participants with new knowledge, particularly regarding AI applications, scenario planning, and future opportunities.
After a few weeks of engaging keynote presentations during the ASEFInnoLab5 Self-Learning Phase, our participants teamed up to develop Position Papers on “Universities’ Role in AI Innovation Ecosystems in 2060” during the Team Learning Phase. In the following weeks, the teams worked with the programme facilitators and team mentors and had the opportunity to work on key elements of the Scenario Planning Method, such as “Drivers of Change” and “No Regret Moves.” Based on feedback, participants appreciated the various learning formats offered by the programme and cited the Scenario Planning Method as one of the most beneficial formats.
Participants further agree that the virtual programme provided them an all-around positive experience. Many valued the opportunity to network and collaborate with individuals from diverse fields and countries, which broadened their understanding and perspectives. The programme was also praised for its high-quality content, insightful speakers, and the opportunity to gain new knowledge, especially regarding AI and its applications. The overall organisation was well-received, with some participants noting the programme’s ambitious and interesting nature, as well as its well-managed logistics.
We are pleased to know that our participants found the value of ASEFInnoLab5 as unique, and that their experience them to take action to advance and support universities’ role in AI innovation ecosystems in their own context!
A select few from the online group will be joining us in Shanghai, China this October for the ASEFInnoLab5 Onsite Event where we will once again contribute to the deepening discourse AI in various fronts. In the meantime, we continue our work in compiling the outstanding Position Papers produced by this batch into an official ASEFInnolab5 publication.
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