Greetings. I’m Shinho Jang, President of Seoul National University of Education.
It is with great pleasure that Seoul National University of Education (SNUE) hosts the 18th International Symposium on Teacher Education in East Asia and International Consortium for Universities of Education in East Asia (ICUE) 2024. The ICUE was established in 2006 to promote international exchange among teacher education universities in East Asia. It currently comprises 47 member institutions: 18 from Korea, 13 from Japan, 15 from Greater China, and 1 from Mongolia. Notably, six key institutions—two each from Korea, China, and Japan—rotate in hosting the annual international symposium and board meeting. SNUE hosted the 6th International Symposium in 2011 and the 11th in 2017. This year, in 2024, we are proud to host the 18th International Symposium once again, after seven years. With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology and the increasing pace of online exchanges and collaborations, it is particularly significant that this year’s symposium will be held in an online format. Artificial intelligence is profoundly impacting all sectors of society, including education. As a result, there is growing interest in East Asian countries regarding how education should adapt in the AI era. In particular, discourse surrounding teacher education—which plays a crucial role in shaping the quality of education—is becoming more prominent. In the midst of rapid social and educational changes driven by advancements in AI and other technologies, this symposium offers a timely and invaluable opportunity for East Asian teacher education universities to engage in rigorous exchanges on education and teacher education, fostering international collaboration. I hope the diverse deliberations on education and teacher education in East Asia during this symposium will provide valuable insights and momentum for the advancement of teacher education institutions and the enhancement of teachers’ expertise across the region. Thank you very much for your support of the International Symposium, which will be held online at SNUE. I look forward to meeting you all at the symposium! Jang, Shinho, Ph.D. President Seoul National University of Education |
Welcome to the 18th International Symposium on Teacher Education in East Asia!
I’m Kyungja Ahn, Director of the Elementary Education Research Institute at SNUE. It is a great honor for SNUE to host this prestigious symposium, and we are delighted to provide a platform for exchange among educational experts, scholars, and researchers from teacher education universities across Korea, China, Japan, and other East Asian countries. This year's symposium, held online, focuses on the theme “Teacher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges.” In what is now called the age of artificial intelligence, diverse and high-quality teacher education content and methods are increasingly delivered through online tools and platforms. These developments present opportunities to enhance both the quantity and quality of teacher education programs, enabling personalized education that addresses teachers' professional needs and instructional contexts—thus supporting their continuous professional growth. However, alongside these opportunities, we face the challenge of ensuring that education remains effective and meets the diverse needs of learners. This symposium serves as a valuable venue to explore both the opportunities and challenges posed by AI in the realm of teacher education. Our plenary speakers, distinguished scholars from teacher education universities in Korea, China, and Japan, will address the critical issues of teacher education in the AI era. The event will also include concurrent session and poster presentations. In addition to the main theme of teacher education in the AI era, the sessions will cover a range of topics, including teacher education, curriculum and assessment, instructional methods, educational technology, and other related subjects. I anticipate that these presentations will foster insightful discussions about the future of teachers and teacher education. I sincerely hope that this symposium will be a significant turning point, advancing education and teacher education both in East Asia and globally through the exchange and collaboration of scholars from the region. Thank you very much for your participation. I look forward to seeing you online at SNUE in November! Ahn, Kyungja, Ph.D. Director, Elementary Education Research Institute Seoul National University of Education |
