Posted on UNICEF Hong Kong, 13 Feb 2025

In celebration of the International Day of Education 2025, themed ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Education: Human Agency in an Automated World’, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the potential of technological breakthroughs to support students throughout their learning journeys, while cautioning that  the power of AI rests “in the hands of a few”. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay echoed the crucial need to make AI “a tool at the service of teachers and pupils.”

In light of the global initiative to harness AI in education, the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) took lead in inaugurating a meeting with the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), a network of 61 leading universities from the Americas, Asia, and Australasia to explore practical and responsible solutions for the 21st century challenges on learning and development of children and youth.

During the meeting, UNICEF HK Chairman Judy Chen, along with Dr Thomas Schneider, Chief Executive of APRU, and representatives from APRU and Ms. Isabella Wong, Chief of Staff of the University of Hong Kong (a member of APRU), committed to establishing a collaboration including a Working Group focused on building capacity for  young people to gain AI literacy and skills, extending AI education beyond universities to secondary and primary schools. The partnership between UNICEF HK and APRU are building the foundation to partner on supporting a reform in learning where technological innovations can benefit children and youth equitably while contributing to Hong Kong’s development as a child-friendly city.