LEAD Academic Network Advances Global Dialogue on Student Leadership in the Digital Intelligence Era (Day 1, Wuhan)

On 25 April 2026, the International Academic Symposium on “The Challenges and Reshaping of College Students’ Leadership in the Digital Intelligence Era”, together with the LEAD Academic Network Conference, was held at China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). The LEAD Academic Network played a central role in shaping the academic dialogue and international collaboration throughout the event.

The symposium brought together nearly 100 participants, including senior scholars, early-career researchers, and students from China, Belgium, the United States, Poland, South Korea, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Hong Kong SAR, reflecting the global and interdisciplinary nature of the LEAD Academic Network.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Prof. Chu Zuwang and featured a welcoming address by Mr. Wang Fu from China University of Geosciences. The speakers emphasized the importance of cultivating innovative, responsible, and globally competent student leaders, and highlighted the need for higher education institutions to respond proactively to rapid technological advancements and evolving societal demands.

The programme featured keynote speeches, invited talks, plenary sessions, and a Young Scholars Forum, with 26 distinguished experts and 10 young scholars presenting their work. Discussions focused on key themes such as digital academic leadership, artificial intelligence in higher education, student agency, and governance transformation.

Prof. Chang Zhu (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Director of LEAD Academic Network) delivered a keynote speech on digital academic leadership, highlighting that it involves not only the application of technological tools, but also vision-building, strategic coordination, capacity development, and innovation in academic practice. She further emphasized the importance of integrating digital readiness, ethical governance, and global collaboration into academic leadership.

Members of the LEAD Academic Network from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) actively contributed to the programme. Prof. Antoon Cox explored how artificial intelligence can empower student learning while preserving student agency, and Prof. Jan Cornelis examined the evolving role of universities and the protection of student rights in the AI era. Dr. Yujie Xue (Postdoctoral Fellow, VUB and active member of the LEAD Academic Network) presented her research on “Exploring the Mechanisms Influencing Graduate Students’ Adoption of Generative AI”, contributing to discussions on student engagement and digital transformation in higher education.

The international dimension of the symposium was further enriched by contributions from LEAD network scholars such as Prof. Marcin Górski (Silesian University of Technology) and Prof. Melita Kovačević (University of Zagreb), who offered perspectives on student leadership in European and global contexts. The Young Scholars Forum also featured emerging researchers, including VUB doctoral researcher Zhang Yuting, providing a platform for early-career scholars to engage in international academic exchange and dialogue. This reflects LEAD Academic Network’s commitment to fostering the next generation of academic leaders.

The first day of the symposium highlighted LEAD Academic Network’s role as a global platform for research, dialogue, and capacity building in academic leadership, while strengthening international collaboration and future partnerships.