In this CAPRI Conversation focused on higher education, veteran educator Prof. Meredith Jung-En Woo of Arizona State University (ASU) talked at length about the evolution of higher education and its role in supporting economic development. In particular, universities should prioritize not only excellence but also scalability and social responsibility or inclusiveness.

Drawing on her extensive experience as an educator, Prof. Woo, who has been the President of Sweet Briar College and Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Virginia, noted that ASU’s innovative model of focusing on knowledge creation and research impact instead of only securing federal funding meets the demands of a rapidly changing global landscape. With a student body of over 175,000, ASU exemplifies how higher education institutions can evolve to fulfill societal needs.

Prof. Woo emphasized that a robust higher education system is essential for countries to escape the middle-income trap. She also discussed the pros and cons of Korea’s Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE) program, which promotes collaboration between universities and industries, thereby producing a skilled workforce that meets local industry needs while addressing regional disparities.

The attendees included not only academics and educators, including National Chengchi University President Tsai-Yen Li, but also industry leaders. They engaged with Prof. Woo on several interesting topics, including university–industry relationship in Taiwan and AI as the fourth industrial revolution.