[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] The government will support the cultivation of advanced semiconductor professionals by providing approximately 3 billion KRW per university annually, up to a maximum of 15 billion KRW over five years.
On the 29th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it will implement an integrated announcement regarding the designation and support application for specialized graduate schools to nurture master's and doctoral talents in the semiconductor industry. This is the first step in the designation and support of specialized graduate schools under Article 37 of the "Special Measures Act on Strengthening and Protecting National Advanced Strategic Industry Competitiveness." It is also a follow-up measure to the "National Advanced Strategic Industry Specialized Graduate School Promotion Plan" approved by the National Advanced Strategic Industry Committee on November 4 last year.
This year, three semiconductor specialized graduate schools will be selected, and to cultivate practical professionals through industry-academia projects, approximately 3 billion KRW per university annually, up to 15 billion KRW over five years, will be supported. Support will cover personnel expenses (including student personnel costs), educational environment establishment costs (education and research equipment, etc.), curriculum development and operation costs, and industry-academia project education costs linked with companies.
The semiconductor specialized graduate schools aim to alleviate the shortage of semiconductor professionals by nurturing about 5,000 master's and doctoral talents, starting education for new students from the second semester this year. In particular, the curriculum of the semiconductor specialized graduate schools will actively utilize industry experts as faculty members and will focus on industry demand-based research and development (R&D) projects. Furthermore, post-management such as recruitment matching and employment consulting for graduates will also be promoted.
Applicant universities are those that have or plan to establish semiconductor specialized graduate schools. They must meet conditions such as operating master's and doctoral degree programs, securing full-time faculty and admission quotas, and establishing an educational environment. Submitting the necessary documents for application and designation within the submission period will lead to sequential evaluation of project selection and review of designation requirements. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to announce the designation results within 60 days after receiving the applications.
Meanwhile, the ministry will also closely analyze the supply and demand status and prospects of master's and doctoral personnel in the secondary battery and display sectors, which are designated as national advanced strategic technology fields, together with related industries and experts, and will promote pilot designation of one to two specialized graduate schools next year. Additionally, a large-scale support project will be planned to continuously expand specialized graduate schools in national advanced strategic technology fields.
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