Address by Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin celebrating 60th anniversary of IAUP founding

Dear distinguished members of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), esteemed university presidents from Korea and abroad, and honored guests.

Today we gather to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the IAUP, and to explore together the leadership of universities in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), the future of higher education, and the shared pursuit of peace and prosperity for humankind. On behalf of the Ministry of Education, I bid my warmest welcome to all of you.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Shawn Chen, president of the IAUP, for organizing this meaningful occasion, as well as to Chairman Lee Sang-kyun and president Lee Eun-joo of Seoul Cyber University, our gracious hosts. I also wish to thank Dr. Yang O-bong, president of the Korean Council for University Education; Dr. Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education; Mr. Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan; and Mr. Arturo Cherbowski, Executive Director of Santander Universities in Mexico; along with all other distinguished guests joining us here today.

For the past six decades, IAUP has served as a platform for advancing higher education and fostering international cooperation, connecting leaders from around the world. Korea has proudly participated as a founding member, and it is particularly meaningful that this conference is being held in Korea for the third time. Today’s gathering is not only a commemoration but also an opportunity to reflect on the collaborative journey that IAUP and education leaders worldwide have taken together.

In this era of AI and digital innovation, universities must go beyond the simple transmission of knowledge to create new value and nurture global talent capable of addressing humanity’s shared challenges. Korea is already leading these transformations through educational innovation, preparing future generations to thrive in a rapidly changing world. In particular, Seoul Cyber University, the host of this event, stands as a global model of online higher education, demonstrating the vast potential of digital learning.

Distinguished guests,

The collective wisdom and vision of the more than 150 university presidents and higher education leaders gathered here today will offer valuable insights into overcoming the challenges of our time — climate change, demographic shifts and social inequality among them. The Ministry of Education is committed to working with you, providing active support for the cooperation and advancement of global higher education.

Once again, I extend my thanks to all those who have contributed to making this gathering possible. I sincerely hope that today’s event will serve as a new starting point for building a brighter future for higher education around the world.

Thank you.