Digital Learning Will Become New Normal in Education

As an event as part of the 20th anniversary of Asia University, the conference on “The Challenge and Opportunity of the Digital Learning in the Age of Post-Covid-19” was held on March 19, 2021, which Vice President Lai Ching-te attended and where he delivered an important speech on the national policy on digital learning for higher education in the age of globalization. Digital learning will become a “new normal” after the pandemic. He is delighted to see Asia University applying the digital skills to the areas of smart learning, smart medication and smart university instruction.  In support of the government’s “Smart Nation” project, Asia University takes the initiativesto foster digital talents for the development of Taiwan’s education and economy.

Vice President Lai also states that though Taiwan performs well in the pandemic control, we cannot thereby ignore the importance of building up a sound digital learning environment for our future generations. The conference itself exemplifies the preemptive deployment we take in warding off the scourge of Covid-19. Taiwan is known for its outstanding technological development in information and communication industry, and this achievement lays a solid foundation for our promotion of digital learning. Vice President Lai says that he is impressed with Asia University’s vision to turn itself into a smart university by utilizing modern technology to cope with the rapidly changing environment of current international higher education.

Professor Chang-hai Tsai, the founder of Asia University, states that to meet the challenge of the pandemic, Asia University is now working hand-in-hand with China Medical University in the field of bio-technology and information innovation.  He encourages all faculty members to integrate internet media and digital skills into their teaching practice and research projects so that students can benefit from professors and develop a life-long learning attitude towards their studies. He also noted that Asia University Hospital is now able to use the cutting-edge knowledge of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and 3D Printing in the fields of precision medication studies.

Professor Jeffrey J. P. Tsai, President of Asia University, in his opening address says that Asia University has set up a “Digital Learning Center” to promote the use of teaching technology among students and faculty members in the hope that professors can enhance their teaching quality and students can benefit from the university-wise digital learning revolution. This digitalization policy is also applied to the virtual exchange programs for international students in the time of pandemics. For instance, Asia University offered 30 English-taught programs for 1152 international students from 31 sister universities in this semester.  This border-crossing, on-line learning experience further proves that the age of digital learning has already become a reality today. Asia University is able to turn the Covid-19 crisis into an opportunity to upgrade the teaching and research quality via the curriculum digitalization.

 

The conference has drawn the attention from high-level officials from Ministry of Education, specialists from different academic institutes and principals from some well-known high schools.  The presenters include Director Bor-Chen Kuo, Department of Information and Technology Education, Ministry of Education, Chair Professor Chen-Chung Liu of Information and Computer Education, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), President Cheng-Chih Wu of National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), President Mien-Chie Hung of China Medical University (CMU), Vice President Cheng-Chieh Lin of China Medical University (CMU), Chair Professor Chin-Chung Tsai of National Taiwan Normal University(NTNU), Chair Professor Tak-Wai Chan of National Central University (NCU), Chair Professor Stephen J.H. Yang of National Central University (NCU), Chair Professor Yueh-Min Huang of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Chair Professor Nen-Fu Huang of National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Chair Professor Gwo-Jen Hwang of National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), Distinguished Professor Ya-Ting Carolyn YANG of National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Principal Hsiang-yun Chen of National Changhua First Girls’ Senior High School (CHGSH), Principal Yu-Yuan Chung of The Affiliated Senior High School of National Chung Hsing University (SHCH), and Principal Ming-Fong Sun of Taipei Municipal Chenggong High School (CKSH).

They shared their knowledge and experience in such issues as “Challenges and opportunities in the technological development of digital learning,” “The future of digital learning in the high school education,” “The innovation and application of digital learning in the age of artificial intelligence,” “The new trend of digital forum,” and “Digital learning in the time of Post Covid-19.”

The opening ceremony of the conference on “The Challenge and Opportunity of the Digital Learning in the Age of Post-Covid-19.” President Tsai of Asia University (center) and other guests of honor.