Vice-Rector Alexander Bedny takes part in the rectors' forum of leading Russian and Korean universities
From November 9 to November 10, the Fifth Russian-Korean Rectors' Forum "The Fourth Industrial Revolution and University Transformation" was held at Sungkyunkwan University (Suwon, South Korea). The forum was part of the expert platform "Russia - Republic of Korea Dialogue" established in 2010 on the initiative of the Russian and Korean presidents. The forum was attended by rectors and vice-rectors of leading Russian and Korean universities. Lobachevsky University was represented by its Vice-Rector for International Affairs Alexander Bedny.
The main discussion topics at the forum included the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between universities in Russia and Korea, curriculum improvement with the account of new global challenges, the prospects for cooperation between universities and high-tech companies. The common interests of Russian and Korean universities were discussed in the context of the challenges posed by the fourth industrial revolution. In the course of discussions, much attention was paid to the impact of modern technologies' development (in particular, of artificial intelligence) on higher education and the requirements for today's professionals, the role of interdisciplinarity (in particular, the interaction of science and technology with social disciplines and humanities) in facing the great challenges of modern society, the importance of developing soft skills in the preparation of graduates under the fourth industrial revolution, new forms of effective cooperation between universities and business.
Forum participants visited the digital city of the Samsung Electronics corporation, where a working meeting with the company's leaders was held. During the meeting, the principles and directions of work of the Samsung Research and Development Center were presented, ways of developing the interaction of the innovation corporation with Russian universities were discussed. During the visit to Suwon, Alexander Bedny discussed with the leadership of Sungkyunkwan University further development of research and educational cooperation between the two universities and met with students participating in the exchange programs between the UNN and Sungkyunkwan University. Talks were also held on the establishment of academic partnerships between Lobachevsky University and a number of other leading universities in the Republic of Korea.
