Chey Tae-won says university diplomas are unnecessary in the AI era

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won argued that problem-solving skills are more vital than degrees during an EBS lecture, as the Citizens' Campaign for a Law Preventing Hiring Discrimination Based on School Attended called for legal revisions to ban collecting school information during recruitment.

While SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won stated that problem-solving experience and capabilities are more important than university diplomas in the AI era, the Citizens' Campaign for a Law Preventing Hiring Discrimination Based on School Attended has urged a revision of the law to prevent the practice of collecting information regarding a candidate's school attended during the recruitment process.

During a lecture on season 6 of the EBS show Great Minds, which aired from October 12 to 16, Chey responded to a young person asking about the role of universities by saying, "There is no particular need for a university diploma." He spoke to the point that universities should transform into spaces for gaining experience through experimentation and problem-solving, rather than just being places to learn knowledge.

The capabilities Chey presented for the AI era include problem-solving skills, the ability to ask questions, the power of deep thinking, empathy, adaptability, and an attitude of not fearing failure. While his remarks can be interpreted as demonstrating the need for recruitment that prioritizes actual experience and ability over academic background, it is difficult to conclude from the lecture alone that corporate recruitment practices have changed.

The Citizens' Campaign for a Law Preventing Hiring Discrimination Based on School Attended claimed that allegations recently surfaced regarding Hanwha Aerospace filtering applicants based on specific universities during its recruitment process, arguing that collecting information on the school attended can lead to discrimination. The specific circumstances and facts surrounding the case in question require separate verification.

The campaign stated that an amendment to the Act on the Fairness of Recruitment Procedures is necessary to prevent the collection of information regarding the school attended during the job application process, as such information is unrelated to job duties. They explained that the purpose of the legal revision is not to restrict hiring, but to eliminate practices that hinder competency-based recruitment.

A press release mentioned cases such as SK hynix abolishing the "four-year bachelor's degree or higher" academic requirement during its rolling recruitment for new employees in June this year, as well as Samsung Electronics' "open recruitment" in 1995. The Citizens' Campaign for a Law Preventing Hiring Discrimination Based on School Attended announced that it will continue its legal revision activities in the second half of the year.

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