APU’s Digital Learning Hub brought Malaysian perspectives on AI-enabled teaching, assessment and governance to an international education audience at GSE2026 in Beijing.

Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) strengthened its presence in the international education arena as academics from its Digital Learning Hub (DLH) contributed to the Global Smart Education Conference 2026 (GSE2026) in Beijing, China. 

Held from 18 to 20 August 2026 at Beijing Normal University, the conference brought together education leaders, policymakers, academics and technology specialists from more than 60 countries to examine how artificial intelligence and digital transformation can be integrated into education in ways that remain equitable, sustainable and centred on human development. 

Bringing APU’s Academic Expertise to Beijing

At the invitation of the GSE2026 programme committee, Professor Dr Abtar Kaur Darshan Singh, Director of APU’s Digital Learning Hub, and Dr Fahd Ali Raza, Lecturer at DLH, delivered featured presentations that placed APU’s work and perspectives before an international audience. 

Prof Abtar, who also serves as the UNESCO Chair in Harnessing Innovative Technologies to Enhance Quality Teaching and Learning, delivered a thought-provoking presentation titled “The Future Classroom Has Already Arrived. Has Teaching?”

Her presentation examined a fundamental challenge facing universities today: how teaching should evolve when contemporary learners enter higher education having never known a world without digital technology.

Rather than positioning technology as the starting point, Prof Abtar argued for a deliberate sequence in educational transformation — one in which pedagogy and human relationships lead, while technology supports and follows.

Her perspective highlighted the importance of ensuring that the accelerating adoption of AI does not overshadow the distinctly human dimensions of learning, including judgement, interaction, mentorship and meaningful engagement.

From AI Adoption to Institutional Readiness

Complementing this perspective, Dr Fahd addressed institutional leaders through his presentation, “Three Questions Every Institution Should Be Able to Answer”. 

His argument focused on the widening gap between widespread student use of AI and the readiness of institutions to respond effectively. 

Dr Fahd proposed that educator capability should not simply be treated as an emerging skill requirement, but as an institutional capability that must be developed, assessed and measured for effectiveness. 

Supporting his argument, he drew upon Malaysian student survey data as well as evidence from APU’s own educator development programmes. Such evidence, he noted, can help institutional leaders move beyond assumptions and make more informed decisions regarding AI policy, teaching practices, assessment and governance. 

Together, the two presentations reflected APU’s broader academic engagement with AI, not only as a technology to be adopted, but as an educational development that requires careful consideration of pedagogy, institutional capacity and responsible governance. 

Joining an International Dialogue on AI and Education

Co-organised by Beijing Normal University and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, GSE2026 is the annual conference of the Global Smart Education Network (GSENet). 

Under the theme “Reimagining Education in the Age of AI: Equity, Quality and Sustainability”, the conference convened representatives from global education ministries, UNESCO bodies and leading universities worldwide. 

Distinguished guests included Professor Ren Youqun, Vice Minister of Education of China, and Mr Tang Qian, former UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, alongside senior university leaders and international education experts. 

APU’s participation placed the University’s ongoing work in AI-enabled teaching, assessment, educator development and governance within this global conversation, while contributing Malaysian higher education perspectives to discussions shaping the future of learning.

Reflecting on the conference, Prof Abtar said, “The technology question is settled; the harder work is deciding what remains distinctly human in education and building the institutional capacity to protect it.”