By Jang Kwang-Soo, President of Anyang University
The United States, China, and several European countries are formulating national strategies and providing budgetary support to become dominant powers in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). As a president responsible for education at a university, I would like to offer some insights on this international competition.
The way AI technology is transforming educational methods has highlighted the need to address the limitations of traditional education systems and to incorporate AI. Korea’s traditional methods have been a continuation of the past Seodang system (Educational institutions that existed in the pre-modern era of Korea), where the teacher unilaterally transmits information. As a result, students have struggled to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
AI has changed the role of physical time, place, and knowledge transmitters (teachers and professors) by enabling students to quickly access information from around the world in seconds through the vast ocean of auditory materials and online resources. For students, an innovative change is necessary. To survive in the AI era, they must be prepared with in-depth knowledge of digital literacy and the structure and operation of computers from a relatively young age.
Anticipating this, the government is providing long-term support for the development of “software-centric universities” and graduate programs at the master's and doctoral levels. The image of Korea as an IT powerhouse is being supported by the “AI Korea” initiative, where the National Elder Council is refining wisdom and strategies through the 'Wonjiwon' research institute.
AI technology can analyze students' learning styles and customize individual learning paths by developing a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and creating a metaverse framework based on real-world situations. Such approaches should be cultivated not only in universities but also in elementary and secondary schools to maximize their effectiveness. These technological advancements will also transform the role of instructors, who will need to function not merely as knowledge dispensers but as guides for student learning. Students will become more effective learners as they explore and acquire the necessary knowledge and skills independently.
Various AI-based teaching methods and practical cases demonstrate that integrated approaches like smart tutor systems, flipped learning, and project-based learning can encourage active student participation while providing opportunities to develop critical thinking and creativity in a more effective and vibrant manner. AI not only recommends appropriate learning content based on each student’s learning style and pace but also provides immediate feedback when problems arise, thus enhancing learning efficiency.
Furthermore, AI changes the role of educators, emphasizing that teachers are no longer just knowledge transmitters but guides – coaches who support students in discovering and mastering the knowledge and skills they need. This shift will transform the educational paradigm, enabling students to learn and advance in essential skills and information autonomously.
The educational vision for the AI era is to cultivate students’ abilities to recognize and solve problems independently. This foundation can be solidified through AI education in elementary and secondary school curricula and realized through innovative educational visions at universities, significantly contributing to the advancement of both higher education and national development.
In the 20th century, international power struggles over nuclear development and rare earth resource acquisition set the stage for a Cold War dynamic between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Today, the competition over AI technology and talent cultivation is igniting a new economic war between the U.S. and China.
Efforts to monopolize technology are reminiscent of the U.S. monopolizing nuclear technology in 1945 to lead the international order. Currently, the U.S. seeks to maintain global hegemony through the monopolization of AI technology. The U.S. established its dominance in the post-war international order after successfully developing the first atomic bomb in 1945, while global tech giants like Google, OpenAI, and Meta are playing leading roles in AI research and commercialization. Notably, OpenAI’s ChatGPT showcases the U.S.'s overwhelming global advantage in generative AI technology.
AI education in these countries has already been actively introduced in elementary schools. In Korea, this has been implemented through the “Digital Sprout” project since 2022, but, unfortunately, the limited financial resources are not enough to meet the demand for education. For reference, the following are examples of digital sprout education in other countries.
- United States: Most states mandate media education for 5th and 6th graders, offering basic information science courses in middle schools and advanced information science courses in high schools that include AI-related education. They have established pathways for cultivating AI professionals by connecting primary, secondary, and higher education with colleges, research institutions, and AI industries.
- United Kingdom: The 2013 curriculum revision provides structured AI learning content through the computing subject. It emphasizes not only technical computing education but also creativity and development skills, breaking down AI education into stages from elementary (understanding fundamental AI concepts) to middle school (learning data analysis and machine learning) and high school (deep dives into AI ethics and social impacts).
- Finland: Actively incorporates AI education through a complete curriculum revision, highlighting not just technical aspects but also education on AI ethics and social responsibilities.
- France: The education process supports foundational learning for elementary school students through AI and is divided into stages: teaching students from ages 2 to 5, from 1st to 5th grade in elementary, 6th grade to middle school, high school, providing an engaging learning environment to encourage student participation and tailored content that meets their needs.
- China: AI talent cultivation aligns with regional development strategies, building collaborative systems for nurturing and utilizing local talent.
According to reports, when examining the number of authors of adopted papers from the top 50 institutions by country in 2024, the U.S. ranked first with 14,766 authors, while China ranked second with 8,491. Nikkei analyzed around 30,000 papers from three conferences between 2020 and 2024 and concluded that the gap between the U.S. and China is narrowing. Just as nuclear weapons created new security threats, the question of "who prepares and secures AI first" suggests that AI education will bring innovation across all sectors, including the economy, industry, and politics. The 2016 Go match between Lee Sedol and AlphaGo showcased the profound impact of AI's Large Language Model (LLM), marking a memorable moment that surprised the world.
Therefore, I believe that the “digital sprout” should be expanded and sustained in order to become an independent variable rather than a dependent variable to the current comparative inferiority of South Korea's AI hegemony.
