Prof. HEW, Timothy K. F.
The University of Hong Kong, China
Professor Timothy Hew (Khe Foon Hew) is a distinguished Full Professor at the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Education, renowned for his research in educational technology, online learning, and instructional design, focusing on enhancing engagement through gamification, self-regulation, and AI agents. Recognized as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in 2025 for his significant impact, he holds a PhD from Indiana University and previously worked at Nanyang Technological University.
Prof. Young Hwan KIM
Pusan National University, South Korea
Young Hwan KIM is Professor Emeritus of the Department of Education at Pusan National University, Republic of Korea. Trained in educational technology, his work has gradually expanded beyond technical innovation toward a broader reflection on the ethical, structural, and civilizational conditions of educational transformation.
For nearly two decades, he was directly engaged in the formation and diffusion of international education policy agendas within APEC and OECD frameworks. As the founder of APEC Learning Community Builders (ALCoB), he helped establish one of the largest learning community networks in the Asia-Pacific region and trained over 1,200 scholars and policymakers in e-learning policy and digital education reform. Following his extended leadership within APEC, he broadened his engagement through national ICT consulting and educational ODA projects across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, where he witnessed firsthand how ambitious digital reforms often struggled to generate sustainable transformation in complex local contexts.
With field engagement across over 40 countries and regions spanning five continents, Professor Kim reflects on education in what he describes as an age of converging global crises—the rapid rise of AI and ASI, accelerating climate change, deepening polarization, and persistent social anxiety. Revisiting ICT-based educational innovation from this vantage point, he seeks to distill the lessons necessary for a more human-centered and sustainable future.
In recognition of his international contributions, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana University and the International Contribution Award from AECT. His current work explores how education can move beyond technology-driven reform toward human-centered AI transformation, including experimental and practice-oriented initiatives such as forest-based edutainment parks.
Prof. Yanjie Song
The Education University of Hong Kong, China
Professor Yanjie Song serves as Associate Co-Director of the Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures (AAPSEF), and Associate Director of both the Centre for Immersive Learning and Metaverse in Education (CILME) and the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). She holds a PhD from The University of Hong Kong and an MEd from the University of Leeds.
Her research focuses on augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), the metaverse, artificial intelligence (AI) in education, and multimodal learning analytics (MMLA). She has led the development of several award-winning educational technologies, including VocabGo (AR/VR-supported vocabulary learning), Learningverse and its VR-enhanced version with VR and generative AI LearningverseVR, EmoCare (a generative AI-powered application for emotional well-being), iChat (customisable digital humans for educational interaction), and Ai-APP (an AI-powered platform for immersive academic presentations). Her team has secured multiple patents for these innovations.
Prof Song has a proven track record of obtaining competitive external research grants and other diverse funding sources, contributing to AI and metaverse applications in education. She holds key leadership roles in the Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education (APSCE) and plays an active role in several international academic conferences. She was among the top 2% in the Stanford list of the world’s most-cited scientists in education in recent years.