The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping every aspect of society and education ever evolving. As AI continues to transform, it is fundamentally altering knowledge acquisition, classroom dynamics, and the skill sets required for future generations. At the Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society (AIRS), we recognise the urgency of equipping students and educators with the understanding and capabilities to navigate an AI-driven world. This vision aligns closely with AISL Harrow Schools’ commitment to delivering world-class international and bilingual education supported by cutting-edge technology. With this shared mission, AIRS has collaborated with AISL Harrow Hengqin in 2024 to integrate AI education into both teacher training and student learning experiences. These initiatives are not just about introducing AI tools. They represent the beginning of a deeper transformation in the way education is delivered and how students engage with the world.
BRINGING AI INTO HARROW EDUCATION
As an early pilot, AIRS designed and delivered an interactive, hands-on AI training program for over30 teachers at Harrow Hengqin. The training provided foundational knowledge on AI, its real-world applications, and practical insights into how educators could integrate AI tools into their teaching practices. Teachers learned how AI-powered tools could streamline lesson planning, enhance assessment methods, and personalise student learning experiences. Several educators later shared that the training had significantly improved their work efficiency and broadened their understanding of AI’s role in education.
Beyond immediate application, the training also instilled a forward-looking mindset among educators. Ina world where AI is rapidly changing the way students learn and acquire information, it is crucial that teachers stay ahead of the curve. Not just as knowledge providers, but as guides in an AI-driven educational landscape.
To complement teacher training, AIRS also designed and organised a one-day project-based learning(PBL) trip for upper school students at Harrow Hengqin. The students visited AIRS in Shenzhen, gaining firsthand exposure to cutting-edge AI and robotics research. Through customised lectures and hands-on workshops, students learned about the fundamentals of AI and its practical applications. One of the highlights was the opportunity to interact with state-of-the-art humanoid robots and autonomous systems. This was an experience that left a lasting impression on many students.
By engaging with these advanced technologies in a real-world research environment, students were not only introduced to AI concepts but were also inspired to consider future careers in AI and technology related fields. The visit reinforced the idea that AI is not just a distant, abstract concept but a transformative force shaping their generation’s future.
IMPACT: CULTIVATING AN AI-NATIVE GENERATION
The rise of generative AI and large-scale transformer models has fundamentally shifted the way knowledge is acquired and applied. In the past, education was centered around knowledge transmission. Students were taught what to learn. However, with AI making information instantly accessible, the role of education is shifting toward how to think, analyse, and create in an AI enhanced world. For leading institutions such as Harrow, AI presents unprecedented opportunities. Language learning, curriculum personalisation, and pedagogical efficiency can all be enhanced through AI-driven tools. AI enabled adaptive learning platform scan tailor content to individual student needs, automating parts of the learning process while enabling teachers to focus on higher-order thinking skills.
But beyond efficiency, educators at Harrow should also consider a critical question: What skills should students develop in an AI-dominated era? As AI handles more tasks traditionally performed by humans, transferable skills such as critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability become more valuable than ever. Therefore, it is natural for the educators at Harrow to rethink their teaching philosophies to emphasise these competencies, ensuring that students do not merely use AI but also understand its implications and develop the ability to innovate beyond it.
AISL Harrow Schools, known for cultivating leadership and academic excellence, now have the opportunity to take a pioneering role in this transformation. By embedding AI literacy into their educational model, Harrow can prepare students not only to adapt to technological changes but also to lead the next wave of AI-driven innovation.
COLLABORATING WITH PARTNERS FOR PROGRESS
The pilot projects between AIRS and Harrow Hengqin boasts great opportunities. To elevate AI awareness among educators and school leaders is the key to expand the collaboration wider and deeper. Experienced headmasters and administrators, while deeply invested in educational excellence, often rely on traditional paradigms that do not yet fully account for AI’s transformative potential. To convince leadership to integrate AI meaningfully into school curricula requires a comprehensive vision alignment strategy which helps decision makers see AI not as an optional enhancement but as a fundamental shift in education.
To expand the impact of AI education, AIRS and AISL Harrow Schools could potentially explore the establishment of a joint AI-for-Education Lab. This initiative could serve as a long-term hub for AI curriculum development, teacher training, and AI-powered education research. By bringing together AI experts, academia, educators, and industry partners, such a lab could pioneer AI-driven learning models tailored for Harrow students while also contributing to the broader field of AI in education. Beyond Harrow Hengqin, the best practices developed through this partnership could be scaled across the entire AISL Harrow network, ultimately influencing the wider educational ecosystem.
ENHANCING THE IMPACT OF AI
The partnership between AIRS and AISL Harrow Schools represents more than just an AI training initiative. It is the foundation of a new AI-driven educational paradigm.
By working with leading research labs such as AIRS, AISL Harrow Schools empowers its teachers with AI knowledge, immersing students in real-world AI applications, and envisioning long-term strategies for more concrete steps toward a future where education is not just enhanced by AI but transformed by it.
As AI becomes an integral part of society, forward-thinking educational institutions must embrace this transformation. Harrow Schools are already taking the lead in this movement, ensuring that their students are not just passive consumers of AI technology but active participants in shaping its future.
Through continued collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to excellence, AIRS and AISL Harrow Schools can create a model for AI-powered education that benefits not just Harrow students, but the entire global education community.
ABOUT AIRS
Shenzhen Institute of Artificial and Robotics for Society (AIRS) is a leading AI and Robotics research lab in China and one of the ten foundational research institutions established by the Shenzhen Municipal Government in collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. AIRS is dedicated to creating a research institution model that integrates government guidance, international collaboration, university support, corporate partnership, venture capital financing, and dual innovation incubation. The focus is on conducting foundational, common, and key technology research and breakthroughs inartificial intelligence and robotics. AIRS aims to cultivate international talent for strategic national industries, empower corporate innovation, support industry incubation, and contribute to high-quality societal development.
