The World University Presidents Forum was held in Beijing from July 30 to 31.

During the event, Shandong University President Li Shucai gave a keynote speech on the topic of "Challenges and Innovation of Sustainable Development of Universities".

Shandong University President Li Shucai speaks on the topic of "Challenges and Innovation of Sustainable Development of Universities" at the World University Presidents Forum in Beijing. [Photo/view.sdu.edu.cn]

According to Li, in the context of a new round of technological revolution and industrial change, big data and artificial intelligence has seen rapid development.

As such, universities will need to reform their education and research paradigms to address future challenges, achieve sustainable development, and foster innovation.

Universities should focus on cultivating highly qualified talents with strong learning ability, innovation capability, and the capacity to address future development in order to better meet the challenges, Li said.

The scientific research paradigms should also be transformed. Universities will need to emphasize basic research and interdisciplinary studies and establish robust technological and talent support platforms and teams that serve local economic development, he added.

The forum, co-hosted by the China Association of Higher Education, Peking University, and Tsinghua University, was attended by more than 300 university presidents from 36 countries and regions.

The theme of the forum was "Changes of the Times and the Mission of Universities". The main topics include artificial intelligence, digitalization of education and the future of higher education, future required competence for talents and the transformation of training mode, academic responsibility and innovative development of global universities, challenges and innovation of sustainable development of universities as well as university cooperation and exchange under the vision of a community of shared future.