[CONTRIBUTION] Korea's next global advantage: Universities must become indispensable to society

Korean universities are being urged to become more distinctive, globally connected and socially indispensable as student numbers shrink and AI reshapes skills. The piece argues that rankings alone are no longer enough, and that universities must show what they are good for, not just what they are good at. It cites stronger sustainability results, especially for Hanyang University, Korea University, Yonsei University and Pusan National University, as evidence that societal impact can boost global recognition.

Korea had 41 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, up from 36 in 2022.

Korea’s presence in the global top 200 stayed at six universities since 2022.

Half of Korea’s top-200 universities saw a decline in research reputation.

The 2026 Sustainability Impact Ratings put nine Korean universities in the global top 100 and four in the global top 20, led by Hanyang University at sixth.

THE’s AI and Digital Maturity Index surveyed 1,353 universities across 82 countries.

Published Sep 11, 2026 7:00 am KST

Mei Mei Lim, APAC region president of Times Higher Education

Korean universities have spent decades building one of the world’s most impressive higher education systems, helping transform the country into a technology and economic powerhouse. But they now face a very different environment: a shrinking domestic student population, competition for talent, widening differences between Seoul and regional institutions and the rapid transformation of skills through AI.

The next phase of competition will require universities to become more distinctive, globally connected and indispensable to society and to make that value visible.

The data suggests why this matters. The number of Korean universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings increased from 36 in the 2022 edition to 41 in 2026, a 14 percent increase. But Asia grew by 53 percent and the global field by 32 percent. More significantly, Korea’s representation in the global top 200 has remained stagnant at six universities since 2022. Global reputation also cannot be taken for granted. Half of Korea’s top-200 universities experienced a decline in research reputation. While Korea is progressing, other systems are progressing faster.

For a country with such strong research capabilities, the challenge is to translate that strength into greater global recognition, influence and impact.

It is important, however, to understand what these measures are telling us. While THE’s World University Rankings measure academic and research strength, THE’s Sustainability Impact Ratings ask a different question: How effectively are universities contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through research, teaching, stewardship and outreach? That distinction matters because it reveals an opportunity.

From what universities are good at to what they are good for

Korean universities have developed particularly strong links with industry and innovation. The question now is how those capabilities can be applied to challenges that matter beyond the university and country.

Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement at the University of Manchester, has challenged universities to think about what they are “good for” rather than simply what they are “good at.”

That is a powerful shift in thinking. A university may be excellent in research and technology. But can it turn that expertise into solutions for global challenges, create opportunities for its region and build international networks around its strengths?

Sustainability reveals new source of competitiveness

The 2026 Sustainability Impact Ratings offer encouraging evidence of what is possible.

Korea now has nine universities in the global top 100 and four in the global top 20: Hanyang University at sixth, Korea University at joint 12th, Pusan National University at joint 16th and Kyungpook National University at joint 20th.

Korea is particularly strong in SDG 8, taking all four of the top global positions for Decent Work and Economic Growth, led by Korea University at no. 1. Yonsei University is joint first globally for SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Hanyang is also among the global leaders, ranking joint ninth in both SDG 8 and SDG 9, as well as ninth for SDG 14: Life Below Water.

These results point to an opportunity for Korea to differentiate by turning existing strengths into wider societal and global impact.

Hanyang University is a compelling example. Its philosophy of “Love in Deed and Truth” has translated into practical engagement with students, industry and society, from the Homeless World Cup and Ashoka U Changemaker Campus to Robot City Ansan. Its rise from 44th to sixth globally is significant not because Hanyang suddenly developed a sustainability agenda, but because years of institutional activity and purpose could be measured, benchmarked and demonstrated through a global framework. That is the value of ratings: helping universities make their existing strengths visible and credible internationally.

AI presents same test

Artificial intelligence (AI) provides another example.

THE’s AI and Digital Maturity Index, drawing on responses from 1,353 universities across 82 countries, shows that technology readiness can run ahead of actual utilisation. Korea has strong technological foundations, but the bigger question is how universities are using AI to improve teaching and research, transform how they operate and work differently with industry and society.

The real transformation comes not from just having the technology, but from how effectively universities use it to create value.

Korea should compete through distinctiveness

I would therefore challenge Korean university leaders not to respond to every global trend with another initiative. Instead, ask: What is our university uniquely positioned to solve?

It could be advanced manufacturing, an ageing society, climate resilience, regional development or AI. The answer should shape where the university invests, whom it partners with, what research it prioritises and how it prepares students.

Internationalisation should follow the same principle. The goal should not be to establish hundreds of overseas agreements, but the right partnerships that connect your expertise to global networks and problems where you can make a difference.

Korea does not lack capable universities, talent or ambition. What it needs now is a clearer articulation of why each institution matters, to whom and at what scale.

The universities that lead the next decade will not necessarily be those that become better at chasing rankings.

They will be those that can answer a harder question: Why does the world need us?

And then be the answer.

Mei Mei Lim is the Asia-Pacific region president of Times Higher Education.

随着学生人数减少和人工智能重塑技能，韩国大学正被敦促变得更加独特、更具全球影响力，并在社会中扮演不可或缺的角色。文章指出，仅仅依靠排名已远远不够，大学必须展现自身的价值，而不仅仅是其擅长的领域。文章列举了汉阳大学、高丽大学、延世大学和釜山国立大学在可持续发展方面取得的显著成就，以此证明社会影响力能够提升大学的全球认可度。

在2026年泰晤士高等教育世界大学排名中，韩国有41所大学上榜，高于2022年的36所。

自 2022 年以来，韩国在全球前 200 名大学中一直保持着 6 所高校的地位。

韩国排名前200的大学中，有一半的科研声誉下降。

2026 年可持续发展影响评级将九所韩国大学列入全球前 100 名，四所韩国大学列入全球前 20 名，其中汉阳大学位列第六。

泰晤士高等教育人工智能和数字成熟度指数调查了 82 个国家的 1353 所大学。

发布于2026年9月11日 上午7:00（韩国标准时间）

林美美，《泰晤士高等教育》亚太区总裁

韩国大学数十年来致力于打造世界一流的高等教育体系，助力韩国转型成为科技和经济强国。然而，如今它们面临着截然不同的局面：国内学生人数不断减少、人才竞争日益激烈、首尔与地方院校之间的差距不断扩大，以及人工智能带来的技能快速变革。

下一阶段的竞争将要求大学变得更具特色、更具全球影响力、对社会更加不可或缺，并使这种价值显而易见。

数据表明了这为何如此重要。在泰晤士高等教育（THE）世界大学排名中，韩国大学的数量从2022年的36所增加到2026年的41所，增幅为14%。但亚洲整体增幅高达53%，全球增幅也达到了32%。更重要的是，自2022年以来，韩国在全球前200强大学中的数量一直停滞不前，仅有6所大学上榜。全球声誉也并非理所当然。韩国排名前200的大学中，有一半的科研声誉出现了下滑。尽管韩国正在进步，但其他体系的进步速度更快。

对于一个拥有如此强大科研能力的国家来说，挑战在于如何将这种优势转化为更大的全球认可度、影响力和作用。

然而，理解这些指标背后的含义至关重要。泰晤士高等教育世界大学排名衡量的是学术和科研实力，而泰晤士高等教育可持续发展影响力评级则提出了不同的问题：大学通过研究、教学、管理和推广，在多大程度上有效地为联合国可持续发展目标（SDG）做出贡献？这种区别至关重要，因为它揭示了机遇。

从大学擅长的领域到它们擅长的用途

韩国大学与产业界和创新领域建立了尤为紧密的联系。现在的问题是如何将这些能力应用于应对大学和国家之外的重要挑战。

曼彻斯特大学社会责任与公民参与执行主任朱利安·斯凯姆 (Julian Skyrme) 向各大学发出挑战，要求他们思考自己“擅长什么”，而不是仅仅思考自己“有益于什么”。

这是一种意义深远的思维转变。一所大学或许在科研和技术方面非常出色，但它能否将这些专长转化为应对全球挑战的解决方案，为所在地区创造机遇，并围绕自身优势构建国际网络呢？

可持续性揭示了新的竞争力来源

2026 年可持续发展影响评级提供了令人鼓舞的证据，表明这是有可能实现的。

目前韩国有九所大学进入全球前 100 名，四所大学进入全球前 20 名：汉阳大学排名第六，高丽大学并列第 12 名，釜山国立大学并列第 16 名，庆北国立大学并列第 20 名。

韩国在可持续发展目标8（体面工作和经济增长）方面表现尤为突出，包揽了全球前四名，其中高丽大学位列第一。延世大学在可持续发展目标9（产业、创新和基础设施）方面并列全球第一。汉阳大学也跻身全球领先行列，在可持续发展目标8和9方面均并列第九，在可持续发展目标14（水下生物）方面也排名第九。

这些结果表明，韩国有机会通过将现有优势转化为更广泛的社会和全球影响来实现差异化。

汉阳大学就是一个引人注目的例子。其“以行动践行爱与真理”的理念已转化为与学生、产业界和社会各界的切实互动，从无家者世界杯、阿育王大学变革者校园到安三机器人城，不一而足。汉阳大学在全球排名中从第44位跃升至第6位，其意义非凡，并非因为汉阳大学突然制定了可持续发展议程，而是因为多年来的机构活动和目标得以通过全球框架进行衡量、评估和展示。这正是排名的价值所在：帮助大学在国际上展现其现有优势，提升其可信度。

人工智能提出了同样的测试

人工智能（AI）是另一个例子。

泰晤士高等教育人工智能与数字化成熟度指数基于来自82个国家1353所大学的反馈，显示技术准备度可能领先于实际应用。韩国拥有雄厚的技术基础，但更重要的问题是，大学如何利用人工智能来改进教学和研究，如何转变其运营方式，以及如何以不同的方式与产业界和社会合作。

真正的变革不仅仅在于拥有技术，更在于大学如何有效地利用技术创造价值。

韩国应该通过特色竞争。

因此，我呼吁韩国大学领导者不要对每一个全球趋势都推出新的举措来应对。相反，他们应该扪心自问：我们大学有哪些独特的优势可以解决哪些问题？

它可能涉及先进制造业、人口老龄化、气候适应能力、区域发展或人工智能。答案应该决定大学的投资方向、合作伙伴、优先研究领域以及如何培养学生。

国际化也应遵循同样的原则。目标不应该是达成数百项海外协议，而是建立合适的合作伙伴关系，将你的专业知识与全球网络和你能发挥作用的问题联系起来。

韩国并不缺乏优秀的大学、人才或雄心壮志。它现在需要的是更清晰地阐明每个机构存在的意义、对谁至关重要以及其作用规模如何。

未来十年引领潮流的大学，未必是那些更擅长追求排名的大学。

他们将能够回答一个更难的问题：为什么世界需要我们？

然后，成为答案。

林美美是《泰晤士高等教育》亚太区总裁。