On 12 December 2025, Prince of Songkla University (PSU) hosted a highly anticipated Nobel Laureate Special Talk by Prof. Sir Christopher A. Pissarides, the 2010 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences. He delivered a keynote lecture titled “Employment and Skills in the Age of AI”, attracting over 400 participants, including students, academics, economists from institutions like the Bank of Thailand, and members of the public from various sectors.
The event successfully provided students and university personnel with a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge with a world-renowned scholar, and to inspire the academic community to further develop research and scholarly work toward international standards.
In his opening remarks, Asst. Prof. Dr. Thakerng Wongsirichot, Vice President for Academic and International Affairs, highlighted that this marked the seventh time Prince of Songkla University has welcomed a Nobel Laureate. He noted that this reflects the University’s commitment to promoting international learning, strengthening academic networks, and enhancing its global standing, while also enabling young people and the wider community across the region to access knowledge from leading scholars worldwide.
Dr. Thakerng further emphasized the strong societal awareness demonstrated by the diverse audience, which included students from the Hat Yai, Pattani, and Trang campuses, university staff, and secondary school students, all interested in the growing role of artificial intelligence in the modern world.
Prof. Dr. Sanit Aksornkoae, Chairman of the University Council, delivered the official opening address, stressing that artificial intelligence is no longer a concept of the future but a present reality with direct impacts on economic systems, employment, and workforce skills. He underscored the crucial role of universities in preparing graduates and researchers to adapt to and effectively utilize such technologies in driving sustainable regional and national development.
Following the insightful lecture, Asst. Prof. Dr. Niwat Keawpradub, President of Prince of Songkla University, expressed his sincere appreciation to Prof. Sir Christopher A. Pissarides. He remarked that the lecture provided valuable insights into understanding artificial intelligence from a comprehensive perspective and served as a strong inspiration for advancing education, science, and technology development in Thailand. The President concluded by thanking all participants and emphasizing that while the event had concluded, the mission of learning and adapting to AI had only just begun – representing a challenging yet opportunity-filled journey for the future.
