Ansan City and Hanyang University ERICA Join Forces to Establish "Gifted Education Institution"

Customized Education Programs to Foster Talent in Basic Science and Robotics
Lee Mingeun: "Local Government and University Collaborate to Shape the Future Together"

Ansan City in Gyeonggi Province and Hanyang University ERICA (ERICA) will jointly establish a "gifted education institution" to foster talent in science and engineering fields.

At the ceremony for the establishment of a gifted education institution held on the 14th at Hanyang University ERICA, Lee Heungup, CEO of Ansan Talent Development Foundation (from the left), Lee Mingeun, Mayor of Ansan, and Lee Gijeong, President of Hanyang University, are shaking hands. Provided by Ansan City

On May 14, Ansan City signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ansan Talent Development Foundation and Hanyang University ERICA at the main conference hall of Hanyang University ERICA for the establishment of a gifted education institution.

This agreement was initiated to identify outstanding local talent at an early stage and nurture them systematically. The background for the agreement also includes the need to overcome the reduction of local educational infrastructure due to the declining school-age population, as well as to ensure the sustainable development of local universities and industries.

Under the agreement, the three organizations will establish a gifted education institution at Hanyang University ERICA and operate customized educational programs in basic science and robotics. The gifted education center in Ansan City will be the second, following the "Godae Gifted Education Center," which has been in operation since March of this year.

To this end, the partner organizations plan to jointly develop specific implementation plans for the establishment of the gifted education institution, including curriculum development, the creation of educational facilities, and the preparation of operational strategies.The organizations will announce student recruitment in June, followed by selection exams and the opening ceremony of the gifted education center in July. The center's programs will begin full-scale operation in August.

The gifted education institution will provide education for fifth and sixth-grade elementary school students, utilizing the university's human and material resources to nurture competitive talent.

Lee Gijeong, President of Hanyang University, stated, "If the local community and the university join forces, we can turn the current crisis of a declining school-age population into an opportunity," adding, "We will fully leverage the university's capabilities to create a model of co-growth with the local community."

Lee Mingeun, Mayor of Ansan, said, "This agreement is more than simply establishing an educational institution; it is an important starting point for the local government and university to jointly shape the region's future," and emphasized, "We will focus on creating a virtuous cycle in which local talent nurtured through collaboration can contribute back to the community."

Meanwhile, at the signing ceremony, an event was also held to celebrate the "The Asia Award 2025" won by the "Robot City Ansan" project, which is being jointly promoted by the city and Hanyang University ERICA. This award was presented at "The Asia Summit 2025," held last month at Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Macau, China, with "Robot City Ansan" recognized in the category of regional development contribution.

This project aims to transform the existing manufacturing-based industrial structure centered around the Banwol·Sihwa National Industrial Complex into an advanced new industry focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent robotics.