Kyungnam University declared its leap toward becoming a "future 100-year university" on Thursday, marking its 80th anniversary with a focus on education, research, industry-academia cooperation, and international exchange.
The university held its 80th anniversary ceremony in the main building's fourth-floor conference hall on Thursday afternoon. The event was designed to reflect on the institution's history and share its vision for the future. International figures including Gjekë Marinaj, a renowned American literary scholar and honorary doctorate of Kyungnam University, and his wife Dushita Marinaj attended the ceremony, underscoring the university's standing as a hub for international exchange.
Building on its educational and research achievements, the university has also distinguished itself in advanced industries and regional innovation. It was selected as the lead institution for the "PINN-based Manufacturing Convergence Data Collection and Demonstration Project," a 32 billion won initiative under the government's next-generation Physical AI core technology demonstration program, leading AI transformation at manufacturing sites.
The university is also advancing research on digital twins and smart factory enhancement through its Global Joint Research Center for Hyperscale Manufacturing AI. It has established a cooperation framework with Seoul National University, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (KETI), the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), and global companies.
These research achievements carry significant weight as they align with South Gyeongsang Province's key industries, including machinery, defense, shipbuilding, and mobility. The university is contributing to strengthening the competitiveness of regional manufacturing through hands-on research and talent development tied to local industries.
The university is also strengthening industry-academia cooperation and the regional settlement of young talent based on national projects, including the Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE) program.
A special international literary event was also held the same day. At the event held at Hanma Future Hall, a special lecture by Marinaj highlighted cultural exchange through literature and the value of humanities education.
A special exhibition of "So Long," a poetry collection by Kim Sun-hyang, chairwoman of the University of North Korean Studies, and a poetry-and-painting exhibition by alumni of the Young Writers Academy were also held, showcasing the university's cultural identity through literature and art. The poetry collection was selected as "2025 Orpheus Text Book of the Year" by Mundus Artium Press in the United States.
In his commemorative address, President Park Jae-kyu said, "Kyungnam University, which began in 1946, has reached its 80th anniversary." He added, "Building on our proud history, we will further develop education and research, and leap forward as a future 100-year university connecting the region and the world."
Kyungnam University is a leading private university that has grown by laying the foundation for regional higher education since Korea's liberation. Over the past 80 years, it has produced approximately 160,000 alumni and established itself as a leading regional university nurturing talent across education, government, industry, culture, media, and the public sector.
