理论创新奖

1. The Construction of Innovative Theories and Systematic Practical Exploration of New Happy Education

• Participants:
  Junjie Shang, Yu Liu, Peng Zhang, Junyi Zhou, Ruonan Hu, Zhuo Li, Lan Hou, Qiuping Hu, Zhu Shi, Jialing Zeng, Wenli Yang, Leisi Pei, Lu Zhang, Qi Xia, Yuanyuan Zhang, Lixiang Gao, Wendan Huang, Shufang Tan, Yueying Zhao, Yulong Huo

• Keywords:
  New Happy Education, Game-based Learning, Learning Sciences, Construction of Theories, Systematic Practice

• Executive Summary:
  New Happy Education aims to integrate learning sciences, game-based learning, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies and learning approaches to make learning more scientific, more enjoyable, and more effective. As educational reform enters a deep-water zone, it is essential to recognize that learning lies at the heart of education. Transforming learning is therefore key to driving deeper changes in education. Only through such transformation can we address persistent issues, such as low student motivation and increasing psychological challenges among learners.

• Project Description:
  This project was inspired by the applicant’s long-term exploration of how to make learning more engaging and meaningful. Since 2004, the applicant has researched game-based learning, aiming to improve students’ learning experiences and motivation under exam-oriented education. However, it became evident that relying solely on games risked turning “happy education” into entertainment, overlooking learning effectiveness. In response, the applicant integrated learning sciences with game-based learning, later leading a national project titled Game-Based Learning from the Perspective of Learning Sciences. With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, AI was gradually incorporated into the framework.  This evolution led to the theory of New Happy Education—an approach grounded in learning sciences, characterized by game-based learning, and supported by AI. It also draws on brain science, virtual reality, and other emerging technologies to promote learning that is scientific, joyful, and effective, helping every child grow up in a healthy, balanced way. The project seeks to break the dilemma of “sacrificing joy for achievement” or“choosing fun over growth.” Through thoughtful learning design, students can experience real happiness in learning—not just fun in playing—and achieve holistic development through genuine engagement.

2. Development and Validation of the PA-SDA Scale for AI-Integrated Self-Directed Language Learning

• Participants:
  Belle Li, Zhuo Zhang, Victoria Lowell, Chaoran Wang, Curtis J. Bonk

• Keywords:
  Artificial intelligence; Self-directed learning; Scale development; Personal attributes

• Executive Summary:
  The Personal Attributes for Self-Directed AI Learning (PA-SDA) Scale is the first validated quantitative instrument measuring key personal attributes of language learners in AI-integrated self-directed learning contexts. Grounded in the AI-Integrated SDL Framework (Li et al., 2024b), the 44-item scale was developed and validated with 699 global language learners using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. It offers educators, researchers, and policymakers a robust diagnostic tool to assess learners’ readiness for AI-enhanced education, enabling targeted interventions, equitable access, and strategic pedagogical design. The PA-SDA Scale bridges theory and practice, providing a scalable and adaptable solution for AI-era education worldwide.

• Project Description:
  
  This project was inspired by a pressing gap in education: the absence of validated tools to assess learners’ readiness for AI-integrated self-directed learning (SDL). While generative AI tools are rapidly transforming language education, success depends not only on technology but on learners’ ability to navigate, adapt, and critically engage with AI systems. Existing SDL readiness scales were developed before the advent of advanced AI, overlooking new competencies such as AI-specific strategy use, resource management, and critical evaluation of AI-generated content. Building on Li et al.’s (2024b) AI-Integrated SDL Framework, we operationalized five personal attributes (Attitude, Strategy Use, Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Resource Use) into measurable items. Following rigorous scale development protocols, we conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA, CFA) to validate the construct structure. The final 44-item PA-SDA Scale reflects nine subconstructs, offering fine-grained insight into learner readiness in AI-mediated contexts. The PA-SDA addresses the UN Summit of the Future 2024 agenda by advancing inclusive, quality digital education. It empowers educators to design interventions that bridge the AI readiness gap, supports equitable access to AI-enhanced learning, and informs policy on AI integration in curricula. Its adaptability allows application across languages, age groups, and educational levels. Ultimately, this project contributes a theoretically grounded, empirically validated innovation that will help education systems worldwide prepare learners for the future of AI-enabled learning.

3. RAG-Tutor

• Participants:
  Daniel Burgos, Enrique Frías, José Carlos San José

• Keywords:
  Dialogic learning, On-demand learning, Generative AI, RAG
  

• Executive Summary:
  Provide a summary of your project, why it is important and how it will address a specific issue/problem. This project generates a tool that enhances DIALOGIC LEARNING, what is the process through which a student learns based on the conversation that he or she makes with data sources (the corpus). As a complement to memorization, or procedural learning (where a series of steps that must be followed are listed), dialogic learning focuses on inquiry, exploration, and the curiosity of the student. It is, therefore, a tool that enhances the student's capacity for constructive thinking and critical analysis, as a complement to other transversal competences. Dialogic learning also supports functional diversity, with real-time adaptation to learning styles, ways of expression, along with competence and cognitive levels.

• Project Description:
  This project designs a privacy-preserving multilingual assistant that acts as a tutor for students. The system is implemented using a RAG architecture (Retrieval Augmented Generation) that solves students’ doubts and questions using the educational content provided by the professor for the course, in a private environment, both for sources and for user interaction. The main objective is to create a tool, RAG-Tutor, that adapts content to student needs and as a result enhances and facilitates the learning process by personalizing the answers and providing mechanisms for human-machine collaboration. This project is built on recent advances in LLMs (Large Language Models), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and privacy-preserving approaches, to build a tutor architecture that provides relevant answers within the context of the documentation of a course. In general, the goal is to design tutoring systems that can facilitate the learning process for online students.
  
  Key objectives:
  1. Designing a multilingual privacy-preserving RAG-based architecture that allows students to ask questions and clarify doubts without compromising sensitive information.
  2. Ensuring scalability and adaptability of RAG-Tutor to different courses
  The main contributions to Dialogic and On-demand learning are:
  (1) Contextualized and Adaptive Content Delivery: RAG-Tutor dynamically contextualizes learning content for  specific needs. By applying Retrieval-Augmented Generation, RAG-Tutor can present just-in-time information  adapted to each student's progress enhancing on-demand learning.
  (2) Student-Centered Approach: RAG-Tutor is designed with a student-centered approach, putting learners' goals, interests, and challenges in the core of the system. It identifies knowledge gaps while presenting content in a personalized and accessible way.
  (3) Self-Directed Exploration and Lifelong Learning: RAG-Tutor allows students to engage with educational  material on their own and as per their needs and interests. It enables self-directed learning with real-time and  context-aware responses.

实践创新奖

1. RETRIDOL: Providing Leadership in Transforming ODeL Policy, Research and Practice in West Africa

• Participants:
  Olufemi A. Peters, Christine I. Ofulue, Amos Illiya, Felix K. Olakulehin

• Keywords:
  

• Regional impact, Open and Distance Learning (ODeL), Innovation in Education, Learning Analytics, Micro-credentials

• Executive Summary:
  The Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL) provides leadership for the transformation of Open, Distance, and e-Learning (ODeL) across West Africa by driving policy development, fostering research and strengthening professional practice. Through strategic partnerships with ECOWAS, UNESCO, COL, and national bodies, RETRIDOL offers region-specific capacity-building, innovative online short courses, and a pioneering journal dedicated to ODeL research. By spearheading learning analytics and micro-credential project initiatives, RETRIDOL contributes to ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and resilient education systems in the sub-region.

• Project Description:
  Hosted at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL) serves as a regional hub for promoting quality education by transforming ODeL policy, research, and practice across West Africa. Responding to the region’s urgent need for context-sensitive solutions, RETRIDOL serves its regional stakeholders by facilitating capacity building for policy development, research, practice, and technology integration through strategic regional partnerships and a collaborative professional learning ecosystem. RETRIDOL designs and delivers thematic workshops on critical aspects, including ODeL and Digital Policy development, Generative AI in Education and Research, authentic assessment, and dual-mode ODL delivery. It has directly supported the development and implementation of ODeL and digital policy initiatives, as well as dual-mode delivery systems, at institutional, national, and regional levels. RETRIDOL’s innovations—such as its online courses on Open Educational Resources (OERs) for Online Learning, Mastering Digital Learning, UNESCO Guidelines for Generative AI in Education and Research, and the ODeL Research Repository, a Directory of Open and Distance Learning Institutions and Programmes in West Africa, as well as the Learning Analytics project, inform institutional strategic planning, policy, and upskill professionals. The Institute’s flexible, competency-based framework enables ODeL professionals to pursue customised online short courses and, more recently, micro-credentials aimed at closing skills gaps for a rapidly evolving digital landscape.The West African Journal for Open and Flexible Learning (WAJOFEL), the only regional, open-access journal publication focused on ODeL research, and RETRIDOL’s monthly ODL discourse webinar series provide critically needed dissemination platforms, support collaboration and foster a robust thought leadership community.

2. Smart Education for All: Empowering Inclusive, Lifelong STEM Learning Through Accessible Technology

• Participants: Sanura Jaya, Azman Jusoh 

• Keywords:
  Inclusive STEM Education, Educational tools for lifelong learning, Rural Teacher Empowerment, Project-Based Learning (PBL), Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)

• Executive Summary:
  Smart Education for All addresses educational inequity by equipping rural educators with inclusive, technology driven pedagogical tools. Using the mobile-based Magnetcode application, this initiative empowers teachers to integrate coding and computational thinking into STEM instruction through project-based learning. Initially launched in Zambia and later adapted across Southeast Asia, the project bridges the digital divide by offering accessible, hands-on strategies that foster 21st-century skills. Recognized through national awards and student deployment, the project advances SDGs 4, 9, and 10 by promoting inclusive, lifelong STEM learning that supports quality education, innovation, and reduced inequality.

• Project Description:
  The inspiration for Smart Education for All emerged during the Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) at SEAMEO RECSAM on 19 September 2023, where I facilitated a session titled “Transition Skills for Integrating Coding in the Science Curriculum.” During the session, participating educators, particularly those from third country educators, expressed a clear challenge. They lacked the skills, tools, and confidence to integrate project based learning or any form of technology into their STEM lessons. Many were still using traditional, lecture based approaches, leaving them and their students behind in comparison to global trends in STEM education. This insight revealed a critical gap in professional development and digital readiness for rural STEM teachers. They were unfamiliar with how to design lessons that align with computational thinking or apply real-world problem-solving through hands-on activities. These constraints are exacerbated by limited access to technology, a lack of localized training, and minimal exposure to modern pedagogical models. Motivated by this urgent need, I designed a solution that combines accessible technology (Magnetcode) with project-based learning (PBL) strategies. The idea was to create a model that empowers rural teachers to deliver engaging, student-centered STEM lessons using affordable, mobile-based tools. The project formally began with a JICA-funded workshop in Serenje District, Zambia, in partnership with Malcolm Moffat College of Education. It is specifically designed to bridge the digital divide by addressing three main issues: lack of technological integration, absence of training in PBL, and limited support for implementing STEM in resource-constrained classrooms.

3. Cloud for Youth     

• Participants:
  Huang Guijing, Ma Xin, Yu Jun, Luo Cheng

• Keywords:
  LLM; Cloud Computing; Rural K-12 Schools; AI Literacy

• Executive Summary:
  "Cloud for Youth" is a technology-driven public welfare initiative launched by the Alibaba Group. It donates "AI Cloud Classrooms" to rural schools leveraging cloud computing and intelligent technologies. Addressing challenges in county-level basic education—such as inadequate investment in technological education and uneven distribution of urban-rural educational resources—Cloud for Youth utilizes continuously optimized cloud computing solutions and industry-leading artificial intelligence models. This initiative pioneers next-generation digital learning spaces, fosters cross-regional and interdisciplinary co-creation of high-quality educational content, and enhances technological education in rural primary and secondary schools. Furthermore, through sustained teacher training programs, cloud-based extension courses delivered by volunteer technical instructors, and technology study tours for outstanding students, it mobilizes diverse stakeholders to connect rural children with cutting-edge technology and ignite their passion for technological innovation.
  As of April 2025, the project has been deployed in over 300 rural schools across 25 provinces, reaching more than 290,000 rural K-12 students and teachers. Dialogue interactions with AI have reached 610,000 instances.

• Project Description:
  Our vision is to advance educational equity by leveraging equitable access to digital tools, igniting rural children’s technological creativity as early as possible. In the project's initial phase, Cloud for Youth's nationwide survey covering over 3,000 schools (both online and offline) revealed that rural students face restricted access to cutting-edge technologies, manifesting prominently in three dimensions: "what to learn," "how to learn," and "learning outcomes." What to learn: Rural students have limited exposure to the technological world. Outdated computing equipment and mismatched resources hinder their access to technological frontiers. How to learn: Structural shortages of specialized teachers in rural areas prevent educators from integrating advanced technologies (e.g., AI, cloud computing) into teaching. They also lack capacity to implement innovative pedagogies like collaborative or project-based learning. Learning outcomes: Traditional evaluation systems fail to accurately assess students’ development in critical thinking and self-directed abilities. A dynamic, big-data-driven platform with real-time feedback is needed. Our vision is to advance educational equity by leveraging equitable access to digital tools, igniting rural children’s technological creativity as early as possible.

4. Breaking Down Data Barriers to Forge a New Regional Digital Education Ecosystem

• Participants:
  Xiao Fangming, Gong Fangde, Chen Xiang, Deng Jincan

• Keywords:
  Digital education; Digital infrastructure; Interconnection; Ecosystem

• Executive Summary:
  Yuzhong District of Chongqing Municipality is dedicated to developing a region-wide smart education platform with unified standards and open interfaces, establishing a regional education data standard system, and building a unified digital infrastructure for education data. This initiative aims to eliminate data silo, achieve application integration, resource sharing, precision teaching, and scientific governance, thereby forging a new digital ecosystem for regional education.

• Project Description:
  The inspiration for this project stemmed from common challenges in the development of regional digital education, including inconsistent data standards across different types and levels of schools, redundant system development, isolated application scenarios, insufficient resource sharing, inaccurate data governance, and imbalanced development among schools. To break down these barriers, both technological and administrative efforts are required to promote high-quality, balanced digital education. Yuzhong District has innovatively formulated the Digital Education Development Action Plan of Yuzhong District, Chongqing (2024–2030). Guided by unified top-level design and a coordinated development strategy, and leveraging big data and AI technologies, the district has established an integrated “digital infrastructure +intelligent applications” ecosystem to address three core challenges:

  
  1. Breaking down data silos through standardized integration, eliminating fragmented application practices, and ensuring the efficient circulation of high-quality educational resources.

  
  2. Delivering personalized instruction at scale by harnessing AI, enabling differentiated teaching even within large-scale education systems.

  
  3. Strengthening regional educational governance effectiveness by instituting a sustainable digital governance framework.

技术创新奖

1. AI Digital Assistant Suite for Higher Education Transformation

• Participant: Maxim Jean-Louis
  

• Keywords:
  AI Tutor Pro, Digital Assistants, Personalized Learning, Smart Education, Multilingual Access

• Executive Summary:
  Contact North | Contact Nord, a publicly funded education and technology support network based in the province of Ontario, Canada, developed and freely deployed the world’s first integrated suite of AI-powered personal digital assistants for higher education. This innovation includes AI Tutor Pro, AI Teaching Assistant Pro, AI Pathfinder Pro, and AI Trades Explorer Pro, tools designed to reduce faculty workload and support learners with personalized, multilingual, on-demand support. Developed by a small in-house team and grounded in public service values, these apps have generated over 2.3 million user interactions across nearly 300,000 users, exemplifying scalable, inclusive, and transformative digital learning innovation.

• Project Description:
  Contact North | Contact Nord is Ontario’s bilingual (English/French) technology support and distance learning network serving over 1,500 communities in Canada’s largest province. Its public mandate is to expand equitable access to post-secondary education through innovative technologies. In response to increasing pressure on faculty and students, it developed a suite of AI-powered assistants that addresses critical teaching and learning needs:
  

• AI Tutor Pro: Provides multilingual, 24/7 personalized learning assistance for learners studying any subject, anywhere and at any level.

• AI Teaching Assistant Pro: Supports faculty with feedback automation, instructional design support and content development.

  
  - AI Pathfinder Pro: Recommends personalized academic and career pathways linked to local learning opportunities.

  
  - AI Trades Explorer Pro: Helps learners navigate skilled trades opportunities.

  
  The AI-support for smart learning projects is unique in its non-commercial design: tools are free to use, web-accessible, and require no special infrastructure. Built internally by a small team, these tools are accessible in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, and Portuguese. Their goal is not just innovation but transformation, delivering high-quality AI capabilities to students and educators across all contexts, especially rural and underserved communities.
  
  

2. ActivPanel 10 with ActivSuite

• Participants:
  Rachel Ashmore, Nedelka Phillips, Robert Cros

• Keywords:
  Interactive Teaching Solution

• Executive Summary:
  Promethean ActviPanel 10 Premium with Promethean ActivSuite™ is an integrated solution of hardware and software designed to enhance classroom engagement and improve learning outcomes whilst allowing teachers to use the operating systems native to their school or district both at and away from the ActivPanel. Comprised of tools like Explain Everything whiteboard, Promethean ActivSuite enables educators to deilver dynamic, interactive lessons with ease using annotation, polling, and multimedia integration. Designed for use with Promethean’s interactive displays and compatible with multiple platforms, it empowers teachers to deliver immersive, student-centered learning experiences. With Promethean ActivSuite, educators gain a powerful solution that transforms traditional teaching into interactive and impactful 21st-century education.

• Project Description:
  The project was inspired by research we conducted into problems teachers face when implementing new technology. Educators often juggle multiple tools and platforms which can disrupt learning and classroom flow. Our solution, Promethean ActivSuite, integrates lesson planning, delivery and student interaction into one ecosystem, reducing complexity and making adoption and useage less overwhelming and streamlined with the flow of the classroom. Intuitively designed, Promethean ActivSuite allows teachers to access their preferred panel apps from anywhere, anytime they need them. Strong online support materials on Learn Promethean to help with adoption and training.
  
  K-12 teachers need help reducing their tech overload as well as help accessing content and resources when they need it and ActivPanel 10 Premium offers the solution. ActivPanel 10 Premium delivers familiarity by allowing teachers to use their operating system of choice where all their preferred resources are available. This choice of operating system is a unique benefit compared to other edtech solutions that rely on panels with built in operating systems and apps that require teachers to switch between content sources and different operating systems.
  In addition, ActivPanel 10 Premium delivers industry leading specifications including best-in-class visual quality, low energy consumption, high quality sound with an 8 mic array and built-in soundbar, and accessories including a new ActivPen® 2 and All-in-one Remote (remote available in N.A. only) so that every student, no matter where they are, can equally engage in lessons.
  
  Target users include post-secondary faculty, instructional designers, academic leaders, and learners, especially those in rural, remote, multilingual, or equity-seeking environments. The tools are used in Ontario, across Canada, and internationally. Contact North | Contact Nord engages users via direct outreach, institutional demos, global presentations, and partnerships. Because the tools are zero-cost, bilingual, and multilingual, they offer scalable value to institutions lacking internal AI infrastructure or budgets, enabling broader educational inclusion, aligned with the goals of smart education.
  
  

3. Huawei Smart Education Industry Solutions

• Participants:
  Li Junfeng, Zhang Chengtao, Chen Yuanbo, Chen Huijuan, Chen Keyu
  

• Keywords:
  AI+Education, Smart Classroom, Smart Campus, Research Data Management, Digital Training

• Executive Summary:

  Education is the foundation of a nation, and talent is the cornerstone of national development. As the digital economy continues to grow, It is expected to require 200 million ICT professionals in the worldwide by 2025. However, there will be a talent gap of 60 million. This highlights the key role that talent plays in the growth of digital economy. There is a growing demand for professionals who are versatile, innovative, and skilled in AI technologies.

  
  Driven by the wave of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the rise of DeepSeek, an AI startup in China, has garnered widespread global attention. With the open-sourcing of reasoning models, more industries can now embrace AI with lower barriers to entry.

  
  Using diverse learning channels and modes, virtual reality for immersive experience, as well as mobility devices, we can strengthen learning anytime, anywhere. But this is only possible if there is good connectivity for the campuses. The enhancement of network construction is therefore of paramount importance to build a high-standard and high-performance education digital cloud base.

  
  Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. The company is committed to bringing digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. In the fields of communications networks, IT, smart devices, cloud services, intelligent automotive solutions, digital power, and more, we provide customers with competitive, secure, and reliable products, solutions, and services. Through open collaboration with ecosystem partners, we create lasting value for our customers and society, working to empower people, enrich home life, and inspire innovation across organizations of all shapes and sizes.

  
  Huawei has set up industry teams to penetrate into industries and scenarios, shorten the management chain vertically, and better respond to customers' intelligent requirements. Horizontally and quickly integrate R&D resources and fully support the intelligent transformation of thousands of industries. We have built more than 200 intelligent solutions for urban, financial, transportation, and manufacturing industries, and have been applied in intelligent projects in more than 20 industries.
  In education industry, we believe that technology drives the changes of the industry. In teaching, education intelligence helps improve teaching methods, improve teaching quality, and train first-class talents. We will promote independent innovation in scientific research and technology, serve national strategies and social development. In management, big data helps campus precise governance, improve management level, and shape campus culture. In services, one-stop campus services based on artificial intelligence improve service experience. Leading Infrastructure to Support the University Development Goals.

• Project Description：

  Here are our all-scenario solutions for all education customer segments.

  
  In terms of talent cultivation, the digital training platform helps cultivate ICT talent. Each year, more than 200,000 students can be trained to master ICT technologies and engage in ICT-related work.

  
  In the smart classroom scenario, Huawei provides the smart classroom solution, which is student-centric and extends the classroom boundary. By integrating the interactive IdeaHub, HUAWEI CLOUD, and learning management systems of certified partners, Huawei provides solutions such as hybrid learning, group discussion, and recording classroom. Make future learning more attractive and free from space constraints.
  
  In the managed service scenario, Huawei provides campus networking and high-quality 10GE campus network solutions to help customers manage campus activities more efficiently and provide better services for customers.In scientific research, we provide scientific research HPDA, scientific research computing, and education and scientific research network solutions to help teaching and research customers improve research and information sharing efficiency.