The “Inspiring Leaders Conference” organized by Sabancı University and the Sabancı University Alumni Association Board of Directors was held on September 20, 2024 at Sakıp Sabancı Museum, The Seed. The conference guest was Prof. Ling San, Deputy President and Provost at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore and Sabancı University International Board of Overseers Member. Prof. Ling San gave a speech entitled “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Education” at the conference.
The event was attended by many guests, including Sabancı University Founding Chair of Board of Trustees Güler Sabancı, and Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici.
The Areas of Use of Artificial Intelligence in Our Lives are Increasing
Prof. Ling San, who has been sharing his observations since 2019, emphasized with the statistics he provided that the role of artificial intelligence in our lives has grown in many areas, including education. He pointed out that countries and universities adopt different practices in higher education and recognize different approaches and limits when incorporating artificial intelligence into education. He stated that the use of artificial intelligence in students' courses is permitted but subject to certain rules in Singapore Nanyang Technological University.
Prof. Ling San drew attention to the rapidly increasing impact of artificial intelligence in the world of education. Emphasizing the need to train more artificial intelligence experts and the need to develop more talent today, Ling San touched on the role of universities in this regard and stated that a number of new programs have been launched at NTU Singapore in recent years. Prof. Ling San said that universities play a major role in creating artificial intelligence knowledge. Stating that innovative programs are being developed at universities to both train individuals specialized in artificial intelligence and to increase the artificial intelligence literacy of individuals working in different fields, Ling San emphasized the potential of artificial intelligence technologies to increase the quality of education and support student employability.
Universities Play an Important Role in Singapore’s Development in Artificial Intelligence
Prof. Ling San also touched on Singapore’s work in the field of artificial intelligence in his speech. According to the information provided by Ling San, Singapore has become one of the countries that have pioneered the rapid development of artificial intelligence by making major investments in science and technology. Artificial intelligence has been made a special focus area within the framework of the country’s five-year national Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) plans. The AI Singapore initiative, established in 2017, operates with the aim of supporting artificial intelligence research, developing new technologies and training talents in the field of artificial intelligence. The country’s first national artificial intelligence strategy was announced in 2019. It addressed areas such as helping to focus attention and resources, encouraging the research community, industry, and government to work together, and managing change and risk. The second national artificial intelligence strategy, announced in 2023, set goals to increase Singapore’s global competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence. Singapore’s AI strategies have contributed to advances in research and innovation, with universities playing a key role in this area. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) stands out for its AI education and research, and aims to increase AI literacy through various programs.