UNIST and South Gyeongsang Province have initiated a collaborative effort to foster AI industry development in the Southeastern region of Korea.
On July 4, officials including Vice Governor MyeongJu for Economic Affairs of South Gyeongsan Province, representatives from the South Gyeongsang Provincial Government, and Gyeongnam TechnoPark visited UNIST for a strategic consultation. The delegation was joined by UNIST President Chong Rae Park, Vice President Hyun Sil Ahn, Director Han Gi Chae of the Office of Budget and Planning, along with leading faculty members. The discussions focused on strategies to innovate smart manufacturing and integrate AI technologies into industrial sectors.
A key topic of the meeting was transforming education paradigms to support the AI industry’s profound transformation. The session highlighted successful collaborations with regional companies, such as Korea Zinc and emphasized the importance of effective and scalable AI education. Particular attention was given to UNIST Novatus Graduate School, which offers a hands-on AI training model designed to produce industry-ready talent.
UNIST has been operating customized courses for industry professionals in partnership with LG Electronics, with 127 participants in the South Gyeongsang area completing the program as of 2022. The curriculum combines two months of theoretical instruction with three months of Project-Based Learning (PBL), including on-site internships, aiming to cultivate talents capable of immediately applying AI skills in industrial settings.
President Park stated, “Through the U Future Strategy Institute, we are ready to support the development of AI strategies across Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province.” He added, “We will establish a cooperative framework that provides tangible benefits to local businesses.”
South Gyeongsang Province announced plans to establish an AI Policy Advisory Committee and seek expert consultation from UNIST faculty to bolster AI technology support for manufacturing industries.
