LONDON, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- An international conference on online education and massive open online courses (MOOC) opened in London on Thursday, drawing hundreds of educational professionals from across the globe to discuss the transformative potential of online learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of higher education.

The 2024 Global MOOC and Online Education Conference (GMC), themed "Reimagining the Future of Higher Education in the Intelligence Era," focus on the opportunities and challenges brought by rapid digital advancements and the emergence of generative AI.

"MOOCs have dramatically expanded access to higher education on a global scale in recent years," Stefania Giannini, UNESCO's assistant director-general for education, said during her opening remarks.

She described the conference as "a unique opportunity" to reflect on how digital and AI-driven transformation can offer "new unexpected opportunities" for higher education, "from expanded access to personalized learning," while raising awareness about equity, ethics and fairness.

During the two-day event, educators, experts and policymakers from over 130 universities, online education platforms, international organizations and government agencies across more than 20 countries and regions are expected to share their insights both online and offline.

"I believe that through exchanges and cooperation among different countries, we can jointly promote the development of AI-empowered higher education and are excited about the prospects," Xu Kun, president of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, told Xinhua.

This year's GMC saw the publication of two reports on the digital development of global higher education, highlighting how AI is accelerating the onset of a new era in smart education.

During the event, a demonstration of smart education showcased a scenario of a future computational biology class using AI, digital twin and virtual reality (VR) technologies. Other projects from global universities were also presented to highlight the achievements and potential of AI in educational practices.

"By investing in innovative research, supporting educators, and fostering lifelong learning, we can ensure that our education system not only adapts to the demands of the future but also leads the way in creating a more inclusive and dynamic society," said Jacqui Smith, minister for skills in the UK's Department for Education.

Co-organized by the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, this year's GMC marks its fifth edition. It is co-hosted by Queen Mary University of London, Tsinghua University and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Enditem

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