2025 International Advisory Board for Graduate Studies (IAB) Annual Meeting Day 1 – Where AI+ Ignites Tomorrow’s Collaborations

 

Established in 2022/23, the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) International Advisory Board for Graduate Studies (IAB) aims to advance doctoral education, foster collaborative research training opportunities, and promote global best practices in research training. Building on the success of the inaugural in-person meeting in Hong Kong last year, the 2025 Annual Meeting, themed “AI+”, took place from 25 to 26 June 2025 at HKBU. This two-day event served as a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas about the transformative power of artificial intelligence in reshaping postgraduate studies, academia, and society.

Morning Sparks:

On 25 June, the dialogue commenced with HKBU President and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Alex Wai, who warmly welcomed leaders of graduate schools from top universities around the world to the opening day of the IAB Annual Meeting. Prof. Wai positioned the university at the forefront of ethical AI innovation and emphasized the importance of research and innovation, highlighting their transformative potential to shape a better society. He reaffirmed HKBU’s commitment to advancing research that harnesses AI for social good, fostering an academic environment where creativity and technology converge to create impactful solutions for the future. Following him, Prof. Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) and Dean of the Graduate School, called for international collaboration, noting that each participating university brings unique strengths—from pioneering research to a steadfast commitment to academic excellence—elevating research postgraduate studies to new heights.

 

 

• Left: Prof. Alex Wai, HKBU President and Vice-Chancellor, delivering welcome remarks
• Right: Prof. Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) and Dean of the Graduate School, giving an opening speech

 

The morning session featured keynote speakers who embodied the innovative spirit of HKBU's strategic research areas, redefining the possibilities of AI in research. Prof. Dean Ho from the National University of Singapore merged digital technology with longevity medicine, revealing AI’s life-extending potential. Prof. Janice Pan from HKBU challenged biases in AI with her thought-provoking question: "Digital Muse or Monster? Amplifying Marginalised Voices with AI?" Dr. Liu Dongping from Amazon Web Services showcased how cloud-powered AI accelerates health research and data analysis.

  

(From left to right)
• Prof. Dean Ho from National University of Singapore, presenting on “Digital Longevity Medicine”
• Prof. Janice Pan from Hong Kong Baptist University, presenting on “Digital Muse or Monster? Tales from the “Digital Atelier” – Amplifying Marginalised Voices with Artificial Intelligence”
• Dr. LIU Dongping from Amazon Web Services, presenting on “Cloud-Powered AI Innovation: Transformative AWS Applications in Health Research and Data Analytics”

 

Following the keynotes, HKBU Provost, Prof. Martin Wong, together with Prof. Jiming Liu and Prof. Xu Yi Da, led a dynamic panel discussion on how AI and interdisciplinary research catalyse unparalleled innovation.

 

• Prof. Martin Wong (second from the left), HKBU Provost, together with Prof. Jiming Liu (first from the left) and Prof. Xu Yi Da (first from the right), leading a dynamic panel discussion on how AI and interdisciplinary research catalyse unparalleled innovation.

 

The forum concluded with a souvenir presentation to all keynote speakers as a token of appreciation, followed by group photos with all panellists and guests.

 

• Left: Prof. Alex Wai, presenting souvenirs to the keynote speakers
• Right: All guests posing for group photos to conclude the morning session 

Afternoon Synergy:

In the afternoon, Prof. Cheung King-ho, Executive Associate Dean of the Graduate School, guided an insightful discussion centred on the ethical implications of AI in research. He was joined by Dr. Theresa Kwong from the Centre for Holistic Teaching and Learning, Prof. Michael Ng from the Faculty of Science, and Prof. Mark d’Inverno from the Academy of Music. Board members from the graduate schools of top international institutions shared best practices and trends regarding the ethics of AI+ research, the role of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the impact of AI+ research on society. They forged actionable frameworks for the responsible deployment of AI in research and actively discussed new initiatives for potential partnerships and collaboration opportunities, including joint projects and student exchange programmes.

 

 

• Left: Prof. Cheung King-ho, Executive Associate Dean of the Graduate School 
• Right: Dr. Theresa Kwong, Director of the Centre for Holistic Teaching and Learning
 

  

• Left: Prof. Michael Ng, Dean of the Faculty of Science
• Right: Prof. Mark d’Inverno from the Academy of Music 
 

  
• IAB representatives sharing best practices from their institutes on the responsible deployment of AI in research and discussed new initiatives for potential partnerships and collaboration opportunities.

 

• Prof. Cheung King-ho, Executive Associate Dean of the Graduate School, presenting souvenirs to the board members, including Prof. Robert Weiss from Cornell University; Ms. Pan Xiaolei and Prof. Yugang Ma from Fudan University; Prof. Xiao Yun Xu from Imperial College London; Prof. Zexiang Shen from Nanyang Technological University; Prof. Caroline Lee from the National University of Singapore; Prof. Ann Evans from The Australian National University; Prof. Huajian Yao from the University of Science and Technology of China; Prof. Sarah Collins from the University of Western Australia; and Ms. Ke Wu and Dr. Cheng Li from Zhejiang University.