Deans of education schools from universities in 26 countries exchange views in Shanghai: When AI replaces knowledge transmission, where lies the value of universities?

If AI can replace knowledge transmission, where does the value of universities lie? Recently, the Shanghai segment of the Seventh Global Education Deans' Forum (GEDF) was held at East China Normal University. Seventy-six deans or dean representatives of schools of education from 76 globally renowned universities in 26 countries, along with representatives of academic societies and education administrative departments, exchanged innovative practices around the theme "Reshaping Education, Reshaping the Future." At the forum, Professor Fan Lianghuo, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau, shared the practice of integrating AI into curriculum and pedagogy and launching Macau's first Master of Science in "Artificial Intelligence and Education"; representatives from the University of Nottingham in the UK reflected on the academic integrity crisis caused by overly rapid technological iteration; and an American scholar sharply pointed out that AI should not be used merely to "make the old model more efficient," but must fundamentally reconstruct the ontology of education. The discussion ultimately reached a consensus: amid technological fervor, universities need to calmly uphold the foundational elements of education, such as the humanities, values, and the process of socialization. Participating experts believe that, faced with the challenges of digital addiction and declining willingness to socialize, universities need to reshape their function as "places of socialization." Scholars from multiple universities discussed and agreed that universities should not merely chase AI hotspots, but should cultivate global awareness, cross-cultural understanding, and critical thinking. In the AI era, the value of universities is more reflected in missions that cannot be separated from human participation, such as promoting social justice and expanding public discourse. This forum linked institutional exchanges with UNESCO's "Post-2030 Education Agenda." A senior program specialist from UNESCO's Education 2030 Division introduced the background and process of the consultation phase of the "Post-2030 Education Agenda." The relevant work gradually forms the basis for future-oriented discussion by gathering research evidence, listening to the views of youth and students, and conducting national, regional, and stakeholder consultations. Among these, the youth and student consultation has already received approximately 200,000 voices from 194 countries. The research and practical experience of universities and schools of education are also important references for this global dialogue. The forum deliberated and released the "East China Normal University Declaration of the Global Education Deans' Forum," distilling the exchanges and reflections of this forum into shared propositions and providing a reference for global schools of education to deepen dialogue and carry out cooperation. It is reported that the first GEDF was held at East China Normal University in 2018. Over the past eight years, the forum has continued to gather the experience and wisdom of global schools of education and promote transnational and inter-institutional exchanges. Gu Hongliang, Party Secretary of East China Normal University, stated that ECNU has always unified academic excellence with its educational mission, established the Shanghai Institute of Intelligent Education, promoted interdisciplinary integration, and advocated "intelligent education with warmth."