JUFE Welcomes a Delegation from Edith Cowan University of Australia

On the afternoon of October 17, 2025, the School of Sociology and Humanities of JUFE hosted a delegation from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia, including Professor Mark McMahon. The delegation delivered presentations on topics such as talent cultivation and innovative education in the era of artificial intelligence. Both parties engaged in discussions on how to pursue deeper collaboration in the future.

During the exchange event, Professor Mark McMahon, a core member of the Edith Cowan University delegation and Director of International Strategy at the ECU's and the faculty of School of Arts and Humanities, delivered a keynote address titled "Innovation in the Age of AI." He provided an in-depth analysis of artificial intelligence's impact on the creative industries and education sector. He emphasized that AI has evolved from a "future concept" into a "present-day tool." In creative fields, AI does not replace human creativity but enhances the creative process through human-machine collaboration—for instance, leveraging cutting-edge AI tools to boost creative efficiency and expand creative boundaries. He further stressed that uniquely human qualities such as empathy, intuition, and imagination remain irreplaceable core competencies. This perspective resonated strongly with JUFE the School of Sociology and Humanities' goal of "cultivating talents with both humanistic literacy and innovative capabilities," sparking lively discussions among faculty and students in attendance.

Immediately following, Associate Professor Flavio Macau, Associate Dean of the School of Business and Law of ECU, delivered an engaging presentation titled "Going to California: a Gen Al Journey" and explored the evolving landscape of Generative Al, highlighting key events, emerging applications, and top trends shaping the field in 2025. It also addressed critical concerns such as data privacy, misinformation, and intellectual property, while proposing potential guardrails and discussing legal implications. Through real-world examples like digital twins, Al agents and project management tools, the session aims to inspire thoughtful dialogue on the future of Al and its responsible integration into business and society.

At the conclusion of the lecture, faculty and students from JUFE posed for a group photo with the delegation from ECU, capturing a significant moment in the exchange between the two institutions.

On October 18, the faculty of JUFE held discussions with four faculty members from ECU. The meeting involved detailed and in-depth consultations on matters of mutual interest, including sending visiting scholars, joint student training programs, inviting foreign scholars for short-term teaching engagements, collaborative research initiatives, and the "1+1+1" and "2+1" Chinese-foreign cooperative education programs. Vice Dean Hong Lumin of JUFE School of Sociology and Humanities also introduced the School's signature courses, including "Writing and Communication." The ECU delegation shared their institution's practical experience in "AI Integration in Teaching", including innovative initiatives such as personalized learning path design, application of intelligent tutoring systems, and learning data analysis. These insights provided an international perspective for the curriculum reform of JUFE.

The event concluded in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The visit by the delegation from ECU University not only deepened mutual understanding and trust between the two institutions but also opened new avenues for international collaboration in the humanities and social sciences. Building upon this exchange, both parties will continue to strengthen cooperation in academic research and talent development, jointly exploring innovative approaches to humanities education in the era of artificial intelligence. Together, they will contribute to cultivating high-caliber professionals equipped to meet the demands of global development.