Fostering National Advanced Field Convergence Talent: Universities and Regions Join Forces

The Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea announced on the 28th that they will select and publicize five new consortia for the 2023 Advanced Field Innovation Convergence University Project.

The Advanced Field Innovation Convergence University Project was launched in 2021 as the ‘Digital New Technology Talent Nurturing Innovation Shared University,’ selecting and supporting eight university consortia by advanced fields. From this year, it has been newly restructured to reflect the ‘Advanced Field Talent Nurturing Strategy.’

In particular, this year, to strengthen the connection with regional strategic industries, five new field consortia will be selected as ‘local government participation type.’

The five new fields were designated considering the five core areas of the government-wide collaborative ‘Advanced Field Talent Nurturing Strategy’ and policies of related ministries: △Aviation & Drone △Semiconductor Materials, Parts, and Equipment △Secondary Battery △Next-Generation Communication △Eco-friendly Business.

The existing eight fields will be supported for a total of six years, and the five new fields for a total of four years, with 13 consortia operating until 2026.

This year’s five new local government participation consortia can be formed and applied for by metropolitan local governments outside the capital region that possess industrial bases and strategies related to the newly selected fields, together with universities equipped with educational capabilities in those fields.

Starting with the announcement on the 28th, applications will close on May 4th, and after conducting selection evaluations in May, the new consortia will be finalized.

Now in its third year, the Innovation Convergence University Project has produced results based on the characteristics of rapid change and expansion in advanced fields, including △development and operation of modular convergence and fusion curricula through collaboration among various majors (disciplines) △improvement of academic systems that break down boundaries inside and outside schools △promotion of collaborative projects with major companies in each field.

The Ministry of Education plans to strengthen connections between universities and regions by advanced fields this year, while also expanding cooperation between education and industrial sites and among consortia by field, such as through the expansion of the ‘We-Meet Project.’

Lee Yun-hong, Director of Talent Policy Planning at the Ministry of Education, said, “Various attempts to break down boundaries inside and outside universities for nurturing talent in advanced fields have been made at university sites through the Innovation Convergence University Project.” He added, “Based on these achievements, we hope that the national-level advanced field talent nurturing policy will be promoted in connection with regional development.”