As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in education, it brings transformative opportunities alongside significant risks of exclusion. This forum examines how autonomous agents and AI-driven tools are reshaping learning and teaching, while also potentially widening the digital divide due to unequal access to infrastructure, AI literacy, language resources, data, and institutional support. Focusing on open and distance education, the discussion will explore how universities can leverage AI to enhance personalization, support educators, and expand access—without compromising equity, ethics, or human agency. Participants will critically reflect on the opportunities, challenges, and boundaries of AI integration, and consider strategies for ensuring open education remains a bridge rather than a barrier in the AI era.
Panelists
Jenq-Shiou LEU
Dean of College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science,
Professor of Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering,
National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
Jenq-Shiou Leu received his B.S. in mathematics and his M.S. in computer science and information engineering from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, and his Ph.D. in computer science from National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. He has worked in the IT, telecommunication companies for eleven years. In February 2007, he joined the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE) at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) as an Assistant Professor. From February 2011 to January 2014, he was an Associate Professor. Since February 2014, he is a Professor. He also played as the chairperson for Department of ECE during August 2017 to July 2020 and the Secretary General for NTUST during February 2021 to July 2024. Since February 2024, he becomes the Dean of College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (CEECS), NTUST. Prof. Leu's research interests include: B5G/6G Technologies, AI/ML Platforms, LLM Application Development, and Biomedical Informatics. He has published extensively in these areas, with more than 125 SCI indexed journal papers, 80 international conference papers. He is a senior member of IEEE.
Joane V. SERRANO
Chancellor
University of the Philippines Open University
Dr. Joane V. Serrano is the Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and a Professor whose work centers on open and distance e-learning (ODeL), digital transformation in higher education, and technology-enabled inclusive learning. She has been a strong advocate for leveraging flexible and online learning modalities to expand access to quality higher education, particularly for learners and communities underserved by traditional education.
Her leadership has advanced UPOU's digital innovation initiatives, including the strategic integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to enhance learner engagement and support systems. Her research explores digital learning environments, learner support frameworks, digital trust, and the responsible use of educational technologies to ensure meaningful and equitable learning experiences.
Deeply committed to ethical and people-centered innovation, Dr. Serrano promotes the thoughtful adoption of AI in open education to strengthen inclusion, institutional resilience, and academic quality. As Chancellor, she envisions UPOU as a transformative university of the future: one that harnesses artificial intelligence and open learning innovations to build sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready education systems.
Morris JONG Siu Yung
Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Director, Centre for Learning Sciences and Technologies
Dean of Students, Shaw College
Associate Director, Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Professor Jong Siu Yung, Morris is a distinguished academic at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) where he serves as Professor in Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Centre for Learning Sciences and Technologies, Associate Director of Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research, and Dean of Students of Shaw College. His research foci are AI/ VR/ XR in education, AI/ STEM education, and teacher professional development on technology-enhanced pedagogies. Professor Jong holds important positions in international and regional research communities, serving as Co-Chair of IEEE Education Society Technical Committee on Learning Sciences, Co-Editor in Chief of International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies, Chair of IEEE R10—Hong Kong Section LMAG, and Vice-President of China Association of Educational Technology Professional Committee on Digital Game-based Learning. Since 2021, he has been listed among Stanford University's top 2% most-cited scientists globally. More recently, Professor Jong has been recognized as Highly Ranked Scholar 2025 (Top 0.05%) in Education by ScholarGPS.
Facilitator
Matthew Yeung Chi Hei
Dean of School of Open Learning
Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Dr. Matthew Yeung has served HKMU for more than 20 years. His expertise spans open education and student analytics, with numerous research publications in prestigious journals, including FT50 and ABDC A-star journals. He was awarded the Emerald Citation of Excellence in 2015. His work has also been cited by esteemed organizations, such as the World Bank, in its flagship publication, The Global Competitiveness Report 2017/2018.
