LEAD Academic Network Members Join EU-China Seminar at Yan’an University

The EU-China Seminar on Higher Education, Technology and People-to-People Exchange was held from 27 to 28 April 2026 at the Yangjialing Campus of Yan’an University. The seminar gathered scholars from Belgian higher education institutions and Yan’an University to discuss key issues in higher education development, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and academic leadership.

The event opened with remarks from Prof. Lv Lei, Vice President of Yan’an University, and Prof. Chang Zhu, representative of the Belgian experts. Both speakers highlighted the importance of academic exchange, international cooperation, and shared learning between Chinese and European higher education institutions.

Members and partners of the LEAD Academic Network contributed to the seminar through keynote speeches and academic discussions. Their presentations addressed topics closely related to the mission of LEAD, including digital academic leadership, inclusive leadership, AI-supported learning, entrepreneurial leadership, educational innovation, and research ethics.

During the keynote sessions, Prof. Nico De Witte introduced the theme of inclusive digital leadership and entrepreneurial thinking, with a focus on co-creating equity in an ageing society. Dr. Bart Derre discussed how universities can go beyond AI literacy and foster entrepreneurial leaders among students. Prof. Chang Zhu shared insights on digital academic leadership for university research leaders, while Prof. Antoon Cox explored how artificial intelligence can support learning and student autonomy.

The seminar also featured interactive exchanges between Chinese and Belgian participants. Through group discussions and discipline-based meetings, scholars explored possible collaboration in education, educational technology, applied psychology, preschool education, research ethics, and academic development.

The event was reported by Yan’an University as a meaningful platform for promoting China-Europe higher education exchange, academic dialogue, and mutual learning. For the LEAD Academic Network, the seminar further demonstrated the value of international academic collaboration in addressing emerging challenges in higher education leadership and innovation.