The second US-China Smart Education Conference, themed “Prospects for Smart Learning in Higher Education,” was held at Beijing Normal University from March 18 to 20, 2017. Organized by Beijing Normal University and jointly hosted by the Smart Learning Institute (SLI) of Beijing Normal University and the New Media Consortium (NMC), the conference received support and guidance from the Chinese Association of Higher Education, the Chinese Society of Education, and the International Association of Smart Learning Environments (IASLE).

This conference established a high-level, forward-looking platform for collaboration in smart education between China and the United States. Focusing on the “Double First-Class” initiative and educational informatization, it aimed to integrate the best resources from both countries, foster high-quality research cooperation among top-tier institutions, and enhance academic output, practical applications, and teacher training in the field of smart education. The event also explored effective development strategies for future smart education to inform educational policy-making. Highlights included the release of the 2017 NMC Technology Outlook Chinese Higher Education: A Horizon Project Regional Report and the organization of the Smart Learning and Innovative Design Academic Week.