On September 20, the university unveiled the “Introduction to Artificial Intelligence” course, making it a landmark general education offering for undergraduates and the first digital intelligence course in Tianjin. Available to students from universities across the city, the course will also be shared nationwide via the Zhishu platform which as a global credit course operation service platform, offers a vast array of high-quality university courses in its online education system.
In a state-of-the-art teaching environment, over 4,000 first-year students participated in the launch across 30 smart classrooms. Led by Professor Hu Qinghua from the College of Intelligence and Computing, the course features contributions from eight faculty members specializing in AI and related fields, supported by a team of 30 educators from various departments.
Professor Hu delivered an engaging lecture using a high-definition 360-degree screen, while students interacted through innovative AI tools such as naked-eye 3D and VR technology.
“We aim to demystify AI for students from diverse backgrounds, making learning engaging and accessible,” said Professor Hu. He further explained that the course consists of eight sessions covering topics like intelligent medical engineering, smart grids, intelligent construction, smart chemical engineering, and new energy vehicles. “It is essential for students to acquire fundamental knowledge of AI, understand and learn to use its basic principles and tools, and cultivate an AI mindset to keep pace with the times.”
“Artificial intelligence is a vast field that cannot be mastered by a single discipline,” said Xia Shuqian, Deputy Director of the Academic Affairs Office at Tianjin University. “The organization of the curriculum and the allocation of teaching resources pose significant challenges.” To ensure that students from different academic backgrounds can effectively learn together, the university recruited 50 “smart tutors” from various disciplines. Each class is split into two parts: a school-wide live interactive session followed by 30 minutes where students receive additional instruction from their respective smart tutors in different smart classrooms, effectively integrating AI technology into their major studies.
Looking ahead, Tianjin University is committed to integrating AI into its educational framework, enhancing its “Smart + Education” initiative and transforming traditional teaching methods with advanced AI technologies.
This innovative course represents a significant step in equipping students with the skills needed for a future increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence.
By Eva Yin
