Incheon National University to host global forum on liberal arts education models

Incheon National University (INU) is set to host the "2026 1st Incheon National University-St. John's College Great Books Global Forum" on July 29-30. The event will bring together academics and students to discuss international cooperation models for liberal arts education, centered around the renowned classic text-based discussion seminar model of St. John's College in the United States.

The forum's primary objective is to foster collaboration among universities in South Korea, the US, China, and Cambodia. Participants will explore cooperative strategies for liberal arts education and collectively investigate the future direction of global융합 (convergence) education, deemed essential for the artificial intelligence era. The event signifies a key step in INU's efforts to become a hub for classical and great books education in Asia.

The first day will feature a keynote address by Walter Sterling, President of St. John's College, on "The Future of Liberal Arts Education and Global Values." This will be followed by presentations on St. John's College's global collaboration examples, and the liberal arts education programs at China's Zhongshan University Boya College and Cambodia University of Technology and Science. INU's international exchange programs will also be showcased.

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This global forum will be an important opportunity for Incheon National University to present an international cooperation model for liberal arts education based on its collaboration with St. John's College.

A session dedicated to the current state and development of Great Books education in South Korea will include discussions on INU's operational achievements and future plans. Proposals for a graduate program, inspired by the joint operation model of St. John's College and the Netherlands' Pascal University, will be presented. Additionally, examples of Great Books education linked to Chuncheon City's educational development special zone and the Gangwon RISE project will be shared.

The second day will feature an undergraduate exchange seminar involving students from both INU and St. John's College. Practical meetings will follow, focusing on concrete cooperation measures such as faculty exchange, student exchange, joint research, and the signing of memorandums of understanding among participating universities. Professor Hwang Seung-hyun, director of INU's Great Books Center, emphasized the forum's importance in presenting an international cooperation model for liberal arts education and expressed commitment to expanding collaborations.

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We will continue to expand cooperation with local communities and domestic and international educational institutions so that Incheon National University can grow into a hub for classical and great books education in the Asian region in the age of artificial intelligence.