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Updated: November 17, 2023 Captain Liu Charts Ambitious Course: How NetDragon's Visionary Leader is Guiding the "USS Enterprise" into Unmapped EdTech Waters Along the New Silk Road
The Organization Department of the Fuzhou Municipal Party Committee has officially kicked off the "2023 Fuzhou Talent Month" initiative spotlighting the city's top talents. Throughout the month, the Fuzhou Daily runs a special section profiling inspiring individuals.
One star in the lineup is Dr. Liu Dejian, Chairman of leading edtech firm NetDragon Websoft. As a visionary guiding NetDragon on an ambitious course, Dr. Liu stands out as a true digital economy trailblazer.
Today, we bring you their profile piece titled "Captain Liu Charts Ambitious Course: How NetDragon's Visionary Leader is Guiding the 'Enterprise Spaceship' into Unmapped EdTech Waters Along the New Silk Road".
In Changle, Fuzhou, the USS Enterprise from Star Trek lies quietly docked near the coastline, captivating numerous foreign media outlets. They describe it as a unique blend of science fiction and reality, led by an imaginative and visionary captain.
Germany's Discovery Channel "Galileo" remarked, "Where dreams meet innovation, marvels can emerge - as NetDragon proves."
At the helm of this USS Enterprise is Liu Dejian, the Chairman and Executive Director of NetDragon Group, Co-Dean of the China Academy of Big Data Application in Education, and a recipient of the State Council's special government allowance. Liu has spearheaded more than ten national research projects and authored over 60 professional papers and reports. To many, Liu is a relentless explorer, constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation.
Liu's journey began in 1999 when he returned to China after studying abroad and founded NetDragon. A turning point came in 2001 during the Chinese New Year when a team gaming session sparked his realization: online gaming was a vast, untapped market. He swiftly assembled a development team, leading to the creation of Monster & Me. This success paved the way for several other landmark online games, establishing NetDragon as one of China's first gaming companies to achieve international success.
But Liu's ambitions extended beyond gaming. In 2010, NetDragon ventured into the education sector, launching products like Edmodo Classroom, AI Teacher, and Future Lab. "We chose to enter education because it impacts millions," Liu explained. Motivated by a strong sense of mission and responsibility, Liu led his team deeper into educational innovation. "We aim to make education more engaging through digital technology. Our past experiences in technology and gaming align perfectly with educational needs. Interest is the best teacher, and we hope to nurture students' curiosity, transforming it into intrinsic motivation."
Over the years, NetDragon has diligently integrated advanced technologies like VR and AI into mainstream education, creating a new "3E Education" model—Effective, Efficient, and Engaging.
Since the Belt and Road Initiative was introduced, Liu has been a proactive contributor to the "Digital Silk Road". Through strategic educational investments, NetDragon has acquired global leaders such as Promethean, Edmodo, JumpStart, and ARHT Media. These acquisitions have been synergized with domestically developed educational content and tools, significantly boosting NetDragon's international market competitiveness. Today, NetDragon's educational reach spans 192 countries and regions, benefiting over 150 million users, solidifying its status as a global leader in digital education.
NetDragon's global strategy involves nearly 6,000 top talents from around the world. The company has also forged partnerships with prestigious institutions and enterprises, including the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, Harvard University, Beijing Normal University, Pearson Education, and Universal Pictures, enhancing the integration of industry, academia, and research.
"Entrepreneurs must not only focus on their businesses, but also pursue broader causes. Enterprise development should align with historical trends and national strategies," Liu Dejian stated. He emphasized that NetDragon is both a beneficiary and a pioneer of the "Digital Fujian" initiative. Looking ahead, NetDragon aspires to make digital education a hallmark of "Digital Fuzhou", "Digital Fujian", and ultimately "Digital China". Currently, the company is developing a global digital education resource production base, aiming to collaborate with educational enterprises to develop, produce, and distribute digital education resources. This initiative seeks to create a global hub for educational resources and production, driving the formation of an internationally influential Chinese digital education industry cluster. All these efforts are directed towards NetDragon's overarching vision: leveraging technology to bridge educational gaps and provide quality education resources to more people, enabling them to lead better lives.