According to Chinese media, including the Korea News Agency, the Beijing Municipal Board of Education announced the “Work Plan for Promotion of AI Education in Elementary and Secondary Schools.” According to the work plan, at least eight hours of AI education per grade will be conducted in all elementary, middle and high schools starting this fall semester.
Schools in Beijing can offer AI courses independently and integrate them with IT, general technology, science, practical activities and labor. Elementary schools focus on developing students’ AI thinking based on hands-on courses. Middle schools focus on guiding students to learn and live on their own using AI. High schools focus on strengthening students’ AI application skills and innovative spirit.
To this end, 100 AI specialized teachers and 1,000 core teachers will be trained.
China upgraded AI to a national strategy in 2015, announced ‘AI+ Action’, a national-level comprehensive AI support reinforcement measure last year, and is making all-out efforts to cultivate AI talents.
China has decided to increase the number of undergraduate students at prestigious universities by 20,000 in order to foster high-tech talents such as AI and open the door for students to take the exam. Tsinghua University, Beijing University and Shanghai Transportation University will have 150 students each, China Agricultural University will have 500 students and Yunnan University will have 300 students each.
JENNIFER KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
