Guided by a vision of “one world, one beauty- making the world more beautiful through our actions,” Zeolym seeks to nurture students with academic excellence, emotional intelligence, and technological fluency. The anniversary featured a series of events, including a morning and an afternoon keynote session, and an afternoon roundtable, both exploring the evolving role of education amid artificial intelligence (AI), global shifts, and rapid innovation.
Keynote: Rethinking High School Education
The day kicked off with a keynote session led by Professor Yu Lizhong, Honorary President of NYU Shanghai, who joined Zeolym’s students, staff, parents, and guests to discuss high school education in today’s transformative landscape. Professor Yu highlighted how the rise of AI, changing geopolitics, and technological breakthroughs are redefining the purpose of schools. He noted a shift from traditional, uniform teaching to personalised, proactive learning and collaborative approaches, with teachers playing a crucial guiding role. “Education must blend school-based learning with AI and societal influences,” he said, stressing that a teacher’s personal qualities and a school’s collective ethos can profoundly shape students’ lifelong development. He emphasised that fostering skills, character, and innovation—teaching students to learn, choose, and think critically—is now the heart of education.
Following Professor Yu, Yin Houqing, President of the Shanghai Education Society and a prominent figure in Chinese education policy, delivered a keynote titled Learning – Towards a Better Future. He argued that as AI tools advance, education must strengthen its ties to real-world challenges and prioritise hands-on innovation. “AI should enhance personal growth, not replace it,” he said, advocating for learning environments that empower students to address practical problems.
Afternoon Roundtable: Universities and Society in the AI Age
The afternoon hosted a roundtable discussion titled Universities and Society in the AI Age: Redefining Education’s Social Responsibility, chaired by Zeolym’s Principal, Dr Nancy Wang. She invited a diverse panel, including Professor Li Xinwan from Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Think Tank Centre, Fu Chun, a Shanghai-based public policy expert, Li Zixin, founder of Sandwich—a content and creative writing platform—and Lily Lin, CEO of Excellence First Enterprise Consultancy (EFEC). Lily attended the anniversary at the invitation of International Principal David Ranson and joined the roundtable at Dr Wang’s request, offering a global perspective.
Dr Wang opened the discussion by noting how AI is reshaping science, economics, ethics, and society at an accelerating pace. She highlighted parental concerns about “degree devaluation,” job losses, and the value of international study, framing the session as a chance to explore education’s changing purpose.
The panellists brought varied insights. Professor Li envisioned higher education fostering globally responsible citizens from a “shared humanity” perspective. Fu Chun reflected on AI’s potential to personalise learning, drawing from his own parenting experiences. Li Zixin shared practical strategies for nurturing children’s motivation, resonating with parents in the audience.
Lily, representing EFEC, offered a perspective on collaborative ecosystems, drawing lightly on her experience with the Cambridge innovation community. She noted: “In places like Cambridge, networks such as the Cambridge Network connect students with businesses, offering real-world exposure.” She presented this as a point of inspiration rather than a benchmark, suggesting that such links could benefit students globally. “Through EFEC’s partnership with Zeolym, we’re exploring ways to connect UK and Chinese talent ecosystems, fostering a shared approach to talent development,” she added, keeping her contribution brief due to time constraints.
The ideas from the keynotes—personalised learning, real-world relevance, and innovation—aligned with Lily’s focus on collaboration, hinting at a universal direction for education that crosses borders.
A Day of Dialogue: Building Bridges for the Future
The roundtable sparked lively exchanges. When a parent asked after the forum how to ignite passion in the AI age, Lily replied: “It’s about practice—when students engage with real issues and diverse voices, passion emerges naturally.” Other panellists added complementary views, creating a dynamic discussion.
Since its inception, Zeolym has blended academic rigour, emotional growth, and tech-savvy learning, guided by its mission to “make the world more beautiful.” This anniversary showcased its commitment to educational innovation through keynotes and discussions, marking a milestone while encouraging broader reflection. As facilitators of talent ecosystems, schools like Zeolym—and partners like EFEC—empower students with diverse perspectives, uniting stakeholders to create resilient support systems. Together, they aim to transform students into innovators, not just graduates.
