Pei Jun WOO

Abstract: As AI reshapes the future of work, the development of AI talent depends not only on technical skills but also on the human relationships that enable learning, mentorship, and cross-sector collaboration. Governments, universities, nonprofits, and corporations around the world are increasingly prioritizing AI workforce development, creating new opportunities—and new challenges—for partnership and talent cultivation. This panel will examine how leading organizations identify, engage, and sustain partnerships among government, industry, and educational stakeholders to expand outreach, strengthen training programs, and improve career readiness for the next generation of AI leaders across the Asia Pacific. The discussion will also explore the enduring role of human connections in AI talent development, highlighting how mentorship, peer networks, and collaborative learning environments contribute to stronger outcomes for emerging professionals. Bringing together senior leaders from leading Malaysian universities, the Fulbright Commission Malaysia, and a U.S. government agency, the panel will compare organizational approaches to AI workforce development and share practical models for partnership-building, talent cultivation, and cross-sector collaboration in an increasingly AI-driven world. Learning objectives: - Identify effective strategies to build and sustain partnerships among higher education institutions, government agencies, industry partners, and scholarship organizations to support AI workforce development. - Examine diverse organizational approaches to AI talent cultivation, including outreach, training, mentorship, and career preparation initiatives. - Evaluate the role of human-centered elements—such as mentorship, peer networks, and collaborative learning communities—in strengthening AI education and workforce outcomes. - Apply practical models and lessons learned from cross-sector collaborations to advance AI talent development initiatives within their own institutions and organizations. - Recognize opportunities for international and regional cooperation in preparing the next generation of AI leaders in an increasingly AI-driven global economy. Target audience: This session is for senior university leaders, international education professionals, partnership and mobility specialists, government and scholarship agency representatives, and workforce development practitioners seeking innovative, human-centered approaches to AI talent development and cross-sector collaboration.