Hyundai Motor and Korea University to Establish Hydrogen and Robotics Department Offering Bachelor's and Master's Degrees After 5 Years

The Nation's First Integrated Bachelor's and Master's Program with Employment Conditions

Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of the 20th Presidential Transition Committee, visited Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Technical Research Center in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province last month. He is being escorted by the robot dog Spot as he moves to the Hyundai Design Building together with Chung Eui-sun, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Hyundai Motor Company and Korea University signed an agreement on the 26th to establish a Smart Mobility Department. As the country's first contract department offering an integrated bachelor's and master's program with employment conditions, it will begin accepting students next year and plans to admit 50 students annually for the next five years. A contract department is a system that introduces a customized vocational education framework into university curricula based on corporate demands, in accordance with relevant laws.

The newly established department will focus on nurturing specialized talents in two core areas of Hyundai Motor's future mobility business: hydrogen and robotics. The bachelor's and master's programs are each shortened by one semester, enabling students to obtain a master's degree within five years. The curriculum was jointly developed by the company and the university to allow graduates to be immediately deployed in frontline research and development sites, with active researchers from Hyundai Motor serving as adjunct professors.

Hyundai Motor Company and Korea University have agreed to establish a smart mobility undergraduate contract department. From the left in the photo: Seoho Choi, Executive Director of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Production Quality Office at Hyundai Motor Company; Yonghwa Kim, Executive Director of Research and Development Planning Coordination Office; Jaeho Choi, Executive Director of Management Support Headquarters; Jaehun Jang, President of Hyundai Motor Company; Jintak Jeong, President of Korea University; Jini Hee, Vice President of Academic Affairs; Gilsu Jang, Director of Planning and Budget Office; Taegyun Heo, Director of Academic Affairs.

In addition to engineering, a multidisciplinary convergence education program incorporating humanities and business studies is also being prepared. Students will receive full scholarships for five years and have opportunities to participate in industry-academia projects, present at academic conferences, and visit overseas research institutes. Employment at Hyundai Motor is guaranteed after graduation, and plans to support outstanding talents in each major to pursue doctoral programs at overseas universities are also under consideration.

Since 2013, Hyundai Motor and major group affiliates have been operating master's contract departments with leading domestic universities to cultivate talents in future mobility fields such as autonomous driving and electronic control. Over 200 researchers have been produced so far. The research scholarship system, which selects talents from master's and doctoral students, provides scholarships and guarantees employment after graduation, has produced over 2,000 individuals since 2003. Jang Jae-hoon, CEO of Hyundai Motor, stated, "Competitiveness in the future car market depends on securing excellent talents equipped with innovative capabilities."