From July 26 to 28, 2025, the Global Finals of the 8th Global Competition on Design for Future Education took place at the Changping Campus of Beijing Normal University (BNU), bringing together university students, education experts, and artificial intelligence systems from around the world to reimagine the future of learning.
Co-organized by BNU and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE), the competition explored forward-looking themes such as “Human-oriented AI” and “Harmonious Coexistence.” Participants tackled urgent questions at the intersection of technology, education, and sustainability, aiming to deliver innovative solutions for the classrooms of tomorrow.
Global Talent Meets in 48-Hour Innovation Challenge
From July 26 to 28, student teams competed in a 48-hour challenge that tested their ability to rapidly design educational solutions around five key themes. The topics — ranging from interspecies learning and holistic health to AI-powered human development — were introduced by Professor Asha Singh Kanwar, Chair of the UNESCO IITE Governing Board and BNU Chair Professor.
Each team was randomly assigned one of the challenge themes and had just two days to identify key issues, develop a conceptual framework, and finalize their presentations. The format, combining online and onsite participation, allowed for broad international engagement.
After multiple rounds of evaluation — including expert mentorship and peer voting — 18 teams advanced to the final roadshow session to present their proposals.
A Dual-Mentor Model: Human and AI Collaboration
In a first for the competition, this year’s finals introduced a dual-mentor system featuring 14 human experts and five artificial intelligence mentors. The human mentor panel included educators, technologists, and designers from institutions such as Beijing Normal University, Tsinghua University, and the Communication University of China.
Alongside them, AI systems played active mentoring roles. These included AI models focused on idea generation, visual design, writing assistance, project evaluation, and education policy analysis. The AI mentors supported teams in both strategic planning and practical execution, exemplifying a working model of human-AI symbiosis.
“The integration of AI in the mentoring process was not just a tool — it became part of the learning experience,” said Prof. Guangju Chen, Chair of the Steering Committee and Vice Dean of BNU’s Smart Learning Institute.
Cultural Exchange and Critical Dialogue
The competition wasn’t limited to project design. A series of interactive events allowed participants to engage in cultural exchange and critical debate. AI-themed discussion sessions tackled provocative topics such as “Does AI Undermine Creativity?” and “Should AI Translation Be Used in Academic Writing?”
Participants also shared AI-generated self-introduction posters and took part in traditional Chinese games, tai chi sessions, and talent showcases. Previous competition winners were invited back to share insights, encouraging a culture of peer-to-peer learning and intergenerational mentorship.
Adding a futuristic flair, digital avatars were used for keynote addresses. Mr. Dejian Liu, Co-Chair of the Judging Committee, and Prof. Guangju Chen both delivered speeches through animated digital representations.
Recognition and Awards
At the closing ceremony on July 28, UNESCO IITE Director Mr. Tao Zhan, Co-Chair of the Competition Organizing Committee, praised the finalists for their innovation and emphasized the importance of collaborative global efforts to advance education.
He expressed gratitude to the organizing committee for the organization and praised the teams for their innovative ideas and practical achievements throughout the competition. He also noted that the competition has become a brand academic event at BNU, and affirmed IITE’s continued collaboration with BNU to bring together global wisdom, empower university students worldwide, and foster a platform for showcasing educational innovation.
The judging panel, composed of international experts from fields including AI education, design, and learning sciences, assessed the projects based on five criteria: problem awareness, innovation, science-education integration, application potential, and presentation skills.
The awards were presented by Prof. Ronghuai Huang (Vice Chair of the Organizing Committee), Prof. Asha Singh Kanwar, Prof. Guangju Chen, and Mr. Weidong Zhou, a BNU alumnus and executive from Rotime Technology.
Ms. Natalia Amelina, Senior National Project Officer in Education, UNESCO IITE, Providing Feedback
A Platform for the Future
Now in its eighth year, the Global Competition on Design for Future Education continues to grow as a platform for youth-led innovation in the education sector. With the increasing integration of AI and interdisciplinary design, this year’s competition reflected the urgent need to rethink how learning is delivered, assessed, and experienced in an evolving global landscape.
Organizers from BNU and UNESCO IITE expressed their commitment to sustaining and expanding this international initiative in the years ahead.