As generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek revolutionize global education, Chinese universities are at the forefront of adapting these technologies to foster higher-order thinking skills. The upcoming 8th Teaching and Academic Annual Conference of Chinese Universities, hosted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), brings together educators, researchers, and administrators to explore how GenAI can empower the cultivation of advanced cognitive abilities such as analysis, evaluation, and creation—skills essential for the AI era.
Scheduled for April 17-19, 2026, at SJTU's Minhang Campus, the conference theme—"Teaching Academia: Generative Artificial Intelligence and Higher-Order Thinking Cultivation"—addresses the urgent need to shift from rote memorization to innovative problem-solving amid rapid technological change. With paper submissions closed on March 1 and registration ongoing until April 1, anticipation is building for discussions that could shape China's higher education landscape.
📚 Evolution of the Teaching Academia Series
The series began in 2019 at SJTU, evolving into a premier platform for Chinese higher education pedagogy. The first edition focused on foundational teaching scholarship, while the seventh in 2025 at Ocean University of China emphasized 'Teaching Academia Community: Deepening and Innovation,' highlighting collaborative reform in the AI age. Over seven years, it has attracted thousands of participants from top institutions like Tsinghua and Peking University, producing evidence-based practices that influence national policies on teaching excellence.
This eighth iteration responds to GenAI's explosion—since ChatGPT's 2022 debut, over 80% of Chinese university students report using such tools daily, per recent surveys. The conference builds consensus on ethical integration, ensuring AI augments rather than supplants human ingenuity.
Conference Highlights and Logistics
Organized by SJTU's Teacher Development Center, the offline event expects hundreds of attendees. Key features include theme reports, teaching research presentations, and sub-forum discussions. Early bird registration offers discounts for groups of five or more, CHED council members, and pre-March 1 sign-ups. Fees cover sessions; accommodation and travel are self-arranged, with nearby options provided.
- Dates: April 17-19, 2026
- Venue: SJTU Minhang Campus, Shanghai
- Registration: Online via WeChat/Alipay, deadline April 1official site
- Workshops: Paired with main sessions
SJTU faculty register fee-free using school email. The event underscores Shanghai's role as China's education hub, fostering national dialogue.
Understanding Generative AI in Education
Generative AI refers to models like GPT series and domestic DeepSeek that create human-like text, code, images, and analyses from prompts. In higher education, it automates routine tasks—summarizing readings, generating quizzes—freeing time for complex cognition. Chinese universities lead adoption: a 2025 survey shows 92% of faculty integrate GenAI, up from 45% in 2023.
Step-by-step integration: (1) Prompt engineering for targeted outputs; (2) Ethical guidelines to prevent plagiarism; (3) Feedback loops for refinement; (4) Assessment rubrics valuing AI-human collaboration. Tsinghua's pilots demonstrate 30% gains in student engagement.
Higher-Order Thinking: Bloom's Taxonomy in the AI Era
Higher-order thinking (HOT), per Bloom's Revised Taxonomy, encompasses analyzing (breaking down info), evaluating (judging value), and creating (producing new ideas)—contrasting lower-order remembering and understanding now AI-handled. In China, NEP-equivalent reforms prioritize HOT for innovation-driven economy.
GenAI empowers HOT by:
- Simulating debates for evaluation skills
- Generating hypotheses for creation
- Providing instant critiques for analysis
Photo by - Landsmann - on Unsplash
Core Sub-Themes: AI Integration Strategies
The conference's first five sub-themes target practical fusion:
- AI-Empowered Learning Assessment: Large models for personalized feedback, e.g. Guangzhou U's RAG-based grading.
- Diverse Activity Integration: Blending lectures, projects with AI simulations.
- Classroom Deep Fusion: SJTU immunology AI practices.
- HOT Cultivation: Huazhong U AI-research impact studies.
- Student Perspectives: Enhancing experience via AI tools.
Specialized Applications: Vocational, Medical, and Teacher Development
Sub-themes 6-10 address sectors:
- AI-Driven Curriculum Ideology: Ethical AI in moral education.
- Vocational/Medical Ed: Tailored simulations, e.g. Shandong Medical U surgery training.
- Teacher Development: Southeast U iterative models.
- Banmu Work Innovation: Efficiency gains.
Spotlight on Invited Experts and Cases
Over 25 speakers from elite unis: Shen Beijun (SJTU) on software engineering frameworks; Wu Binglan (SCNU) on GenAI reform contributions; Mou Yu (Zunyi Medical) on cognitive scaffolds; Zhang Chaojie (Weinan Normal) on intangible heritage design. Cases include BYOD with LLMs (HUST), ethical governance (SJTU psych center), CDIO projects (Naval Aviation U).
Real-world: Chongqing pilots show GenAI reflection tools raise HOT scores 28%; CoQuest agents aid undergrad research output 2x.
Statistics and Broader Impacts in Chinese HE
China leads GenAI edtech: 70% unis have AI policies; student usage 85%, faculty 65%. HOT gains: 20-50% in pilots. Economic: AI-skilled grads command 15% salary premium. Cultural context: Aligns with 'Double First-Class' push for innovation.
Stakeholders: Students value personalization (90% satisfaction); teachers note workload cut 40% but ethics training needed; admins eye scalability for 50M+ undergrads.
Challenges: Ethics, Equity, and Implementation
Risks: Plagiarism (detected in 15% assignments), bias amplification, digital divide (rural unis lag 30%). Solutions: Prompt literacy training, AI ethics courses, hybrid assessments. Conference forums tackle governance, echoing national MOE guidelines.
Future Outlook and Actionable Insights
Post-conference, expect AI-HOT frameworks for national rollout, boosting China's talent pipeline. Insights: Start with low-stakes pilots; train prompts for Bloom's upper tiers; monitor equity. For educators: Integrate GenAI via 'human-AI symbiosis' for 21st-century skills.
Explore opportunities in China's booming HE sector via China university jobs or research positions. This conference signals a pivotal shift toward AI-augmented excellence.