West-Bu-Je Tri-Campus Alliance Holds Successful Idea Competition for Local Community Solutions

Busan National University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, and Jeju National University Collaborate
Presenting Sustainable Solutions for Regional Issues
Through AI-Based and Elderly-Oriented Creative Ideas

Busan National University (President Choi Jaewon), together with Seoul National University of Science and Technology and Jeju National University, operated the national university alliance program, the "West-Bu-Je Tri-Campus Alliance Class," and held the "Idea Competition for Solutions to Local Community Issues" for three days from August 20 to 22, 2025, at Haeundae Central Hotel in Busan.

Busan National University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, and Jeju National University alliance are holding the West-Bu-Je Tri-Campus Alliance Class Competition and taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Busan National University

The "West-Bu-Je Tri-Campus" is a program in which the three universities-Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Busan National University, and Jeju National University-form an alliance in a "triangle" structure, reflecting the meaning of "try" (TRY), and continue to take on new challenges through inter-university collaboration.

This competition focused on discovering creative ideas from university students and seeking feasible alternatives to address current issues such as regional depopulation, declining school-age population, and local economic stagnation.

A total of 41 students from Busan National University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, and Jeju National University participated, forming alliance teams and carrying out the entire process from problem definition to concrete solutions. The judging criteria centered on feasibility, sustainability, and effectiveness.

As a result of the judging, the grand prize was awarded to the "Haepalang Team." The Haepalang Team received high praise for proposing an AI-based emotional exchange and customized job matching service app to address the increasing number of elderly people living alone. The excellence award went to the "Ssaksseuri Team" for their project "Introduction to Dating: The Late Learner Project." The Ssaksseuri Team was highly evaluated by the judges for their creative idea of planning a dating program to enhance the mental health of the elderly in a super-aged society.

The three universities, following last year's joint planning of extracurricular programs, held their second competition this year, strengthening their cooperative system through joint judging panels, development of educational content, and follow-up support for outstanding ideas. Based on this, they expanded the inter-university network and presented a sustainable cooperation model for regional innovation.

Hwang Sungwook, Director of Planning at Busan National University (Professor of Media and Communication Studies), said, "This alliance activity is significant in that it provided practical alternatives for solving local community problems through inter-university collaboration. Based on the government-funded support project, we will further develop this program as a model case of university cooperation and will continue to create innovative models for the joint growth of local communities and universities in the future."