On 3 July 2026, Dr Gary Cheng, Director of the Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology (LTTC) at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), delivered the keynote address at the 5th National and 3rd International Conference on Education (NICE EDU CMU 2026), hosted by the Faculty of Education, Chiang Mai University (CMU) in Thailand. Held under the theme “Education in the Era of Human–AI Teaming: Developing Competencies for Meaningful Collaboration with AI”, the conference brought together scholars, teachers, policymakers, and students from across Asia, Europe, and North America, with EdUHK joining UNESCO IITE, SEAMEO, and other leading institutions in supporting the event. 

At the opening ceremony, Dr Cheng delivered opening remarks on behalf of EdUHK, alongside Professor Pongruk Sribanditmongkol, President of CMU; Dr Tipparat Noparit, Dean of the Faculty of Education, CMU; and Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat. A video message was also delivered by the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE). In his keynote address, which shared the title of the conference theme, Dr Cheng examined the competencies that learners and educators need to work with AI in ways that are meaningful, ethical, and effective. He offered a practical test for judging whether human–AI collaboration is truly meaningful: it should strengthen the learner rather than substitute for the learner. When AI handles routine work so that attention shifts to higher-order thinking, and when students can still explain and defend the results on their own, collaboration deepens learning; when thinking is offloaded rather than scaffolded, convenience today becomes dependence tomorrow. 

Dr Cheng delivers the keynote address on Human–AI teaming in education

The conference also reflected the growing partnership between EdUHK and CMU, following the CMU delegation’s visit to LTTC in March 2025 to explore collaboration in educational innovation and AI in education. Dr Cheng’s keynote underscored LTTC’s commitment to advancing responsible and effective use of AI in education, and to strengthening international networks that help students and educators thrive in the era of Human–AI teaming.

Dr Cheng receives a souvenir from Professor Pongruk Sribanditmongkol, President of CMU

Group photo of speakers, panelists, and organisers at NICE EDU CMU 2026