JOHOR BAHRU, Mar 2 – The Faculty of Computing, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), had the distinct privilege of hosting an eminent global Artificial Intelligence (AI) researcher, Yi Yang, Qiushi Chair Professor from Zhejiang University, ranked 49th in the QS World University Rankings and among the top 3-5 universities in China, for a special knowledge-sharing session titled AI in Education and Research.

The seminar, held at the HyFlex Classroom, N28a, brought together academic staff, postgraduate students, and members of the research community for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of artificial intelligence in higher education and strategies for conducting high-impact research.

In his welcoming address, representatives of the Faculty of Computing highlighted Prof. Yang’s remarkable academic achievements. With an H-index exceeding 100 across major indexing platforms and tens of thousands of citations globally, Prof. Yang is widely recognized for his contributions to computer vision, multimedia, machine learning, and visual understanding. Prof. Yang currently serves as Director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence and a national key laboratory at Zhejiang University. His academic journey includes postdoctoral research at Carnegie Mellon University and appointments in Australia, reflecting a distinguished international career spanning China, the United States, and Australia.

The session was attended by key faculty representatives, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd. Murtadha Mohamad and Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shahizan Othman, alongside active participation from the Postgraduate Students Society (PGSS), who contributed to the organization and engagement of the event and academic staff and postgraduate students of the Faculty of Computing.

A major highlight of the seminar was Prof. Yang’s presentation of Zhejiang University’s ambitious AI Foundations Education initiative, designed to equip all 80,000 students with AI competencies regardless of discipline.

Students are categorized into five distinct groups to ensure that AI education is delivered in a manner aligned with their academic background and learning needs. Information-related majors such as Computer Science (CS) and Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE) receive advanced AI coursework and specialized tracks.

Non-IT engineering students are introduced to AI applications tailored to domain-specific challenges, while science-based non-engineering students are provided with customized foundational AI content. Students from other disciplines who already possess programming knowledge receive practical, application-oriented AI training. Meanwhile, non-technical students from fields such as the arts, humanities and psychology are equipped with AI literacy and exposure to AI tools without requiring coding skills.

To support this large-scale transformation, Zhejiang University is establishing a new College of AI, tasked with delivering AI education across disciplines and training instructors from other faculties. An AI Practice Platform further enhances scalability by offering video lectures, automated grading, assignment submission systems, and discussion forums. Prof. Yang emphasized that AI education must be inclusive, structured, and adaptable to different learning backgrounds, an approach that resonated strongly with the audience.

Prof. Yang also shared insights into postgraduate development initiatives at Zhejiang University. Master’s and PhD students are supported with overseas exchange funding of approximately USD 2,000 per month, plus airfare, and have opportunities to intern with leading Chinese AI companies such as Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba Group. These partnerships expose students to real-world AI challenges while integrating research with industrial applications. Prof. Yang stressed that postgraduate training must align with future career aspirations, whether in academia or industry.

One of the most impactful segments of the session focused on PhD career planning. Prof. Yang advised students to clarify their career trajectory early, whether in industry or academia, as each requires a different preparation strategy. For industry-bound students, problem-solving skills and real-world applications are paramount. For those aspiring to academia, he introduced the concept of “research taste,” the ability to identify promising research directions and publish work with long-term impact rather than short-term gains.

He outlined three pathways to achieving high-impact research: pioneering new and future-important research areas, developing indispensable tools to address existing challenges, and creating foundational benchmarks or datasets that become essential resources for the wider research community.

He cited examples from his own research journey, including widely adopted data augmentation techniques and early adoption of generative models in computer vision, emphasizing the importance of timing, simplicity, and usefulness.

The seminar also addressed the growing role of AI tools in teaching and learning. Prof. Yang described AI as a “double-edged sword.” AI enhances productivity by supporting programming, summarization, material preparation, and grading. It also presents challenges in verifying student originality and defining ethical usage boundaries. He stressed that supervisors must define case-by-case policies regarding AI usage, distinguishing between acceptable research assistance and inappropriate use in coursework designed to build foundational skills. In large classrooms, AI is already being used to optimize student group formation by analyzing interests, capabilities, and backgrounds—transforming classroom management through intelligent systems.

Prof. Yang offered a thought-provoking reflection on the current gap between mathematical theory and AI engineering. While theoretical research seeks formal proofs, many effective AI systems succeed without complete theoretical justification. He expressed optimism that mathematics will eventually provide stronger foundations for AI systems in the future.

The session concluded with a token of appreciation presented to Prof. Yang by faculty representatives, followed by individual and group photo sessions. The Faculty of Computing expressed hope for strengthened collaboration between UTM and Zhejiang University, particularly in AI research, postgraduate exchange, and joint initiatives. The event marked a significant step in reinforcing UTM’s commitment to advancing AI education and research excellence. Through meaningful discussions, strategic insights, and global perspectives, the seminar inspired faculty members and students alike to rethink the future of AI-driven education and impactful research.