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Keynote calls for pairing technological progress with human judgment as university leaders from seven institutions discuss higher education in the age of AI

Prof. Dr. Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, President of Walailak University, delivered the first keynote at the Leadership Dialogue on International Education, held on October 31, 2026, at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (ZUEL) in Wuhan. The forum was themed “Beyond Digitalization: Reimagining the University in an Intelligent Era.” The event brought together leaders of higher education institutions from Asia, Europe, and North America to discuss universities' role in the era of artificial intelligence.

Speaking on “Beyond Digitalization: Reimagining University Education for the Intelligent Era,” Prof. Dr. Sombat argued that technological advancement must go hand in hand with the development of human understanding and critical judgment. He introduced the concept of Generation AIQ, which describes learners who combine human intelligence with AI to learn, create, and solve problems critically and responsibly. In this model, humans set the goals, guide the technology, and remain accountable for the outcomes.

His address focused on three key points. First, he outlined five AIQ competencies: understanding AI, working with AI, evaluating AI, co-creating with AI, and using AI responsibly. Building on Bloom’s Taxonomy, the framework trains learners to recognize what an AI-generated answer lacks and to develop better solutions. Second, he emphasized preparing people for a changing world of work, equipping learners for lifelong career transitions through disciplinary knowledge, real-world experience, and short courses developed with employers. Third, he proposed joint research to develop Generation AIQ, linking Walailak University’s strengths in health sciences and interdisciplinary research with ZUEL’s expertise in economics and law, to study how these competencies are developed and assessed in real-world settings.

Seven speakers addressed the forum. In addition to Prof. Dr. Sombat, they included Prof. Bruno Botta, Rector of the University of Rome Unitelma Sapienza (Italy); Prof. Jekuk Chang, President of Dongseo University (South Korea); Prof. Dr. Olivier Aptel, President of Paris School of Business (France); Prof. Robert Wood, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta (Canada); and Prof. Aleksandar Čučković, Dean of the Faculty of Economics in Subotica at the University of Novi Sad (Serbia). Prof. Fangwei Zhu, President of ZUEL, delivered the closing address, “Reimagining University Education in the Age of AI: Our Reflection and Practices.” Prof. Diyu Xu, Vice President of ZUEL, gave the opening remarks and moderated the session. Discussions covered digital pedagogy, human critical thinking, the mission of the university, and the ethical and social implications of AI.

Walailak University’s participation reflects its role in shaping the future of higher education in the AI era on the international stage. The university also plans to build on its partnership with ZUEL through joint research and educational development that connects technological progress with human wisdom and responsibility, so that learners can think independently, look beyond AI-generated answers, and create tangible benefits for society.









Source and photos: Center for International Affairs, Walailak University