The 2nd Edition of Young Academic and Digital Academic Leadership Program Advances with Focus on AI in higher education, Academic Innovations and Entrepreneurship

The second and third days of the Young Academic and Digital Academic Leadership Development Program at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) fostered deeper discussions on AI-driven academic leadership, team management, and entrepreneurial ecosystems, reinforcing the partnership between VUB and Shanghai University.

On 13 May, Laura Pizzirani from the EU-China Higher Education Research Center presented the four stages of team management and led interactive group discussions on integrating AI into academic team workflows. Participants emphasized AI’s potential for objective performance assessments while stressing the irreplaceable role of senior leadership in establishing clear goals and ethical standards. After this discussion, Prof. Marc Theeboom shared insights on transforming individual academic collaborations with Chinese institutions into sustainable institutional partnerships, underlining the importance of trust-building and cultural sensitivity.

The afternoon sessions shifted to academia’s role in fostering innovation. Prof. Kevin De Moortel from Brussels Entrepreneurship and Innovation Lab of VUB advocated for future-oriented entrepreneurship education that bridges theory and practice, positioning universities as catalysts for regional development. He underscored the urgency of adaptive technology transfer models to accelerate research valorization. Lotte Vermeire from imec-SMIT of VUB presented her research findings redefining data literacy as a multidimensional competency integrating technical, ethical, and societal engagement with data. The day concluded with Prof. Chang Zhu outlining VUB’s AI regulatory frameworks, encouraging participants to share comparative perspectives on balancing AI integration with academic integrity in their home institutions.

14 May commenced with a guided tour of the VUB AI Experience Centre, led by Hans De Canck, Director of AI Experience Center of VUB and co-Director of FARI – AI for the Common Good Institute. Participants explored emerging AI applications, including sensor-enabled prosthetics and AI-driven mechanical arm, while learning how FARI identifies societal needs to design pilot projects and enhance AI literacy. The group also engaged in hands-on demonstrations of AI tools currently under development. The program then addressed leadership with Frederic de Pryck, President of Columbus. Through case studies of successful and failed ventures, he dissected essential leadership attributes for the digital age and gave advice on how to develop these leadership skills.

Over both days, cross-disciplinary discussions revealed shared challenges and opportunities. Shanghai University professors exchanged experiences and strategies with VUB experts on topics ranging from AI ethics in classrooms to institutional frameworks for international collaboration. These interactions underscored the program’s broader mission: to cultivate leaders capable of harmonizing technological innovation with academic values in an interconnected world.

LEAD学术联盟第二期青年数字学术领导力发展项目聚焦高等教育中的人工智能、学术创新与创业精神

布鲁塞尔，2025年5月14日

在布鲁塞尔自由大学（VUB）举行的第二期青年数字学术领导力发展项目的第二天和第三天，围绕人工智能驱动的学术领导力、团队管理和创业生态系统展开了更深入的讨论，进一步巩固了VUB与上海大学之间的合作伙伴关系。

5月13日，来自中欧高等教育研究中心的Laura Pizzirani展示了团队管理的四个阶段，并引导参与者进行互动小组讨论，探讨如何将人工智能融入学术团队的工作流程。与会者强调了人工智能在客观绩效评估中的潜力，同时也强调了高层领导在设定明确目标和道德标准方面不可替代的作用。讨论结束后，Marc Theeboom教授分享了将与中国机构的个人学术合作转变为可持续的机构伙伴关系的经验，强调了建立信任和文化敏感性的重要性。

下午的议题转向了学术界在推动创新中的作用。来自VUB布鲁塞尔创业与创新实验室的Kevin De Moortel教授提倡未来导向的创业教育，弥合理论与实践的差距，定位大学为区域发展的催化剂。他强调了适应性技术转移模式的紧迫性，以加速研究成果的应用转化。来自VUB imec-SMIT的Lotte Vermeire展示了她的研究成果，重新定义了数据素养为一种多维度的能力，整合了技术、伦理和社会对数据的参与。当天的最后，Chang Zhu教授概述了VUB的人工智能监管框架，并鼓励参与者分享关于如何平衡人工智能整合与学术诚信的比较视角。

5月14日，活动以由VUB人工智能体验中心主任及FARI – AI for the Common Good Institute联合主任Hans De Canck领导的VUB人工智能体验中心导览开始。参与者探索了包括传感器驱动的假肢和人工智能驱动的机械臂在内的新兴人工智能应用，同时学习了FARI如何识别社会需求，设计试点项目并提升人工智能素养。小组还进行了目前正在开发的人工智能工具的实操演示。

接下来，项目讨论了领导力，由Columbus主席Frederic de Pryck主讲。他通过成功与失败的案例分析，剖析了数字时代领导者应具备的关键领导特质，并提供了如何培养这些领导力技能的建议。

在这两天的活动中，跨学科的讨论揭示了共同的挑战和机遇。上海大学的教授们与VUB的专家们就从教室中的人工智能伦理到国际合作的机构框架等话题交换了经验和策略。这些互动突显了该项目更广泛的使命：培养能够在互联互通的世界中调和技术创新与学术价值的领导者。