Abstract
What does it take to move students beyond learning about AI to actively shaping its role in society?
Across the Asia-Pacific, student programs are transforming education from classroom-based instruction into a platform for real-world experimentation, collaboration, and impact. This session showcases how student focused activities build their capacity to tackle complex challenges, including human–AI interaction, financial inclusion, and sustainable food systems, through interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration.
Rather than being one-off experiences, these initiatives function as connected learning ecosystems where students co-design solutions, engage with industry and policy stakeholders, and apply emerging technologies in real-world contexts. Participants gain not only technical capabilities in AI and digital innovation, but also critical competencies in ethical reasoning, systems thinking, and global collaboration.
Drawing on concrete examples and student outcomes, this session will demonstrate how experiential, networked learning models can bridge technology and humanity, equipping students to navigate and shape an increasingly complex, AI-enabled world.
Learning objectives
Participants will learn to:
- Design multi-partner, experiential learning initiatives (e.g., hackathons, challenge-based programs) that build applied AI skills alongside ethical reasoning and collaborative problem-solving.
- Evaluate how cross-cultural, interdisciplinary student engagement can address real-world challenges such as human–AI interaction, financial inclusion, and food security while fostering agency and global purpose.
- Apply practical frameworks to create inclusive, future-focused programs that integrate emerging technologies with human-centered learning across diverse Asia-Pacific contexts.
Target audience
Those working on SDGs, curriculum design, program design, international leaders, partnerships coordinators.