Taiwan Education Minister Urges Universities to Leverage AI for Future Growth

Taiwan's Ministry of Education convened a ceremony on July 31 to mark the joint handover of leadership for national universities and present reappointment certificates. Minister of Education Zheng Yingyao addressed the attendees, highlighting the rapid global shift into the artificial intelligence (AI) era. He stressed that universities must not only understand AI but also actively utilize it to co-create the future.

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Universities must not only understand AI but also actively utilize it to co-create the future.

Zheng encouraged university leaders to employ AI in campus governance, establish robust AI governance and ethical frameworks, and cultivate distinct institutional characteristics. "Distinctiveness is competitiveness," he stated, emphasizing the goal of nurturing talent that will lead future industries and societal development. The ceremony included leadership transitions at National Taiwan Sport University, where Huang Dong-zhi succeeded Qiu Bing-kun, and National Quemoy University, with Hong Ji-hui taking over from Chen Jian-min. Several presidents, including those from National Chengchi University and National Taichung University of Education, received reappointment certificates.

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Distinctiveness is competitiveness.

The minister expressed gratitude to outgoing presidents for their years of service, acknowledging their contributions to teaching, research, industry-academia collaboration, international exchange, and social responsibility. He likened education to a relay race without an end, where outgoing leaders pass on not just achievements but also valuable educational paradigms. Zheng urged the incoming and reappointed presidents to embrace the mission of guiding their institutions into the future.

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Education is a relay race without an end.

Zheng further elaborated on AI's transformative impact, extending beyond technological innovation to profoundly alter knowledge transmission, talent cultivation, and university governance. He called for proactive use of AI in campus administration to enhance efficiency through smart analysis and data-driven decisions, optimize teaching support, and strengthen student guidance. This, he believes, will foster more resilient, effective, and student-centered smart campuses. Crucially, he underscored the need for comprehensive AI governance and ethical mechanisms to ensure technology serves education, rather than replaces it. He also advised Taiwanese universities against homogenization, urging them to deepen their unique strengths and build internationally recognizable brands, asserting that excellence stems from sustained commitment.

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AI is not just technological innovation; it profoundly changes knowledge transmission, talent cultivation, and university governance.