World Bank Education Representatives Visit BNU’s Smart Learning Institute for Exchanges

On 27 November 2023, World Bank Senior Economist Salman Asim, Senior Education Specialist Liping Xiao and education consultant Hayeon Kim visited Beijing Normal University’s Smart Learning Institute to discuss digital-education cooperation. Dr Zhang Dingwen, assistant to the institute’s dean, and Yao Youjie, Director of its Educational Robotics Engineering Centre, participated.

Institute and international projects

Zhang introduced the World Digital Education Alliance, the National Engineering Research Center for Cyberlearning and Intelligent Technology, BNU’s Smart Learning Institute and their international cooperation projects.

Yuanzhuo and regional education projects

Yao discussed BNU’s youth AI innovation initiative, the Yuanzhuo Programme, Chinese educational assistance projects in Southeast Asia and vocational-education cooperation with the World Bank representatives.

Seoul forum and digital-education exchanges

The representatives thanked the institute for sending staff to Seoul’s 2023 ASEAN Plus Three Human Resources Development Forum to present China’s educational digital-transformation achievements and the World Digital Education Alliance.

Cooperation intentions

According to the institute’s account, the representatives saw alignment with, and lessons for, World Bank education projects in the Asia–Pacific region. They expressed interest in deepening international exchanges, project implementation and dissemination, and supporting the World Digital Education Alliance. The report records discussions and intentions, without announcing new financing commitments or signed projects.

Sources and further reading

The institute’s source account and the original site report are both dated 29 November 2023, distinct from the visit on 27 November. Liping Xiao’s English name was checked against her World Bank profile; roles reflect the time of the visit. Further reading: Cambodia textbook teacher training, vocational-education enterprise visits, and the courses and resource centre.