Since its establishment in 1946, Kyungnam University has built a 79-year history and tradition, growing into a prestigious institution dedicated to cultivating "creative convergence regional talents" who will lead regional development on the global stage.
President Jae Kyu Park is discussing majors and career paths with current and international students who will become future innovative talents.
Currently, Kyungnam University is focusing on innovative challenges and specialization in four areas?education, research, industry-academia cooperation, and governance?with the goal of becoming a university that leads the digital transformation of Gyeongnam’s industries. In particular, the university is concentrating on advanced industrial fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), manufacturing ICT, and software, accelerating not only the development of regional industries but also the training of innovative talents.
To flexibly respond to the changing educational paradigm of the Fourth Industrial Revolution era, Kyungnam University has newly established future-oriented educational facilities on campus. The university actively operates student-customized education programs such as interdisciplinary and self-directed majors that break down departmental barriers, enabling students to acquire knowledge in various fields, make flexible decisions regarding their majors and career paths, and ultimately become the innovative talents required by the region and society.
Kyungnam University's capacity for innovation, as it aims to become a world-class university, has led to its selection for various national projects. These include the "Local Government-University Cooperation-Based Regional Innovation Project (Regional Innovation Platform) Ulsan-Gyeongnam Regional Innovation Platform Smart Manufacturing ICT Hub University," the "2023 Software-Centered University" by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the "Future Automotive Technology Convergence Innovative Talent Training Project" by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the "Second Cycle University Lifelong Education System Support Project (LiFE2.0)" by the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for Lifelong Education. Through these achievements, Kyungnam University has firmly established itself as a top-tier institution in the field of education among regional private universities.
◆ Selected for the Kyungnam University RISE Project ... Strengthening Regional Industry Innovation and Employment/Entrepreneurship Capabilities
Kyungnam University has been selected for the "2025 Gyeongsangnam-do Regional Innovation-Centered University Support System (RISE) Project," organized by the Ministry of Education and Gyeongsangnam-do. Having led the pilot project last year, focusing on joint industry-academia research, manufacturing workforce training, technological research and development, and the advancement of talent cultivation systems, Kyungnam University was recognized for its achievements by ranking first among nine four-year general universities in the province and receiving an A grade in the final evaluation.
Based on a strong commitment to the co-growth of the region and the university, Kyungnam University has proactively pursued innovative projects. Leveraging the capabilities and outstanding results accumulated through educational innovation, the university is operating a total of 12 projects this year. By organizing the Kyungnam University RISE Project Group, the university is developing practical education programs linked with regional industries and will actively enhance students' employment and entrepreneurship capabilities.
In this project, Kyungnam University envisions itself as a "university growing together with Gyeongnam’s leading and mid-sized companies," with the goal of nurturing talents who will establish themselves in the region through employment and entrepreneurship. The university also aims for continuous innovation in digital transformation based on regional industry demands and the cultivation of convergence talents.
Through open and collaborative partnerships, the university plans to nurture approximately 7,000 convergence talents, master’s and doctoral-level R&D professionals, and more than 400 professors with interdisciplinary backgrounds. It will collaborate with over 500 companies and support the entrepreneurship of more than 1,500 young people. Furthermore, by operating over 200 joint industry-academia research projects, the university aims to foster the continuous growth of regional industries and the development of leading small and medium-sized enterprises.
To achieve these goals, Kyungnam University, as a specialized university for regional industry advancement, will strengthen industry-academia cooperation and gradually increase the local employment rate and competitiveness. The university is pursuing specific projects in the following areas: ▲Materials, Parts, and Equipment ▲Bio ▲ICT, Software, and Semiconductors ▲Future Vehicles and Robotics ▲Regional Industries (Tourism and Culture).
In the materials, parts, and equipment sector, the focus is on enhancing the competitiveness of regional leading and mid-sized companies through joint industry-academia research and nurturing convergence talents in digital advanced component manufacturing systems. In the bio sector, the university is responsible for discovering and promoting the growth of Gyeongnam’s connected healthcare industry. In the ICT, software, and semiconductor sector, the university supports the digital transformation (DX) of regional companies by training professionals to lead new growth and convergence industries.
In the future vehicles and robotics sector, the university aims to strengthen competitiveness by providing total services desired by regional companies, such as electrified convergence components and smart production system technologies based on the demand for future vehicles. In the regional industries (tourism and culture) sector, the university plans to establish and actively promote a new interdisciplinary tourism content major to nurture professionals who will lead Gyeongnam’s customized tourism content. All these initiatives are underpinned by organic cooperation among regional, industrial, academic, and research institutions.
◆ Bold Leap Toward Becoming a Glocal University for the Next 100 Years ... Challenge for Official Designation in the 2025 Glocal University 30 Project
With the vision of "The Hub of Digital Transformation, a Glocal University for the Next 100 Years," Kyungnam University is challenging for official designation in the 2025 Glocal University 30 Project. Having already been named a preliminary designated university by presenting a new regional-centered university model focused on digital transformation, educational innovation, and strengthening regional industry connections, the university has now fulfilled all requirements for official designation this year by concretizing three main pillars: ▲Nurturing digital convergence talents ▲Industry-academia-linked DX innovation ▲Building a regional community settlement ecosystem.
To achieve "co-growth of the region and university," Kyungnam University has led manufacturing digital transformation (DX) projects over the past six years, contributing to 32 national projects and securing a total of 222.8 billion KRW in funding. The university has played a pivotal role in building the foundation for future industries in partnership with Gyeongsangnam-do, going beyond the role of a simple educational institution to serve as a hub for regional innovation and the industrial ecosystem.
In particular, Kyungnam University’s unique strengths?such as being designated as a leading university in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a Smart Manufacturing ICT Hub University (RIS), a general-type Software-Centered University, the establishment of an AI/Software Convergence College and a specialized graduate school, the creation of a Super Large Manufacturing AI Global Joint Research Center, mandatory digital courses for students, and required digital competency training for faculty?have earned it numerous "first and only" titles both nationwide and within Gyeongnam.
To ensure sustainable development, Kyungnam University has put forward a comprehensive strategy encompassing innovation in education, industry, and the local community.
Through connectivity and spatial innovation, the university is upgrading its campus in connection with the Changwon Industrial Complex and implementing a HUB-SPOKE strategy. By fostering a close-knit ecosystem among high schools, universities, companies, and research institutes, the university focuses on nurturing company-tailored digital convergence talents through mandatory digital education for all students, the operation of 21 DX convergence majors, the expansion of AI/Software-based major systems, and the enlargement of multiple major and non-major admission systems.
Kyungnam University is also fully committed to integrating new technologies such as AI, big data, and IoT into education and industry by collaborating with Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, SAP, Megazone Cloud, Seoul National University, KAIST, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, and the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute. The university supports the regional settlement of future talents through digital competency training for employees, the establishment of settlement infrastructure, and customized education and settlement support programs for international students.
All these initiatives are backed by Kyungnam University’s strong commitment to innovation, realized through cooperation with diverse stakeholders in the local community to achieve a "win-win model for the co-growth of the region and university."
Having completed all preparations for official designation in the Glocal University 30 Project as an integrated innovation hub for digital Gyeongnam, Kyungnam University will now focus on strengthening the connection between regional industry and education, and will do its utmost to nurture glocal talents with international competitiveness, contributing to the advancement of Changwon, Gyeongnam, and the future of South Korea.
◆ Leading Regional New Growth Engine Industries with Super Large AI
As part of its specialization strategy, Kyungnam University is applying next-generation artificial intelligence, "Super Large AI," to Gyeongsangnam-do’s core manufacturing industry, striving to develop new manufacturing processes and train talents to lead the region’s new growth engine industries.
"Super Large AI" is a next-generation artificial intelligence that learns from massive datasets and is capable of independent thinking and comprehensive reasoning. It can perform advanced tasks such as human-like conversation, literary and artistic creation, and emotion analysis.
On March 19, a memorandum of understanding was signed at Hanma Miraegwan between major domestic research institutions and leading mid-sized companies in the manufacturing sector within the province to promote follow-up projects for the Super Large Manufacturing AI initiative.
To this end, the "Super Large Manufacturing AI Global Joint Research Center" has been established, with the university’s campus in Masanhappo-gu, Changwon, being developed as a global innovation hub for the Super Large Manufacturing AI industry. The center is jointly operated by Megazone Cloud Co., KAIST, and Gyeongnam Technopark Foundation, with participation from global innovation companies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, and SAP; domestic conglomerates such as KT and SK Networks Service; and SMEs including AI.Nation, RCK, and Markbase. Together, they are building an industry-academia-research cooperation ecosystem and actively pursuing the development of regional AI technologies.
In addition, Gyeongsangnam-do has been selected for the "Development and Demonstration Project for Manufacturing-Specialized Super Large Manufacturing AI Service Technology," a 22.7 billion KRW initiative organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, further accelerating follow-up projects for Super Large Manufacturing AI.
In particular, to develop services based on Super Large Manufacturing AI technology, the university is working with KAIST to develop a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) model utilizing open-source large language models (LLMs) and the university’s own manufacturing industry-specific knowledge graph technology, aiming to provide optimized services tailored to each company. Recognizing the necessity of Large Action Models (LAMs) in manufacturing, the university has also signed agreements with Gyeongsangnam-do, Changwon City, National Assembly member Choi Hyungdu, Gyeongnam Technopark, Google Cloud, Megazone Cloud, and the Seoul National University Automation Systems Joint Research Institute to promote technology development and follow-up projects.
The university is also committed to the digital transformation of Gyeongnam’s core industries and the training of AI/Software convergence talents. This year, the "Gyeongnam Intelligence Innovation Project Group" was newly launched, and in cooperation with the AI/Software Convergence Graduate School, the university aims to become a hub for Super Large Manufacturing AI research and the training of innovative talents.
Students will learn practical courses such as ultra-high-speed optical communication, mobile and satellite communication, computer communication, multimedia processing technologies for voice and video, system hardware design, application and system software technology, AI-based communication networks, AI image processing technology, and metaverse communication applications. Through related research, they will acquire the expertise needed to work in advanced research and professional management positions required by the industry.
Additionally, the university aims to cultivate AI engineers who possess the ability to apply mathematics, basic science, and specialized knowledge to practical work, solve various engineering problems with creative thinking, demonstrate ethical awareness and social responsibility, lead regional industrial development, and communicate and collaborate for the exchange of professional technology and internationalization.
◆ Promoting Software and Digital Transformation of Regional Industries
Kyungnam University was selected for the general track of the Ministry of Science and ICT’s "2023 Software-Centered University" project, the first in Gyeongnam and Ulsan. Over the next eight years, the university will implement the project with a total budget of 22 billion KRW, sourced from national, provincial, and municipal funds, as well as industry and university funds.
As part of its specialization strategy, Kyungnam University is focusing on the software and digital transformation of regional industries, building various educational innovations and infrastructure. The university’s goal is to become a "hub for nurturing AI/Software convergence talents for smart manufacturing ICT/Software and future new industries." To this end, it has established practical, industry-mirroring, and smart lab-type educational environments required by partner companies, such as the "DX (Digital Transformation) Center," "24/7 AI/Software Open Lab," "Open Source Software Practice Lab," "Software Creative Convergence Imagination Room," "AI/Software Employment and Entrepreneurship Cafe," and "AI/Software Lounge."
As a result, the university is now able to continuously supply "demand-driven software convergence talents" required by over 100 partner companies, including LG Electronics, Samsung Heavy Industries, DSME Information Systems, and Hanwha Precision Machinery, while providing students with a wide range of career and employment opportunities.
◆ Global Coding Campus for Training Digital Future Talents
The "Kyungnam University Global Coding Campus," a joint initiative by the region, university, and companies to nurture innovative software convergence talents, is one of the core projects of the Ulsan-Gyeongnam Regional Innovation Platform Coding Open Meta Campus. This campus is equipped with specialized educational facilities such as an open coding education center, mentor lounge, mini-conference studio, and open studio to support students in learning coding, as well as spaces for student-company collaboration, making it a leading joint research and education center for the future of Gyeongnam.
By actively utilizing the Global Coding Campus, Kyungnam University will not only create educational synergy with regional companies in game programming and content media, but also serve as a hub for future new industry technology development and talent training.
In addition, the university has attracted the nation’s first Global Game Center within a university. The game industry, one of the core fields of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, has so far been concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area. To address this, the "Gyeongnam Global Game Center" has opened at Hanma Hall on the Kyungnam University campus to resolve industry imbalances and foster regionally specialized game industries. The university has also established the first "Department of Game Studies" in Gyeongnam, aiming to vitalize the regional game industry and nurture future talents.
Going forward, Kyungnam University plans to make various efforts to promote the global K-content boom in cooperation with Gyeongsangnam-do, Changwon City, and NCSoft, centering on the "Gyeongnam Global Game Center," which will house about 20 game companies.
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