Polytechnic Opens Seoul Jeongsu Campus as an Educational Hub for 'AI Technology Convergence'

Opening of the 49th and 50th Running Factory Nationwide

Polytechnic "Fostering 'AI+x Convergence Talent'"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Korea Polytechnic University, a national special-purpose university under the Ministry of Employment and Labor, has opened the first AI technology convergence (AI+x) hub shared studio. By establishing a practical training facility related to 'AI+x,' it has laid the groundwork for linking and operating related educational programs at Polytechnic University in the future.

The Seoul Jeongsu Campus of Polytechnic University announced that it held the opening ceremony of the 'AI+x Learning Factory·Seoul Poly Studio' on the afternoon of the 13th. The ceremony was attended by Cho Jaehee, Chairman of Polytechnic, Ryu Kyunghee, Director General of the Vocational Competency Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Jung Hyungwoo, Secretary General of the Labor-Management Development Foundation, and campus deans of Polytechnic University. AI+x refers to a combined system that integrates AI technology into all industrial sectors.

The Jeongsu Campus will function as the 'AI+x Learning Factory.' It will operate the Artificial Intelligence Application Development Center (Department of Artificial Intelligence Software) and the Creative Convergence Technology Center (Department of Mechanical System Design). The Learning Factory refers to an integrated practical training facility equipped with various AI-related educational practice equipment in one place. It connects the product manufacturing process in one location at the Jeongsu Campus. Polytechnic expects this to enhance the effect of convergence education.

The Artificial Intelligence Application Development Center is an AI Boostcamp based on the cloud, where participants can experience everything from data collection to analysis. AI Boostcamp mainly trains non-majors intensively in coding knowledge over a short period to nurture them as software developers. Students can practice using equipment such as the Artificial Intelligence Integrated Control System and Big Data Visualization Practice System. It enables visitor characteristic analysis using AI video and autonomous vehicle track monitoring. Related data stored on a real-time big data server can be processed to implement various services. Both enrolled students and companies can practice the entire AI technology convergence education process using the cloud.

At the Creative Convergence Technology Center, all processes of mechanical design, processing, and design technology for product manufacturing can be practiced in a convergent manner. Virtual Reality (VR) processing practice equipment and AI control devices are installed. Polytechnic’s plan is to provide students with opportunities to understand the entire process from product design to completion in the practice room and to acquire process convergence technology and management skills, thereby nurturing 'AI+x' talents.

Meanwhile, Polytechnic announced plans to open the 'Seoul Poly Studio' (shared studio) within the university to private training institutions and others externally. Outsiders will also be able to engage in media creation activities and content production here. By supporting content development, they plan to activate remote vocational education training and strengthen digital workforce development functions. They will also support e-learning content production, webinar (web+seminar) spaces, and provide career experience services related to content such as one-person media for vocational training schools. In connection with industry-academic cooperation projects, they will provide content production education for small businesses and small merchants and support promotional video shooting for prototypes. Through this, they offer opportunities for anyone, not just Polytechnic students, to become media creators.

Chairman Cho said, "South Korea must achieve a successful digital transformation to gain continuous growth momentum amid low birthrates and aging and advance as a top-tier country." He added, "Polytechnic, as a public vocational education and training institution, will focus all its capabilities on adapting to new technologies such as AI and immersive content and supporting lifelong vocational competency development." Lee Sooyoung, Dean of the Jeongsu Campus of Polytechnic University, said, "Through the operation of the AI+x Learning Factory and Seoul Poly Studio and continuous department restructuring, we will nurture technical talents to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution and develop Korea Polytechnic I University into a top-class lifelong vocational competency development university for quality jobs."