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International educators from Thailand, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom gathered for Walailak University’s School of Informatics International Seminar 2025 - the 4^th INFOCON - to explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. The seminar focused on AI applications in education, similarities and differences in AI adoption across regions, and how educators can adapt teaching and learning to align with future trends.    

Held online via Zoom yesterday, the event took place under the theme AI in Higher Education: Bridging Innovation in Academia, drawing participation from over 400 attendees, including university lecturers, students, and members of the public.

At the seminar’s opening ceremony, Assistant Professor Dr. Siriwatchana Kaeophanuek, Dean of the School of Informatics, said that the School actively integrates AI and technology to enhance student learning. The fourth edition of the seminar not only offered participants new perspectives on AI applications but also served as a platform for experts and scholars to build meaningful connections.

Associate Professor Dr. Chaowanan Khundam, a member of the organizing committee, added that each year’s seminar is designed to address current and emerging trends. This year, the School was honored to welcome distinguished experts from Malaysia and the UK, including Dr. Mageswaran Sanmugam from Universiti Sains Malaysia; Professor Mark Perry from Brunel University of London, UK; and Dr. Habee Bullah Affandy from Universiti Malaysia Perlis to share their insights. The platform enabled educators to recognize the growing influence of AI in everyday education, explore how teaching approaches can be adjusted to meet labor market demands, and reflect on curriculum development through international comparisons.





During the event, Dr. Mageswaran Sanmugam emphasized gamification - the use of game elements in non-game contexts - as a strategy to make education more interactive and engaging. He highlighted how AI-powered assessment tools can provide instant feedback to students, improving learning outcomes effectively compared to traditional methods. He also noted future AI capabilities in detecting students’ emotions, which could enable real-time adjustments to content based on learners’ engagement levels.

Professor Mark Perry discussed the use of AI in the UK to support high-quality teaching and learning while addressing challenges such as funding limitations and global uncertainties. However, he cautioned that AI may also produce inaccurate, misleading, or inappropriate content, and raised concerns about copyright infringement. He encouraged educators to engage actively with AI tools in the classroom and to continuously update their teaching materials to ensure relevance and accuracy.

Dr. Habee Bullah Affandy emphasized the importance of ethical AI use, introducing the ART Model, which stands for Accountability, Respect, and Transparency. He stressed that AI systems should be developed with sensitivity to cultural values and respect for the rights of content creators.

As AI continues to reshape global education, events like Infocon - organized by the School of Informatics in collaboration with international universities - provide vital opportunities for educators to exchange ideas, address challenges, and shape responsible, forward-looking approaches to teaching and learning.