GEC-ASI Global, an Advanced Studies Institute nurtured from GEC Academy, is committed to pioneering educational models for fostering future global talent.
Official website: https://www.asi.gecacademy.com/
DEFI collaborates with GEC-ASI Global, to spearhead innovative solutions to future global challenges by integrating technology into educational advancements. This partnership encompasses a wide range of cooperative activities, including joint academic research, talent training, and top-level seminars and workshops.
We are dedicated to researching, developing, and implementing curriculum that enhances AI literacy for Human-AI Collective Intelligence, as well as projects focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. Our goal is to elevate global awareness of future education, with AI driving the evolution of educational paradigms. This initiative prepares teachers, students, and EdTech developers for the teaching and learning demands of tomorrow.
The signing ceremony in February 2024 at Suzhou, China
Key people
Advancing the collaboration between GEC-Academy and DEFI:
Mr Sheng Yan
Co-Founder and President of GEC Academy
Sheng Yan is Co-Founder and President of GEC Academy and its affiliated research institute ASI Global. It is one of the largest innovative education platforms that offer international education curriculum design to universities and schools and organize research-based online learning programs for college-level and above students across the world. He has extensive experience and understanding of international education innovation, curriculum design, academic exchange, and collaboration. Sheng Yan also holds an adjunct scholar position (Non-Resident Fellow) at the Centre on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University. In this capacity, he supports the Centre’s research and communication in Beijing and developing partnerships with Chinese universities, research institutes, and enterprises. His impressive background also includes working as an economic analyst at one of the largest energy companies in the United States and the country’s most massive energy and environmental consulting firm.
Dr. Ran Li, FRSA
Director, GEC Academy & ASI Global London Office
Dr. Ran Li is an accomplished academic and educational researcher specializing in interdisciplinary learning and curriculum development. He holds a DPhil in Optical Communication from the University of Oxford, dual MSc degrees in Finance and Optics & Photonics from Imperial College London, and a BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from UCL.
Dr. Li has extensive experience designing academic programmes and online credentialing systems, emphasizing interdisciplinary learning and AI-enhanced hybrid models. His work integrates traditional pedagogy with innovative digital solutions to enhance cognitive development. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), he is dedicated to advancing education, research, and societal impact.
Dr Kevin Martin
Managing Director of DEFI
Kevin Martin is an educator and social innovator with extensive experience in teaching, academic leadership, and educational research. He is the managing director at DEFI, where he oversees strategic planning, financial management, and daily operations. His career has been deeply rooted in education, spanning university teaching, curriculum development, and research on learning methodologies.
Kevin earned his PhD from the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, focusing on dialogic education, EdTech, and international development. Before his doctoral studies, he served as an Assistant Professor of Business Administration and Associate Dean at New England College, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses while leading initiatives to enhance academic programs. His work has also included extensive engagement in educational projects across East Africa, emphasizing social impact and innovative learning strategies.
Dr Shengpeng Shi
Translational Researcher
Shengpeng Shi holds a PhD in Education from the University of Cambridge and an MPhil in Education and Technology. He is a translational researcher at the DEFI Innovation Lab. His expertise spans educational design-based research, AI integration in education, and innovative curriculum design.
Shengpeng’s research in educational technology focuses on developing curricula that leverage AI to enhance learning experiences. By integrating cutting-edge technological advancements into curriculum frameworks, he aims to equip students with essential skills for navigating a rapidly evolving AI-driven world. His work is firmly rooted in both theoretical foundations and practical applications, with an emphasis on fostering critical thinking and intellectual agility in future generations to prepare them for an increasingly complex and uncertain global landscape.
Our Programmes
AI for Research Competence programme
Pilot successfully launched in August 2024
Objectives:
- To induct students into the research community while at the same time introducing topical themes related to Artificial Intelligence in academic research. A selection of practical and collective activities will aim to foster the establishment of student-led research clusters, focusing on shared areas of interest within AI research.
- To provide research training that is timely, relevant, and critical, by addressing ethics and issues of AI-supported knowledge production.
- To create a series of artefacts resulting from engaging students with practical but critical approaches to utilizing AI in research. These will underscore the complexity and potential of AI, moving beyond the immediate and pressing questions of academic integrity and potential bias in data, to foster a broad and nuanced understanding of the future potential of AI applications and the variety of ethical questions around their future deployment.
Designing for the Classroom of the Future programme
Pilot successfully launched in November 2024
Objectives:
- Exploring foundational issues related to the role of AI in education, such as how AI can reshape teaching practices and the future of education.
- Explaining the workings, capabilities, and limitations of Generative AI (GenAI) and discussing the ethical implications and broader impact of AI.
- Providing guidance on the productive and ethical use of AI in teaching, including the creation of lesson plans and strategies for integrating AI into the curriculum through hands-on experimentation with GenAI.
Get in Touch
Send us an email at defi_asi@gecacademy.com or ss2619@hughes.cam.ac.uk
