From 27 to 28 April 2026, the EU-China Seminar on Higher Education, Technology and People-to-People Exchange was held at the Yangjialing Campus of Yan’an University. The seminar brought together experts and scholars from Belgian higher education institutions, together with faculty members and students from Yan’an University, to explore new pathways for the development of higher education in the digital and intelligent era.
At the opening ceremony, Prof. Lv Lei, Vice President of Yan’an University, and Prof. Chang Zhu, representative of the Belgian delegation, delivered welcome remarks and expressed their expectations for strengthening academic exchange and collaboration between China and Europe.
The keynote sessions focused on a range of timely topics, including digital leadership, artificial intelligence in education, the transformation of higher education evaluation, entrepreneurial talent development, educational equity, and student agency. Belgian and Chinese scholars shared their research insights and practical experiences, creating a rich dialogue on the future of higher education.
Among the invited speakers, Prof. Nico De Witte from HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts discussed inclusive digital leadership and entrepreneurial thinking in an ageing society. Dr. Bart Derre from Vrije Universiteit Brussel explored how universities can move beyond AI literacy and cultivate entrepreneurial leaders among students. Prof. Chang Zhu from Vrije Universiteit Brussel delivered a keynote speech on digital academic leadership for university research leaders, highlighting the importance of digital transformation in academic leadership. Prof. Antoon Cox from KU Leuven shared insights on using artificial intelligence to empower learning and student autonomy.
The seminar also included interactive roundtable discussions and discipline-based exchange sessions. Belgian experts met with faculty members from the departments of education, educational technology, applied psychology, and preschool education at Yan’an University. These exchanges promoted mutual understanding and opened up new possibilities for future cooperation.
On 28 April, Prof. Chang Zhu also introduced research ethics and academic integrity practices in Belgian higher education. Chinese and Belgian scholars then engaged in a comparative dialogue on research ethics, academic norms, and responsible research practices.
The event was reported by Yan’an University as an important platform for EU-China academic exchange and mutual learning in higher education. It contributed to strengthening international educational cooperation and supported Yan’an University’s efforts to deepen global engagement and explore innovative development in higher education.
