On behalf of The Maldives National University, we extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Sean McMinn, Keynote 1 Speaker at the 9th Theveli International Conference, for his insightful presentation, “Building the Floor, Not the Ceiling: AI Literacy as a Common Core Competency for Higher Education.”

Dr. McMinn’s presentation provided valuable perspectives on the importance of building a strong foundation for AI literacy in higher education. His emphasis on developing the ability to understand and evaluate AI systems, apply AI responsibly, maintain human agency, and recognise the importance of governance and context offered meaningful insights for educators and institutions navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence.

We particularly appreciate his thoughtful discussion on the risks of over-reliance on AI and the importance of preserving critical thinking, human judgment, and metacognitive skills. His experiences from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology further demonstrated how AI literacy can be meaningfully integrated into curricula, faculty development, and institutional strategies.

The Maldives National University is grateful to Dr. McMinn for sharing his expertise and contributing to the success of the 9th Theveli International Conference. His keynote has enriched our discussions on the future of higher education and encouraged us to build the capabilities needed to adapt, innovate, and use AI responsibly while keeping human agency at the centre.

Thank you, Dr. Sean McMinn, for being part of Theveli 2026 and for inspiring our academic community with your valuable insights.