Eighteen government-supported AI (artificial intelligence) focused universities and 15 AX (AI transformation) graduate schools will open their doors to embark on full-scale AI talent development.
The Ministry of Science and ICT held the "Joint Launch Ceremony for AI-focused Universities and AX Graduate Schools" on the afternoon of the 29th at Baekyang Nuri Hall in Yonsei University, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The AI-focused universities and AX graduate schools were newly established this year to promote AI-centered university education reform and cultivate high-level, field-oriented AI convergence talent through university-industry collaboration. At the event, Ryu Je-myeong, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, presented plaques announcing the selection of the AI-focused universities and AX graduate schools to the presidents of participating universities, requesting innovation in AI-centered university education.
The Ministry of Science and ICT recently completed the selection of participating universities, including 18 AI-focused universities and 15 AX graduate schools. For the AI-focused universities, a total of 18 institutions were selected, comprising three newly designated universities this year and 15 transitioning from SW (software) focused universities. Each university will receive annual support of up to 3 billion won for a maximum of eight years. Participating universities will promote the transition of their education systems to an AI-centered model by strengthening AI major education, mandating basic AI education for all students, and establishing new AI convergence courses that link their specialized fields with AI. In 2027, plans are in place to conduct evaluations of the 38th non-transitioned SW-focused universities and push for a full transition to AI-focused universities.
The AX graduate school program supports the cultivation of AI convergence talent (AX talent) by combining AI technology with industry and domain knowledge. The 15 universities selected this year will receive annual support of up to 3 billion won for a maximum of six years. Twenty-six companies, including Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Aerospace, POSCO Holdings, Doosan Robotics, and LIG D&A, are participating as joint research and development institutional investors. Companies and universities will jointly establish "AX Research Collaboration Centers" to advance AX-specific research and introduce a dual Ji Do (Prof.) system where university faculty and part-time corporate faculty provide joint supervision. Additionally, they will cultivate field-oriented master's and doctoral-level advanced AX talent based on industry-academia collaboration by operating student-led project-based learning.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Science and ICT focused on strengthening the AI capabilities of universities outside the metropolitan area during this selection process for AI-focused universities and AX graduate schools. Among all participating universities, 11 out of the 18th AI-focused universities (61%) and 8 out of the 15th AX graduate schools (53%) are located outside the metropolitan area. To strengthen regional AI talent development, the Ministry of Science and ICT plans to increase the proportion of non-metropolitan universities among newly selected institutions to over 70% from 2027 onward.
Meanwhile, at the launch ceremony, Yoon Dong-seop, President of Yonsei University, and Choi Yang-hee, President of Hanlim University, shared examples of changes in university settings under the theme "The Direction of University Education in the AI Era." President Yoon stated, "AI is a core driving force leading innovation in all disciplines and education," adding that "education where students go beyond utilizing AI to independently discover and define valuable problems and solve them together with industry fields is essential." President Choi proposed, "Beyond simply adding AI-related departments or courses, universities must transform their very structure for the AI era through interdisciplinary convergence, innovation in curricula and teaching methods, flexible academic structures, and collaboration with industries and local communities."
Second Vice Minister Ryu Je-myeong stated, "Universities in the AI era must become engines of innovation that change education itself to suit the AI era, going beyond merely teaching AI. We expect AI-focused universities and AX graduate schools to establish themselves as hubs for AI education innovation," adding, "The government will actively support efforts to ensure that AI education innovation led by universities leads to innovation across all of Korea."
in TECH
