EduAsiaNews, Hanoi – Chulalongkorn University president Wilert Puriwat delivered a keynote address titled “Decoding the Future Insight: Global Perspectives” at the 2026 Global MOOC and Online Education Conference, held from Nov. 2 to 4 at Vietnam National University in Hanoi.
Under the theme “Reallocating Intelligence: Transforming Education for a Human-AI Future,” the conference brought together university leaders and education experts from around the world to exchange views on the future of higher education amid rapid technological advances and the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI).
In his keynote on Nov. 3, Wilert outlined five major factors expected to shape the world by 2030, drawing on the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025. They are technological change, the transition to a green economy, economic uncertainty, demographic shifts and geopolitical fragmentation.
He stressed the importance of preparing the workforce for the future by developing critical thinking, creativity, technological proficiency and essential human skills such as empathy and adaptability. He also highlighted the need to move beyond using AI merely as a tool toward fostering creative collaboration between humans and AI.
The ideas reflect Chulalongkorn’s vision of extending education beyond the university’s boundaries and into society through the Chulalongkorn University School of Lifelong Learning (Chula XL) and its Chula XL Hub platform.
The initiatives bring the university’s knowledge and expertise to a wider audience, offering people of all ages access to learning across a range of disciplines, including digital and AI, engineering and technology, languages and global communication, and health and well-being. Through the programs, learners can develop new skills, strengthen their ability to adapt to change and apply their knowledge in professional and social settings.
The university said this reflected its role in promoting lifelong learning and creating a positive impact on society.
Chulalongkorn vice president Parichart Sthapitanonda also took part in a panel discussion on Nov. 3 titled “Unlocking Human Potential: New Competencies for Educators and Learners.” The session explored the essential competencies required of educators and learners as AI plays an increasingly significant role in education.
The conference was organized by the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, with Tsinghua University and Vietnam National University, Hanoi, serving as co-hosts.
