Hangzhou, 8 Nov. 2025 – The parallel session on "Digital Transformation and Higher Education Equity" of the 2025 World University Presidents Forum was held.

The forum was attended by GUAN Peijun, Vice President of the Chinese Association of Higher Education, and presided over by ZHANG Dalang, Vice President of the Chinese Association of Higher Education. WANG Richun, Director of the Department of Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Dr. WANG Qiming, President of the Open University of China (OUC), and Ms. Rahma Al Noaimi, Director of Executive Bureau of Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs for GCC States attended the session

REN Youqun, Vice Minister of Education and LIN Huiqing, President of the Chinese Association of Higher Education, visited the OUC Exhibition

Parallel Session on Digital Transformation and Higher Education Equity

WANG Richun proposed three initiatives during the session: Firstly, to promote inclusive development and make digital technology an accelerator for education equity by leveraging the Smart Education of China platform to expand high-quality resource coverage in central, western China and rural areas. Secondly, to enhance innovative applications by embracing the concept of "using AI for student learning, teaching support, management and research enhancement" to boost education quality. Thirdly, to deepen international cooperation to facilitate global resource sharing and jointly build a more open, inclusive and equitable higher education system.

Dr. WANG Qiming stated that digital transformation offers historical opportunities for education equity. It represents both a technological revolution and a profound paradigm shift in education, capable of transcending spatial and temporal boundaries to make quality resources accessible to all. OUC is dedicated to constructing a lifelong education network centred on "four platforms and one support" with the aim of offering a Chinese solution for inclusive lifelong learning. This initiative is driving the transition from equitable access to education opportunities towards equitable learning processes and outcomes.

Ms. Rahma Al Noaimi underscored the critical role of digital transformation in shaping higher education systems. She urged attention to the digital divide and advocated for solutions that harness digital tools to remove access barriers and create inclusive digital classrooms. Furthermore, she championed open dialogue and pragmatic collaboration among global educational leaders to drive digital technology as a force for advancing equity in higher education.

ZHAO Peng, Vice President of Beijing Jiaotong University, Nasser M. Al-Daghri, Vice President of Saudi's King Saud University, WANG Haijie, Vice President of Zhengzhou University, and Myat Htoo Razak, advisor to the President of the University of Cape Town, were among nine experts who delivered keynote speeches on the future of AI in higher education and higher education equity in the context of digital and intelligent empowerment.

As one of the parallel sessions of the World University Presidents Forum, this event, themed "Digital Transformation and Higher Education Equity," aimed to explore how digital technology can promote substantive equity in education and build a healthy education ecosystem through multi-party collaboration. Experts and scholars discussed constructive topics, including how to achieve fair learning and development outcomes for students from diverse backgrounds during digital transformation, and how to tailor education to students' individuality and creativity.

The OUC Exhibition

At the exhibition, OUC showcased its practical achievements in “making lifelong education universally accessible through digital intelligence” and highlighted the “six commitments” and “six breakthroughs” that define the spirit and capabilities of future teachers, guided by the spirit of education. Visitors experienced in person in a new teaching model featuring “human-AI collaboration” between future teachers and their digital counterparts.

The session was organised by OUC with support from Zhejiang Open University. Nearly 160 representatives from education departments and higher education institutions across ten countries and regions participated.

By OUC