[Hong Kong, May 9, 2024] — A delegation from NEOM University in Saudi Arabia, led by Professor Charles Zukoski, Provost of NEOM University, and Professor Kin-Leong Pey, Senior Vice-Provost of NEOM University, visited The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK). The purpose of their visit was to learn the best practices in university transformation and future academic facilities, particularly the future classrooms of EdUHK for collaborative and interactive learning.

Professor Cheng May Hung May, VP(AC) of EdUHK, warmly welcomed the delegation and commended their visit. The visit began at the EdUHK Reception (A-G/F-08), where the colleagues from NEOM University, including Mr. Jamie O’Brien, Head of Enterprise Digital Services, Mr. Ramy Shaheen, Senior Program Manager, Ms. Sacha Moreira, ERI Project Lead, Mr. Hassan Aljohani, ERI Project Analyst, and Ms. Maha Alali, Student Success Specialist, listened to Prof. May Cheng’s introduction to the history of EdUHK and recent strategic developments. Professor Xu Guandong, Chair Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Director of the Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology (LTTC), and Director of the University Research Facility of Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, highlighted EdUHK’s ongoing endeavors of artificial intelligence in education and research. Dr. Cheng Kwok Shing Gary, Executive Co-Director of LTTC, and Mr. Siu Koon Ming Donny, Director of Global Affairs, also participated in the welcoming meeting with the delegation.

The campus tour began at the Extended Reality Room (C-2/F-01C), where the NEOM University colleagues experienced the use of virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) in an educational setting within the VR CAVE. In the AI Education Lab, the delegation learned about the recent work of the LTTC Large Language Model (LLM) Studio and had the opportunity to experience the newly launched Model as a Service (MaaS) platform, which allows educators to create their own smart workflows with ease. In the Metaverse Education Lab (E-P-12), the delegation explored various metaverse spaces and game-based learning activities for promoting cybersecurity and data privacy developed by LTTC colleagues.

Professor Zukoski expressed their delight at having the opportunity to visit EdUHK and explore possible collaborations. Professor May Cheng, in response, stated that it was an honour for EdUHK to showcase its achievements and efforts in quality learning and teaching. She further emphasized, “I firmly believe that the collaboration between NEOM University and higher education institutions in Hong Kong holds exciting prospects for advancing education through emerging technologies in the future.”