Global Massive Open Online Challenge (GMOOC)
The Challenge is a global COMPETITION for students, which requires massive CREATIVITY, encourages open COLLABORATION, and offers learning through online COURSES to help address the UN Sustainable Development Goals locally.
The Global Massive Open Online Challenge (GMOOC), launched in 2021 by the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance, is a not-for-profit global competition requiring large-scale creativity, openness, and cooperation. Students will learn about a domain through MOOCs and work synchronously in virtual teams across countries to create solutions for real-world challenges in this domain. This process is what we call “challenge-based learning,” which helps encourage students to step out of textbooks, face real problems, and try to solve real problems through teamwork and creative thinking. Through challenge-based learning, our wish is to build an open community that connects learners from all over the world, provide resources and communication platforms for learners using open-source technology, and work together to solve global challenges.
Past challenges:
Since 2021, GMOOC attracted more than 300 participants (including outstanding students who received academic credits) creating many innovative projects. In the future, challenge-based learning will have its own open community that connects learners from all over the world, provides resources and communication platforms for learners using open-source technology, and works together to solve global challenges.
GMOOC 2024: Empowering Learning with Generative AI
This time, our challenge focuses on “Empowering Learning with Generative AI,” aiming to advocate learner-centric education and promote the deep integration of generative AI in learning. Artificial intelligence, with its transformative power, is not just reshaping industries but also the very fabric of the educational sector of human society. The potential of AI in creating personalized learning experiences, reducing educational disparities, and driving innovative pedagogies is unparalleled.
Under this circumstance, the GMOOC 2024 is designed to actively cultivate ideas in a shared global online learning community, centered on the positive use of artificial intelligence to empower learners and educators. Through cooperation and innovation, and based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, participants will explore new methods of AI-enabled learning for the future and depict the future of AI in education. In the challenge, co-creators around the world will not only benefit from digital education but also contribute and share their unique talents with global peers. They will foster innovative practices in AI learning and, through knowledge sharing, drive towards a more open, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable educational future.
Supported by: Tsinghua University Online Education Center, Xingjian College of Tsinghua University, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Center for Student Learning and Development of Tsinghua University, Institute for Artificial Intelligence – Basic Model Research Center of Tsinghua University, XuetangX
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The Agenda is “a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity”. It comprises 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals are indivisible and encompass economic, social and environmental dimensions.
2024 AI Global Massive Open Online Challenge Reaches Successful Conclusion
On March 12, the 2024 AI Global Massive Open Online Challenge (AI GMOOC), organized by the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance (GMA) and jointly hosted by Tsinghua University’s Online Education Center, Xingjian College, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Center for Student Learning and Development, Institute for Artificial Intelligence’s Foundation Model Research Center, and XuetangX, came to a successful close. The challenge focused on empowering learning through artificial intelligence, aiming to center on learners, encourage creative thinking, collaboration, and leadership among students, and promote the deep integration of generative AI with education.
At the opening ceremony, Peng Gang, Vice President of Tsinghua University and Chair of the GMA’s Executive Committee, delivered a speech online, enthusiastically welcoming learners from around the globe adept at using AI tools who participated in the challenge. Peng emphasized that in the context of rapidly advancing digital technologies, the competition seeks to encourage learners to better utilize AI to enhance their learning experiences. UNESCO advocates for the safe, equitable, and meaningful use of AI in education and research, with a people-centered approach. Accordingly, this challenge centers on learners, calling on young people worldwide to join a collaborative platform for creating generative AI learning tools. Participants not only stand to benefit but can also share their knowledge globally, contributing innovative experiences in using AI tools to enhance learning and collectively building an open, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable educational future.
▲ Peng Gang giving opening remarks
Xu Luping, Vice President of Xingjian College and Executive Chief of the Tsien Excellence in Engineering Program (Tsien Hsue-shen Elite Class in Mechanics) at Tsinghua University, outlined the details of the challenge during the opening ceremony. He noted that in the face of new technologies, we must consider “what to learn” and “how to learn.” AI has propelled us into a new learning domain never before encountered in human history, demonstrating transformative potential across all fields. While presenting challenges, it also fundamentally offers opportunities for educational diversity, equity, and sustainability. Many professors at Tsinghua University have already been experimenting with integrating AI into teaching. The challenge provides a global platform for learners to break free from conventional thinking, explore new ways AI can empower education, and promote educational equity and quality. Enoch Wong, Senior Advisor to the GMA, hosted the opening ceremony, inviting participants to join the global learning community focused on AI-enhanced education.
▲ Xu Luping introducing the Challenge
The AI GMOOC adopted a hybrid online and offline format. Over 400 young learners from 27 countries, including China, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Italy, Mongolia, Thailand, Colombia, and Singapore, built an AI cooperation platform online, engaging in discussions on AI tool sharing, thematic reflections, and practical case studies. Additionally, two offline workshops were successfully held in Beijing and Shenzhen, using scenario simulations and role-playing to immerse students in exploring and reflecting on the impact of AI-assisted learning. Students role-played as “time travelers” revisiting the past to imagine how generative AI could have aided their childhood learning, as “prophets” reflecting on the current limitations of generative AI, and as “pioneers” envisioning a future where generative AI empowers education.
▲ Group photo of opening ceremony participants
The challenge had six tracks, led by mentors from AIESEC, Zhipu AI, Rokid, XuetangX, Amazon Web Services, and ModelBest, namely “AI Enhances Career Development, Youth Leadership, and Sustainability”; “AI Assists Discipline Learning and Academic Research”; “AI Facilitates Human-Machine Collaboration and Immersive Interactive Learning”; “AI Optimizes Learning Effect and Evaluation Feedback”; “AI Enables Diverse and Innovative Learning and Inclusive Education”; and “AI Supports Fun in Learning.” Through a 10-day hackathon, young learners contributed 24 projects spanning various learning scenarios such as life skills, arts, sports, public speaking, and lifelong education. Based on their contributions and expert evaluations, five projects received the Outstanding Contribution Award, seven won the Innovation Award, and four were honored with the Future Potential Award.
Award-Winning Projects
The Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance launched the Global Massive Open Online Challenge in 2021. The previous three rounds of the challenge, focusing on educational equity, inclusive education, and positive psychology, received over 900 submissions from more than 20 countries. Through asynchronous MOOC learning and synchronous cooperation, 52 innovative projects were contributed. The 2024 AI GMOOC challenge introduced format adjustments, achieving steady growth in scale and internationalization, and continues to support the GMA’s mission of “joint teaching, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and public advocacy.”
Any questions?
Get in touch at alliance@mooc.global