Plaque Ceremony for University College Held at Induk Hall
Breaking Down Academic Boundaries for Holistic, Integrative Education
115 First-Year Students Admitted to Advanced Convergence Division,
24 International Students to Global Liberal Arts Division This Year
Pusan National University (President Choi Jaewon) has established the University College to break down academic boundaries and realize holistic education based on integrative thinking, launching it in the first semester of the 2025 academic year. On April 28, the university held a plaque ceremony at Induk Hall, the dedicated space for the University College on campus.
Pusan National University is holding a plaque ceremony for the establishment of the 'Undergraduate College.' Photo by Pusan National University
The ceremony was attended by President Choi Jaewon, major university administrators, deans of colleges and graduate schools, full-time faculty members of the University College, and new students. During the event, participants shared the purpose of establishing the University College, its vision and operational plans, and its role as an innovative educational institution for fostering talent equipped with integrative thinking and problem-solving skills.
The "Pusan National University University College" serves as a central institution for foundational education and integrated academic exploration. It is designed to allow students to gain foundational knowledge and academic reflection in various fields before choosing their major. The college provides integrated support for foundational academic-centered education, major exploration, learning design, and interdisciplinary education.
Key initiatives include the systematic enhancement of liberal arts education, student-driven career planning, diagnostic assessment of learning capabilities, and tailored tutoring. These efforts aim to create a student-centered educational ecosystem, enabling students to explore career paths more independently and engage in self-directed learning.
The University College consists of the "Advanced Convergence Division," which cultivates STEM convergence talent in high demand fields such as cutting-edge energy, smart vehicles, and semiconductors, and the "Global Liberal Arts Division," which provides Korean language and culture education to international students to help them become global talent.
The "Advanced Convergence Division" is divided into the "Engineering Interdisciplinary Major," which aims to foster engineers with creativity, comprehensive design capabilities, and strong ethics and responsibility in line with the educational objectives of the College of Engineering, and the "Nano Interdisciplinary Major," which aims to nurture creative and international leaders in the field of nano-convergence technology.
Students in the "Advanced Convergence Division Engineering Interdisciplinary Major" can, after completing their first-year curriculum, advance to one of six departments: Polymer Engineering, Organic Material Systems Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Electronic Engineering (within the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering), Semiconductor Engineering (within the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering), and Industrial Engineering. This year, a total of 57 first-year students were admitted.
The "Advanced Convergence Division Nano Interdisciplinary Major" admitted a total of 58 new students, who will be eligible in their second year to advance to one of three departments within the College of Nanoscience and Technology: Nano Energy Engineering, Nano Mechatronics Engineering, or Optical Mechatronics Engineering.
The "Global Liberal Arts Division" admitted a total of 24 international students in the first semester of this year and plans to recruit an additional 24 students in the second semester. After completing a one-year curriculum, students will be able to choose from various majors, including Cultural Arts Content, Korean Studies, and Global Commerce.
Pusan National University plans to further expand the University College in the 2026 academic year. The college will be reorganized into four divisions: the "Liberal Arts Division," where students can choose any major within the university without being assigned to a specific department; the "Advanced Convergence Division," which will increase student intake and introduce new majors; the "Applied Life Convergence Division," which explores food technology and life biosciences; and the "Global Liberal Arts Division" for international students. The number of new students admitted will also be expanded to more than three times the current intake.
President Choi Jaewon stated, "The establishment of the University College signifies a return to the essence of education and a paradigm shift where students become the main agents of learning. Through this, I expect Pusan National University to further strengthen its public mission and leadership in educational innovation as a national university."
Lee Haejun, inaugural dean of the University College and professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said, "We will develop the University College into an educational hub at Pusan National University that leads educational innovation and fosters diverse and creative outstanding talent. Based on the public mission and innovation that Pusan National University pursues, we will actively support all students in realizing their potential."
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