The fourth Presidents’ Forum of the GAFSU is held in Shanghai on Sept 14. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The fourth Presidents’ Forum of the Global Alliance of Foreign Studies Universities (GAFSU) was held in Shanghai on Sept 14, attracting more than 100 participants including leaders and experts from 29 universities in 13 countries, making it the largest gathering since the alliance's inception.

Themed "mission of foreign language disciplines and area studies in the age of artificial intelligence", the event was co-hosted by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and Shanghai International Studies University.

Yang Dan, director of the GAFSU, president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the forum. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

In his keynote report at the opening ceremony, Yang Dan, director of the GAFSU, president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, emphasized foreign studies universities’ solutions to address challenges and shape the future in the era of AI.

To achieve this objective, BFSU will explore its potential in global languages, cultures and governance, Yang said.

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, delivers a keynote speech. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, shared China MOOCs for Foreign Studies’ efforts in innovating the multilingual MOOC teaching models.

The development of MOOCs and teaching reforms will contribute to the common improvement in the quality of global higher education, according to Jia.

The event featured four subforums on the fundamental research on foreign languages and literature in the age of AI, interdisciplinary research on foreign languages and literature, talent cultivation and disciplinary construction in country and area studies and the role of foreign studies universities in mutual learning among global civilizations.

Participants of the fourth Presidents’ Forum of the GAFSU pose for a group photo. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

The GAFSU, initiated by BFSU, was established in May 2017. It currently consists of 37 universities from 19 countries with strengths in foreign language teaching and research, as well as country and area studies.