From AI to climate change, QS Summit highlights universities' growing role in driving innovation
As society undergoes rapid change, with artificial intelligence (AI) reshaping industries alongside challenges from climate change and growing inequality, universities are emerging as key players in steering innovation for the public good, according to educators and experts in higher education, Tuesday.
The growing responsibility of higher education in a time of transformation was underscored during the QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific 2025.
"The context in which universities and workplaces operate is transforming faster than ever," Ben Sowter, senior vice president of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), said in the opening remarks.
"Global higher education still faces significant challenges, but it is through a commitment to excellence, inclusivity and purpose-driven partnerships that we can turn those challenges into opportunities, ensuring universities continue to drive positive global impact," he said.
Organized by QS and co-hosted with Korea University, the three-day summit started Tuesday, organized around the theme of "Advancing Generational Potential: Skills and Partnerships in the Asia Pacific."
Bringing together educators, policymakers and industry leaders from across the region, the summit emphasized the Asia-Pacific's emerging importance as the epicenter of global change in higher education amid rapid technological and societal shifts, helping to prepare tomorrow's workforce.
Korea University President Kim Dong-one underscored the "shared duty" to equip young people with the skills and values to shape the future, calling the summit a vital platform for building relationships and forging partnerships among academia, industry and government.
"Rapid technological change is transforming how we live, learn and connect," Kim said. "We must empower future generations by fostering creativity and ethical leadership."
Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the need for active collaboration across borders, generations and disciplines -- and the critical role of quality education.
"Humanity today faces many complex and interconnected challenges -- from climate change and geopolitical tensions to the relentless pace of technological transformation, including AI -- and no single nation or institution can confront them alone," Ban said in his keynote speech.
He emphasized that universities should not be seen merely as producers of knowledge, but as moral anchors and incubators of ethical leadership for future generations.
"Our universities must go beyond preparing students for jobs or transferring knowledge," Ban said. "They must cultivate critical thinking, empathy and ethical judgment -- the foundations of true leadership and, above all, global citizenship."
Ban added that young people are not only beneficiaries of the future but also its architects, noting that during his years at the U.N., he witnessed firsthand how empowered youth can drive significant change.
"Universities must see young people not as passive participants, but as true partners in shaping our future," he said.
"Our responsibility is to empower them as global citizens -- capable of collaborating, innovating and acting responsibly and sustainably on a global scale as we now live in a hyper-connected world where politics, economies, cultures and ideas are intertwined in real time."
As an official media partner, The Korea Times covered the summit's key agenda and the significance of hosting the event in Seoul.
Universities from across the Asia-Pacific region set up booths around the venue to present their global initiatives, while panel discussions and networking sessions brought together leaders from academia, industry and government.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government also operated a booth, spotlighting the city's growing status as a premier destination for international students and an emerging hub in global higher education.
The first day's sessions largely focused on how AI is reshaping the landscape of education, leadership and the economy.
A session titled "The Future of Higher Education and Workforce in Asia and the Pacific" focused on how the Asia-Pacific region is rapidly becoming the center of global transformation in higher education and workforce development. The fast-paced, data-driven presentation compared the region's universities with global peers and examined shifting demand for jobs and skills.
Patrick Brothers, executive director at QS, noted Asia's growing influence as a destination for international students, describing the region as an emerging powerhouse in global education.
Sessions also explored how AI is reshaping research and education systems, highlighting the Asia-Pacific region's potential to lead the next wave of skill and knowledge development through innovation and collaboration.