Distinguished Professor Dragan Gašević, a world-leading learning analytics researcher, completed a significant week-long visit to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) from January 6-11, 2025. The visit was coordinated by Dr. Lan Yang, Joy, Associate Professor and Associate Head (Research) of C&I, and nicely supported by Dr. Shen Ba as co-coordinator.
The visit began with a well-attended public academic seminar on January 7, titled "Empowering Learners with Advanced Analytics: Transforming Educational Assessment in the Age of AI." The event drew over 100 registered participants and achieved full capacity attendance, with additional participants joining online.
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A highlight of the visit was the January 8 joint research symposium, co-organized by Dr. Joy Yang (Associated Head of C&I) and Professor Zi Yan (Head of C&I), in collaboration with Prof. Dragan Gašević's Centre of Learning and Analytics at Monash University, including CoLAM scholars Dr. Yi-shan Tsai, Dr. Guanliang Chen, Dr. Zachari Swiecki, and Dr. Mladen Rakovic. The CoLAM team presented cutting-edge research focused on revolutionizing educational feedback and assessment through AI integration, including innovative approaches to feedback analytics, generative AI applications in education, and new frameworks for measuring self-regulated learning. The C&I presentation team, including Dr. Shen Ba, Dr. Lingyun Huang, Dr. Xiaojing Weng, and Dr. Jinxin Zhu, showcased significant findings on the integration of AI in education, from analyzing PISA 2022 data on digital resource usage to examining ChatGPT's impact on learning behaviours, discussion dynamics, and personality traits in self-regulated learning. The hybrid event, themed "Advancing Education in the Digital Age through Learning Analytics," attracted 174 registered participants from local and international institutions. Participants provided positive feedback about the joint symposium, noting that it enhanced their professional development, improved their understanding of teaching and research on learning analytics, and gave them valuable knowledge they plan to apply in their teaching and research practices.
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During his stay, Prof. Gašević conducted at least 16 academic consultations with faculty members from the Faculty of Education and Human Development (FEHD), Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (FLASS), and Faculty of Humanities (FHM). These cross-faculty consultations within our university demonstrate his significant contribution to strengthening research capacity across different academic disciplines.
Prof. Gašević also provided strategic input to two master's programmes Master of Science in Learning Sciences [MSc(LS)] and Master of Arts in Digital Learning and Technology [MA(DLT)], meeting with programme leaders, Prof. Chee Kit Looi, Dr. Suet Yee Kong Suria to discuss the integration of learning analytics in curriculum development. Prof. Dragan delivered a professional talk for around 60 MA(DLT) students in hybrid mode, sharing his genuine experience in integrating AI into healthcare training research through the learning analytics paradigm. Students benefited much from his friendly guidance and were proactive in intellectual exchange. These programme activities were nicely supported by associate programme leaders Dr. Shen Ba and Dr. Lingyun Huang. Our thanks also go to the MA(DLT) programme officer, Ms. Lanfang Gao, for her assistance.
The visit showcases Department of Curriculum and Instruction's commitments to advancing educational technology and learning analytics in higher education to maximize productive teaching and learning through actively strengthening international academic collaboration, while also reflecting EdUHK’s broader commitment to advancing these fields to contribute the university’s unique role in nurturing talent and cultivating virtue in the rapidly changing world.
Building on the success of this visit, C&I at EdUHK and CoLAM at Monash University will actively pursue broader and deeper opportunities for collaboration. Together, we aim to strengthen our partnership and explore innovative pathways for mutual growth and joint impacts on Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., SDG4) at regional and international levels.