Youngsan University has secured the right to host Asia's largest higher education consortium in Busan.
The university announced Thursday that it has been selected as the next host of the Higher Education Forum for Asia (HEPA) 2027. The forum will be held at its Haeundae campus in Busan next April.
The decision was made at HEPA 2026, held from late March to early April at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China campus in Ningbo, China. HEPA is a leading consortium where major Asian universities and education experts discuss higher education policies and strategies.
Youngsan University plans to integrate the forum with its own international academic event, the AI Singularity International Conference (AISIC), to create the largest-ever global education platform. To this end, the university has established a cooperative framework with the HEPA Secretariat and Executive Committee (EXCO) and finalized detailed agreements on operational methods and financial contributions.
The university's academic competitiveness played a major role in securing the bid. Youngsan University ranked 55th globally in the hospitality, tourism and leisure category in the QS World University Rankings by Subject and placed eighth worldwide in the research strength indicator, demonstrating its international standing.
At the forum, Youngsan University President Boo Goo-wook delivered a keynote speech on the theme of "Higher Education Strategies in the Age of AI Singularity," presenting a vision for university innovation. He also shared a K-education model through presentations on AI-based liberal arts education innovation.
During the forum, Youngsan University engaged with globally prestigious institutions including the National University of Singapore and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, discussing possibilities for joint research and educational program collaboration. "Based on our world-class research capabilities and innovative education model, we will successfully host HEPA 2027 and take a leap forward as a leading innovative university in Asia," President Boo said.