The launch of the book Intelligence and Empowerment: Digitization of Foreign Language Education in China was held at the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP) on Jan 6 in an online and offline form.

The project is supported by the FLTRP, Unipus, the World Language Museum at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and the BFSU Artificial Intelligence and Human Languages Lab.

Wang Dinghua, Party secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, Yang Dan, deputy Party secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and president of the university, and representatives from the FLTRP and Unipus attended the gathering.

The launch meeting of Intelligence and Empowerment: Digitization of Foreign Language Education in China is held at FLTRP on Jan 6. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

The book contains eight chapters comprising the preface, background, policy, technology, research, utilization, international status and conclusion. By showcasing the top-level design, technological transformation, application process and future trends of the digitization of foreign language education in China, it presents the history of the field in an all-round way, and aims to provide references for the high-quality development of foreign language education in the years to come. 

Wang Dinghua, Party secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, speaks at the kick-off meeting on Jan 6. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Wang said Intelligence and Empowerment: Digitization of Foreign Language Education in China is forward-looking, instructive, scientific and innovative. The compilation of the book will be conducive to refining global visions, serving national strategies and promoting the innovative development of foreign language education in the new era.

He encouraged editors to grasp the pulse of the times, keep learning new knowledge such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, big data, supercomputing, sensor networks and brain science, and probe into the new features of in-depth learning, cross-border integration, man-machine collaboration, collective intelligence and autonomous control. 

According to Wang, the book condenses the contributions of experts from renowned universities and the internet industry. It will also provide references for the education department to make decisions and empower the teaching of various schools. 

The book marks BFSU’s commitment to train talents for the Party and the country. It is also a significant measure taken by the university to promote the development of foreign language education and language disciplines, he added. 

As the chief editor, Wang said he hopes the book will inject new vitality in the reform and development of China’s foreign language education in the new era.

Yang Dan, deputy Party secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and president of the university, speaks at the kick-off meeting on Jan 6. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Yang said the book summarizes the situation of foreign language education in China and is of great importance for the research and the construction of educational framework in the future. 

The editorial group with senior experts in the field of education, researchers engaged in artificial intelligence and education technology as well as practitioners in the intelligent development of network technology will help readers to broaden knowledge and gain insights into the industrial development, he added.

Yang said he hopes the book will connect China’s foreign language education to the intelligent world. 

Experts and scholars exchange views on the compilation of Intelligence and Empowerment: Digitization of Foreign Language Education in China on Jan 6. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Over 10 experts from the educational, academic and technical circles were invited to attend the meeting and participate in the writing. They recognized the significance of the book for the future of foreign language education in China. 

Following the discussions, Wang Fang, president of the FLTRP, reiterated the significance of the book and expressed her gratitude to the chief editor and relevant experts. She said the FLTRP will make every effort to promote the publication of Intelligence and Empowerment: Digitization of Foreign Language Education in China.