Nanjing International School recently welcomed educators, school leaders, technology specialists, and students from across the region for the AI-Ready Schools Conference: Reshape the Future of Education with AI Readiness, organised in partnership with the Faria Education Group. The event brought together 72 participants from 33 schools and organisations to explore one of the most significant questions facing education today: How can schools prepare students to thrive in a world shaped by artificial intelligence?

Held on the NIS campus, the conference featured a diverse programme of keynote presentations, case studies, workshops, and practical discussions focused on responsible AI implementation in schools. Topics ranged from emerging AI trends and AI-resilient assessment design to building school-wide frameworks that help students and educators navigate rapidly evolving technologies.

NIS educators played a leading role throughout the day. Dr. Shannon Doak, NIS Director of Technology, opened the conference with a keynote examining schools’ responsibility in preparing the next generation for an AI-driven future. Ms. Sandra Chow, NIS Director of Learning, delivered a keynote exploring how schools can respond thoughtfully and strategically to the accelerating impact of AI on education.

A particularly memorable moment came from Jiwoo, NIS Secondary student and President of the NIS AI Committee, “AIWISE”, who delivered a student keynote entitled Even We Know: A Student’s Perspective on AI in Education. Rather than focusing solely on technology, Jiwoo’s presentation examined the human realities behind AI use in schools. Drawing on conversations with fellow students, he explored why students turn to AI, highlighting factors such as time pressure, habit, and social influences. He also raised deeper questions that many students are quietly asking themselves: “Am I actually learning anything?” and “Will I be able to do this on my own in five years?”

The conference reflected NIS’s commitment to thoughtful innovation and responsible technology use. As artificial intelligence continues to transform education and the wider world, events such as the AI-Ready Schools Conference provide valuable opportunities for schools to learn from one another, share emerging practices, and ensure that human relationships, critical thinking, and student voice remain at the centre of learning.

By bringing together educators, experts, and students in the same conversation, the conference demonstrated that preparing for an AI-enabled future is not simply about adopting new technologies – it is about building the understanding, values, and partnerships needed to use them wisely.