[CONFERENCE] Higher education leaders call on universities to nurture human strengths in AI era

Higher education leaders and officials called on universities in Seoul on Tuesday to help students develop AI literacy and distinctly human strengths needed to lead a changing society. The message was delivered at the 2026 Korea Times Global Conference, where speakers urged a shift toward problem-solving, experiential learning and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The Ministry of Education said it will support universities as they adapt and innovate. Speakers also said university rankings and evaluations must evolve as AI reshapes skills, work and higher education.

The conference was held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul and brought together university leaders, policymakers and global higher education experts.

Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin said human capabilities such as asking questions, thinking independently, making sound judgments and working with others will become increasingly important as AI advances.

Rep. Kim Hee-jung of the People Power Party said education in the AI era should remain centered on people, not technology.

The Korea Times said it will release its University Rankings 2027 on Friday and evaluate 60 universities on globalization efforts and support for international students.

The rankings will also examine how universities are building sustainable internationalization models amid demographic decline, financial pressures and competition for skilled workers.

Published Sep 15, 2026 3:46 pm KST

Updated Sep 15, 2026 3:59 pm KST

Korea Times Global Conference highlights changing role of universities

Mei Mei Lim, Asia-Pacific region president of Times Higher Education (THE), delivers a speech during the 2026 Korea Times Global Conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

The Ministry of Education on Tuesday laid out a vision for universities to nurture students who can harness artificial intelligence (AI) while developing the distinctly human qualities needed to lead a rapidly changing society.

The vision took center stage at the 2026 Korea Times Global Conference, titled “Beyond AI: Building human-centered leadership for next era,” highlighting the role of universities in nurturing a workforce capable of leading the AI era.

“As AI advances, human capabilities — such as asking questions, thinking independently, making sound judgments and working with others — will become increasingly important,” Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin said in remarks delivered on his behalf by ministry spokesperson Jeong Byoung-ik.

Ministry of Education spokesperson Jeong Byoung-ik delivers congratulatory remarks on behalf of Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin during the 2026 Korea Times Global Conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

He said universities must play a central role in the AI era by generating new knowledge, bridging disciplines and technologies and preparing the next generation of workers to lead change.

The ministry vowed to support universities in their efforts to adapt and innovate, stressing that investment in higher education is an investment in the country’s future.

“Our goal is to help students retain their humanity, take the initiative in using AI and grow into people capable of leading a changing future,” Jeong said, reading Choi’s remarks.

Rep. Kim Hee-jung, chairperson of the National Assembly’s Education Committee, gives congratulatory remarks during the 2026 Korea Times Global Conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

The annual conference, held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, brought together university leaders, policymakers and global higher education experts to discuss the evolving role of universities in the AI era.

Discussions ranged from rethinking teaching and research to cultivating future-ready graduates, strengthening global competitiveness and adapting university evaluations for a changing higher education landscape.

Rep. Kim Hee-jung of the People Power Party, chairperson of the National Assembly’s Education Committee, stressed that education in the AI era should remain centered on people rather than technology.

"Creativity to ask and find answers, cooperation to understand others' thinking and find solutions together, and responsibility to determine how and for what to use technologies — these are areas in which any state-of-the-art technology cannot replace humans," Kim said.

Korea Times Vice Chairman Seung Ji-soo said in his opening remarks that this year’s theme reflects a fundamental challenge facing universities as AI rapidly transforms society.

“It is no longer enough to simply adopt AI technologies. The real challenge is to educate people who can lead society in the age of AI,” he said. “Universities must prepare graduates who are not only AI-literate, but also creative, ethical and capable of leading meaningful change.”

Choi Jae-boong, a professor of interdisciplinary artificial intelligence service design at Sungkyunkwan University, gives a keynote speech during the 2026 Korea Times Global Conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Two keynote speeches explored the leadership and educational approaches universities will need to navigate the AI era.

Choi Jae-boong, a professor of interdisciplinary AI service design at Sungkyunkwan University, described the rapid flow of global investment into AI as evidence of an irreversible shift, arguing that universities must respond by transforming education rather than focusing primarily on controlling students’ use of the technology.

“To develop leadership, we first have to embrace what is changing,” Choi said. “We should not be afraid of collaboration across departments or industries, but look for new directions in this era of revolution.”

Shitij Kapur, vice-chancellor and president of King’s College London, outlined responsibilities for universities in the AI era. He called for a shift from traditional lectures and essays toward experiential learning, while warning that unguided AI use could undermine learning.

“The purpose of AI is to enhance our humanity, not just increase our economic productivity,” Kapur said during an online speech presented live. “Universities must bring us back to what will matter in the world.”

Shitij Kapur, vice-chancellor and president of King’s College London, delivers a keynote speech via Zoom during the 2026 Korea Times Global Conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

The event also featured senior representatives from global higher education rankings organizations to discuss how university evaluation is evolving.

Leigh Kamolins, vice president for evaluation and insights at QS, said university rankings must evolve as AI reshapes the skills employers seek and how institutions prepare students for work.

“Employability is central to student decision-making. They want to learn new skills,” Kamolins said, adding that ranking metrics need to evolve to reflect the changing nature of employment.

Meanwhile, Mei Mei Lim, Asia-Pacific region president of Times Higher Education (THE), said universities need to rethink their purpose as AI, demographic decline and changing expectations from society and industry reshape higher education.

“The future university must become indispensable to society by focusing not simply on what it is good at, but what it is good for,” Lim said. “AI should not become another arms race. Universities must ask what they can do with AI that others cannot.”

Leigh Kamolins, vice president for evaluation and insights at QS, delivers a speech during the 2026 Korea Times Global Conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

The first panel session explored how universities can transform education, develop future-ready graduates and strengthen global competitiveness.

Moderated by Choi, the discussion brought together Lee Ji-hyun, director of the AI integrated talent development division at the education ministry; Lee Jae-wook, director of the AI Institute and professor of computer science at Seoul National University; Son Henny, head of AI Education at Upstage; and Gregory Hill, chief administrative officer at the University of Utah Asia Campus.

Panelists called for a shift from knowledge delivery to problem-solving and hands-on learning, while strengthening AI literacy, human skills and university-industry collaboration.

The second panel discussion, moderated by Lee Hi-kyoung, dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Korea University, brought together Kamolins and Ashley Mok, vice president for APAC consultancy at THE, to explore what universities need to remain globally competitive in the AI era.

The conference was followed by an invitation-only afternoon session, where QS and THE representatives met with Korean university officials to discuss changes in global ranking indicators and strategies to strengthen international competitiveness. The roundtable also allowed universities to exchange views directly with the ranking organizations on the future of higher education evaluation.

As part of its broader efforts to promote the internationalization of Korean higher education, The Korea Times will release its University Rankings 2027 on Friday, evaluating 60 universities on their globalization efforts and capacity to educate and support international students. The rankings will also examine how universities are building sustainable models of internationalization amid demographic decline, financial pressures and intensifying competition for skilled workers globally.

周二，高等教育界的领导者和官员在首尔呼吁各大学帮助学生培养人工智能素养以及引领变革社会所需的独特人文能力。这一呼吁是在2026年《韩国时报》全球大会上提出的，与会者敦促各大学转向问题解决型学习、体验式学习和跨学科合作。韩国教育部表示将支持各大学进行调整和创新。与会者还指出，随着人工智能重塑技能、工作和高等教育，大学排名和评估也必须随之改变。

会议在首尔韩国工商会举行，汇聚了大学领导、政策制定者和全球高等教育专家。

教育部长崔教镇表示，随着人工智能的发展，人类的提问能力、独立思考能力、做出合理判断的能力以及与他人合作的能力将变得越来越重要。

国民力量党议员金熙贞表示，人工智能时代的教育应该以人为本，而不是以技术为本。

《韩国时报》表示，将于周五发布2027年大学排名，并对60所大学的全球化努力和对国际学生的支持进行评估。

排名还将考察大学如何在人口下降、财政压力和对技术工人的竞争中构建可持续的国际化模式。

发布于2026年9月15日下午3:46（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月15日下午3:59（韩国标准时间）

《韩国时报》全球会议聚焦大学角色转变

泰晤士高等教育（THE）亚太区总裁林美美（Mei Mei Lim）周二在首尔韩国商工会议所大楼举行的2026年《韩国时报》全球大会上发表讲话。（《韩国时报》崔元硕摄）

教育部周二提出了一项愿景，希望大学能够培养出既能驾驭人工智能 (AI)，又能发展出引领快速变化的社会所需的独特人类品质的学生。

在 2026 年韩国时报全球大会上，这一愿景成为焦点，大会主题为“超越人工智能：为下一个时代构建以人为本的领导力”，强调了大学在培养能够引领人工智能时代的劳动力方面所发挥的作用。

“随着人工智能的进步，人类的能力——例如提问、独立思考、做出合理的判断以及与他人合作——将变得越来越重要，”教育部长崔教镇通过教育部发言人郑炳益代为发表讲话时表示。

周二，在首尔韩国商工会议所大楼举行的2026年《韩国时报》全球大会上，韩国教育部发言人郑炳益代表教育部长官崔教镇致贺词。照片由《韩国时报》崔元硕拍摄。

他表示，大学必须在人工智能时代发挥核心作用，创造新知识，连接学科和技术，并培养引领变革的下一代劳动者。

教育部承诺支持各大学进行调整和创新，并强调对高等教育的投资就是对国家未来的投资。

“我们的目标是帮助学生保持人性，主动使用人工智能，成长为能够引领不断变化的未来的人，”郑在宣读崔的讲话时说道。

周二，韩国国会教育委员会委员长金熙正议员在首尔韩国工商会大楼举行的2026年《韩国时报》全球大会上致贺词。照片由《韩国时报》沈贤哲拍摄。

此次年度会议在首尔韩国工商会举行，汇聚了大学领导、政策制定者和全球高等教育专家，共同探讨大学在人工智能时代不断变化的角色。

讨论内容涵盖了从重新思考教学和研究到培养面向未来的毕业生，再到增强全球竞争力以及调整大学评估以适应不断变化的高等教育格局。

国民力量党议员、国会教育委员会委员长金熙正强调，人工智能时代的教育应该继续以人为本，而不是以技术为本。

金说：“创造力——提出问题并找到答案；合作——理解他人的想法并共同找到解决方案；以及责任——决定如何以及为了什么目的使用技术——在这些领域，任何最先进的技术都无法取代人类。”

《韩国时报》副董事长承智秀在开幕致辞中表示，今年的主题反映了人工智能快速改变社会给大学带来的根本挑战。

“仅仅采用人工智能技术已经远远不够了。真正的挑战在于培养能够在人工智能时代引领社会的人才，”他说道。“大学必须培养出不仅具备人工智能素养，而且富有创造力、恪守道德并能够引领有意义变革的毕业生。”

周二，成均馆大学跨学科人工智能服务设计教授崔在峰在首尔韩国工商会大楼举行的2026年《韩国时报》全球大会上发表主题演讲。（《韩国时报》沈贤哲摄）

两场主题演讲探讨了大学在人工智能时代需要采取的领导力和教育方法。

成均馆大学跨学科人工智能服务设计教授崔在峰将全球对人工智能的快速投资描述为不可逆转的转变的证据，他认为大学必须通过改革教育来应对，而不是主要关注控制学生对技术的使用。

崔表示：“要培养领导力，我们首先必须拥抱变化。我们不应害怕跨部门或跨行业合作，而应在这个变革时代寻找新的方向。”

伦敦国王学院副校长兼院长希蒂吉·卡普尔概述了人工智能时代大学应承担的责任。他呼吁大学教学模式从传统的讲授和论文写作转向体验式学习，同时警告说，不受指导的人工智能使用可能会损害学习效果。

卡普尔在一次线上直播演讲中表示：“人工智能的目的是提升我们的人性，而不仅仅是提高我们的经济生产力。大学必须让我们回归到世界上真正重要的东西。”

周二，伦敦国王学院副校长兼院长希蒂吉·卡普尔（Shitij Kapur）通过Zoom视频会议在首尔韩国工商会大楼举行的2026年《韩国时报》全球大会上发表主旨演讲。（《韩国时报》沈贤哲摄）

此次活动还邀请了全球高等教育排名机构的高级代表，讨论大学评估的发展趋势。

QS评估与洞察副总裁Leigh Kamolins表示，随着人工智能重塑雇主所需的技能以及院校如何为学生就业做好准备，大学排名也必须随之改变。

“就业能力是学生做决定的核心。他们想要学习新技能，”卡莫林斯说，并补充道，排名指标需要与时俱进，以反映就业性质的变化。

与此同时，《泰晤士高等教育》（THE）亚太区总裁林美美表示，随着人工智能、人口下降以及社会和行业期望的改变重塑高等教育，大学需要重新思考其宗旨。

林教授表示：“未来的大学必须成为社会不可或缺的一部分，这不仅在于关注自身擅长什么，更在于关注自身能为社会带来什么。人工智能不应成为另一场军备竞赛。大学必须思考自身能利用人工智能做些什么别人做不到的事。”

QS评估与洞察副总裁Leigh Kamolins周二在首尔韩国工商会大楼举行的2026年《韩国时报》全球大会上发表讲话。（《韩国时报》崔元硕摄）

第一场小组讨论探讨了大学如何才能变革教育、培养面向未来的毕业生并增强全球竞争力。

本次讨论由崔主持，参与讨论的有：韩国教育部人工智能综合人才发展司司长李智贤；首尔国立大学人工智能研究所所长兼计算机科学教授李在旭；Upstage人工智能教育负责人孙亨尼；以及犹他大学亚洲校区首席行政官格雷戈里·希尔。

与会专家呼吁从知识传授转向问题解决和实践学习，同时加强人工智能素养、人类技能和大学与产业界的合作。

第二场小组讨论由韩国大学文学院院长李熙京主持，卡莫林斯和泰晤士高等教育亚太区咨询副总裁艾什莉·莫克共同探讨了大学在人工智能时代保持全球竞争力需要做些什么。

会议结束后，举行了一场仅限受邀人士参加的下午会议。QS和THE的代表与韩国大学官员会面，探讨全球排名指标的变化以及提升国际竞争力的战略。此次圆桌会议也让各大学有机会直接与排名机构就高等教育评估的未来交换意见。

作为推动韩国高等教育国际化进程的一部分，《韩国时报》将于周五发布2027年大学排名，对60所大学的全球化举措以及培养和支持国际学生的能力进行评估。该排名还将考察在人口下降、财政压力以及全球技术人才竞争日益激烈的背景下，各大学如何构建可持续的国际化模式。