From November 2 to 3, Tsinghua University President Li Luming led a delegation to Vietnam. During the visit, he met with Le Tien Chau, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam, and attended the Global MOOC and Online Education Conference. The visit further promoted educational, scientific and technological cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges between Tsinghua University and Vietnam. It contributed to the sustained deepening of the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era and building a higher-standard China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
2026 Global MOOC and Online Education Conference Opens in Hanoi
On November 3, the opening ceremony of the 2026 Global MOOC and Online Education Conference was held at Vietnam National University, Hanoi. With the theme of "Reallocating Intelligence: Transforming Education for a Human-AI Future", the conference introduced the concept of "Reallocating Intelligence". Le Tien Chau, Li Luming, president of Tsinghua University and chair of the Board of the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance, Bui The Duy, president of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and Shafika Isaacs, chief of Section for Technology and AI in Education at UNESCO and interim director of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, attended the ceremony. Tshilidzi Marwala, under-secretary-general of the United Nations and rector of the United Nations University, and Chen Qun, UNESCO assistant director-general for education, delivered video remarks.
In his remarks, Le Tien Chau said that Vietnam is accelerating its shift toward a development model driven by knowledge, science and technology, innovation and high-quality human resources, and remains committed to placing people at the center, as the main subject and as the driving force of development. Higher education must play a vanguard and exemplary role in cultivating high-quality talent, creating knowledge and stimulating innovation. Looking to the future, efforts should be made to promote the transformation of education models so as to effectively adapt to and lead the development of artificial intelligence; to place the all-round development of people, especially the capacity of scholars and teachers, at the core of the transformation process; to adhere to the principles of responsible, safe, transparent and human-centered application of artificial intelligence; and to deepen practical international cooperation and build an open, inclusive and sustainable education ecosystem.
On behalf of the Board of the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance, Li Luming welcomed and thanked the guests attending the conference and announced that Queen Mary University of London and the University of Johannesburg had joined the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance. In his keynote report, he reviewed the development journey and achievements of the Alliance since its establishment and introduced Tsinghua University's innovative measures to advance the integration of artificial intelligence into education and teaching. He said that artificial intelligence is profoundly reshaping education and teaching, scientific research and infrastructure systems, and that universities need to rethink the division of labor between human intelligence and artificial intelligence and promote systematic changes in teaching models, learning methods and evaluation mechanisms. The Alliance continues to uphold the values of openness in sharing, partnership in co-creation, adaptability in innovation, and inclusiveness in progress, and has gradually developed from a resource-sharing network into a community for joint action. Going forward, it will further promote deeper collaboration among universities worldwide, jointly build a global ecosystem of open AI courses on artificial intelligence, share innovative practices and achievements, and build an open and inclusive global education ecosystem.
In his remarks, Bui The Duy said that artificial intelligence has brought new opportunities and challenges to university teaching and research. The digital transformation of education requires deep-level changes in both philosophy and practice. He stressed the importance of international cooperation and resource sharing, with a view to promoting the deep integration of artificial intelligence and higher education and advancing educational equity and sustainable development.
Tshilidzi Marwala said that strengthening global cooperation is of great significance and that efforts should be made to ensure that technological development better serves the common well-being of humanity, highlight humanistic values while enhancing capacities, and ensure that the fruits of educational development benefit everyone.
Chen Qun said that universities should firmly safeguard human subjectivity and independent judgment, uphold the public nature of education, translate global consensus into concrete actions and advance the common interests of humanity.
Infinite Possibilities: Report on the Digital Development of Global Higher Education (2026) and the Digital Development Index of Global Higher Education (2026) are released at the Global MOOC and Online Education Conference
At the opening ceremony, Li Luming, Bui The Duy, Shafika Isaacs and others jointly released Infinite Possibilities: Report on the Digital Development of Global Higher Education (2026) and the Digital Development Index of Global Higher Education (2026).
The Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance presents Outstanding Course Awards
During the conference, four thematic sessions, the China–ASEAN Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Education, and an exhibition on smart education outcomes were held, and the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance Outstanding Course Awards were presented, showcasing from multiple dimensions the innovative practices and achievements of educational transformation in the era of human-machine symbiosis. The Board Meeting of the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance was held concurrently.
The conference was hosted by the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, and organized by Tsinghua University and Vietnam National University, Hanoi. More than 300 representatives from international organizations, government departments, universities and online education platforms from 35 countries and regions attended the conference. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will host the 2027 Global MOOC and Online Education Conference.
Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding Source: Vietnam News Agency
Prior to the conference, Li Luming met with Le Tien Chau in Hanoi. He Wei, Chinese ambassador to Vietnam, attended the meeting. Witnessed by Le Tien Chau, Li, He and others, the School of Environment of Tsinghua University and the University of Science under Vietnam National University, Hanoi, signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation to advance collaboration in areas such as faculty-student exchanges and joint research.
Le Tien Chau spoke highly of the cooperation outcomes between Tsinghua University and Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and fully affirmed the two sides' joint hosting of the 2026 Global MOOC and Online Education Conference. He said that Vietnam attaches great importance to educational development and hopes to further strengthen exchanges with Chinese universities such as Tsinghua University, deepen cooperation in joint research and the translation of research outcomes, and support more outstanding Vietnamese students and young researchers in pursuing study and research at Tsinghua.
Li Luming said that China and Vietnam enjoy a profound friendship and both attach great importance to educational development. Tsinghua University is committed to advancing high-level opening-up in education and will, in the future, continue to deepen cooperation with Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and other Vietnamese universities in areas such as faculty-student mutual visits and scientific research, so as to produce more practical outcomes in China-Vietnam higher education cooperation.
During the visit, Li Luming also met with Bui The Duy. In-depth discussions were held on topics including strengthening the recruitment and cultivation of international students, promoting student exchanges and mutual visits, and expanding joint research and cooperation between schools and departments. Li visited the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam and exchanged views with Ambassador He on deepening China-Vietnam higher education cooperation. He also met with representatives of Tsinghua alumni working in Vietnam, encouraging them to strive for excellence in their respective positions.
Relevant officials from the Office of International Affairs participated in the visit. Representatives from the School of Environment, the Department of Computer Science and Technology, the School of Education, the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office, and the Tsinghua University Primary School participated in relevant activities.
Editors: Li Han, John Paul Grima
