AI for the Public Good: Reimagining Higher Education Across the Pacific Rim

Blog post by: Liang Cheng and Yang Song

In an era defined by disruption, complexity, and opportunity, universities across the Pacific Rim are being called upon to rethink their mission and reimagine their role in society. This imperative took center stage at the recent APEC University Leaders’ Forum (AULF), hosted in Jeju, South Korea, alongside the APEC Education Ministerial Meeting. The forum’s theme—“Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education to Address Asia-Pacific Challenges”—reflected not only the region’s technological ambitions but also its growing awareness of the social responsibilities tied to AI.

Co-hosted by South Korea’s Pusan National University (PNU) and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), with support from the South Korean Ministry of Education, the event brought together ministers, university presidents, technologists, and researchers. It was a clear call to action: universities must become not only incubators of innovation but also conveners of values-driven collaboration and foresight leadership.

As South Korea’s Deputy Minister of Education Park Sung-min observed:
“AI technology is a powerful tool for innovation in higher education. However, we must find a direction for educational transformation that enables sustainable growth and inclusive prosperity.”

Universities as Ethical Architects and Cross-Sector Conveners

Universities have long been centers of knowledge production. But in today’s AI-driven world, they must now become hubs of ethical innovation—shaping not just technology, but its governance, implications, and reach. The forum underscored the need to shift from traditional models of academic excellence toward models that embrace “radical collaboration” and public purpose.

APRU CEO Christopher Tremewan noted that “many of the assumptions that have shaped higher education for generations no longer hold.” AI is disrupting not only labor markets and pedagogy, but the very contract between society and its universities. In response, institutions must champion a broader civic mission—balancing world-class research with global citizenship and equity.

Padmanabhan Anandan, former Managing Director of Microsoft Research India, powerfully framed the opportunity:
“Universities are among the few institutions trusted by governments, NGOs, and industry alike. That gives them a unique role in fostering a common language and shared agenda around AI.”

From Pilot Projects to Transformative Systems

The discussions at AULF moved beyond theory, spotlighting tangible use cases. For example:

University of Michigan’s MAISIE AI Assistant has used natural language processing to uncover student needs ranging from food insecurity to mental health support—challenges that might otherwise go undetected.
Data.org is co-developing curricula with universities to build AI talent for the public good, focusing on skills that serve social equity and resilience.

These examples highlight how AI can not only streamline services but also elevate the visibility of students’ real-world challenges. Yet, they also raise questions about data privacy, institutional capacity, and algorithmic accountability.

The Ethics of AI: Global Voices, Local Contexts

One recurring theme was the ethical paradox of AI. On one hand, AI offers tools to improve access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunity. On the other, its development has too often mirrored global inequalities—benefiting high-income nations and well-resourced institutions, while marginalizing others.

UNESCO’s 2023 guidance on Generative AI in Education and Research warns of widening digital divides and calls for participatory governance models. Similarly, thought leaders like Timnit Gebru and Kate Crawford have shown how AI systems can perpetuate existing biases unless explicitly designed to do otherwise.

This is especially relevant in the Asia-Pacific, where the diversity of language, geography, and socioeconomic context demands localized AI solutions. As Anandan explained, some of the most impactful AI innovations—like crop monitoring or maternal health diagnostics—are being powered by simple smartphones and deployed with minimal training.

Building the Future: Research, Policy, and Capacity

The Pacific Rim is emerging as a testing ground for new institutional models that prioritize inclusive innovation. Key priorities identified at the Forum include:

Climate Action and Ocean Health: PNU’s Marine Climate Technology Centre exemplifies how universities can drive regional climate resilience through AI-powered marine research.
Official Development Assistance (ODA): Korean universities are increasingly applying AI to strengthen ODA initiatives, particularly in Southeast Asia, broadening the scope of international academic engagement.
Digital and AI Literacy: Institutions must invest in upskilling both faculty and students—especially those from Indigenous and underserved communities—ensuring that emerging technologies reflect plural epistemologies and lived experiences.

Toward a Pacific Vision of AI for the Public Good

Ultimately, what emerged from AULF was not just a roadmap for integrating AI into academia, but a new ethos for higher education in the 21st century—one grounded in justice, humility, and planetary well-being.

As Google’s Jisup Lee reminded participants:
“AI is more than a technological advancement. It is a transformative force with the potential to address some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.”

Realizing that potential requires universities to lead with both caution and courage—anchoring AI in ethics, co-creation, and collective benefit.

Universities as Ethical Architects and Cross-Sector Conveners

From Pilot Projects to Transformative Systems

The Ethics of AI: Global Voices, Local Contexts

Building the Future: Research, Policy, and Capacity

Toward a Pacific Vision of AI for the Public Good

Recommended Reading and References