Seven universities, including Gachon University, Korea University, Sogang University, Sungkyunkwan University, Soonchunhyang University, Soongsil University, and Yonsei University, have been selected as AI-Focused Universities to lead artificial intelligence talent development in higher education.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced Wednesday that it had selected seven out of 10 universities to participate in the newly launched AI-Focused University program this year. The selection targeted universities transitioning from the existing Software (SW)-Focused University program to the AI-Focused University program.
The AI-Focused University program emphasizes cultivating a broad range of talent, from experts who can deeply understand, develop, and utilize AI technology, to AX convergence talent capable of applying AI to their respective majors. Selected universities will receive up to 24 billion won ($17.5 million) over a maximum of eight years, or approximately 3 billion won per university annually.
The selected universities will pursue four key tasks: AI education innovation at universities, operation of specialized curricula aligned with AI technology demand, support for AX transition in specialized industries and promotion of AI startups, and strengthening their role as core hubs for spreading AI values. Through these efforts, they plan to enhance the expertise of AI and SW majors while also strengthening overall educational capabilities so that non-major students can understand AI and apply it to their respective fields.
"AI is rapidly spreading across industries and daily life, and this is a time when university education also needs new changes centered on AI," said Bae Kyung-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT. "We will actively support AI-Focused Universities so that they can lead AI education innovation based on the SW education capabilities they have built up and contribute to spreading educational values throughout local communities."
