St. Thomas President Julie Sullivan addressed education in a changing world Wednesday afternoon as the keynote speaker at the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce’s April membership meeting in the Wolfe Alumni Hall.

Sullivan discussed the way technology is changing the world and outlined four ways students can work to stay in demand at a time when technology is becoming increasingly important. Sullivan said students should become technology creators and focus on skills technology cannot replicate, creating new industries and human values.

“As an educator, I think a lot about the world we’re preparing our graduates for,” Sullivan said. “One thing I’m certain of … is that it will be very different. It will be very different from our world today, and it will continue to change at dizzying speeds.”

Sullivan’s four strategies are meant to prepare students to work in industries that may not yet exist.

“Most of my students probably can’t even imagine the job they’re going to have 10 years from today,” Sullivan said. “If you’re thinking about your future at this stage, you could think about how to prepare yourself to be one of the creators of the technological innovations.”

According to Sullivan, technological innovation and new industries go hand-in-hand.

“You could be one of those people that’s trying to create the new industries,” Sullivan said. “Entrepreneurship is going to be increasingly important as we are creating new jobs and industries.”

She also suggested that students focus on creativity and compassion, things technology cannot duplicate.

Sullivan said St. Thomas’ liberal arts program helps students think critically and to continue learning after they graduate.

“I think that liberal arts heart remains increasingly important,” Sullivan said. “I can’t prepare them to go off with a box of knowledge that’s going to endure for even the next 10 years.”

President of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce Matt Kramer said the chamber chose Sullivan to speak because education is an important part of business.

“The product of the University of St. Thomas is the future of the business community,” Kramer said. “We have a really strong vested interest in having a close tie with the academic community.”

Lisa Margolies, a brand ambassador for ZipRecruiter, said she was glad Sullivan’s speech focused on entrepreneurship.

“When she was talking about (how) there is a lot of value in entrepreneurship, she’s right on target,” Margolies said. “That’s what our company is seeing also, as far as the way of the future. There’s always going to be big business, but most of the jobs out there are from entrepreneurs and small businesses.”

Grace Pastoor can be reached at past6138@stthomas.edu.