An online higher and medical education forum set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic was held at Wuhan University in Hubei province on Thursday and Friday.

The forum — which attracted more than 40 educators from China, France and African countries — focused on the opportunities, challenges and response measures for higher education created by COVID-19. It also looked at ways to nurture medical talent during a pandemic.

Dou Xiankang, president of Wuhan University, said at the forum's opening ceremony that teachers and students at the university participated in online teaching and learning via different internet platforms to overcome setbacks caused by the pandemic.

Medical students and teachers also worked hard to contribute to the fight against COVID-19, Dou said.

Renmin and Zhongnan hospitals, which are affiliated with Wuhan University, not only made contributions to the battle against the pandemic in China, but also shared via the internet their experiences on testing and medical treatments with countries such as France, Egypt and Algeria.

The forum was initiated by Wuhan University to build a shared community of higher education among China, France and African countries.

The education forum was held for the first time at Wuhan University in 2017, and the second time in Morocco in 2018.