Jeonnam National University announced on December 14 that it has become the first university in the country to declare a full-scale "AI Campus Transformation," providing all 30,000 members of its campus community with free access to eight types of generative AI. This unprecedented initiative in Korean higher education allows every member-including students, professors, staff, and researchers-to receive the same level of complimentary AI subscription services.
In line with its core Glocal University 30 strategy, Jeonnam National University will provide all faculty, staff, and enrolled students with free access to eight generative AI tools starting December 15. This is a strategic move to accelerate university innovation by integrating AI across education, research, and administration.
The eight generative AI programs now available for free include: CHAT GPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Grok, Llama, Mistral, and Qwen. If an individual were to subscribe to all eight programs independently, the monthly cost would be approximately 200,000 KRW. These AI tools offer a wide range of functions-including text and image generation, advanced search, code writing and analysis, multilingual translation, data processing, and report creation-making them highly applicable across educational, research, and administrative settings.
Notably, significant changes are expected in the field of education. Professors will be able to enhance the quality of their lectures by utilizing AI for developing teaching materials, creating learning content, and designing assessment questions. Students will strengthen their self-directed learning abilities by using AI for writing reports, designing projects, conducting research, and receiving academic and career counseling. The university plans to identify practical use cases across all disciplines-including natural sciences, engineering, humanities and social sciences, and arts and physical education-to build a campus where AI utilization becomes routine.
In research, AI will be applied throughout the entire process, from generating research ideas and analyzing data to drafting papers, thereby increasing research productivity and competitiveness. In administration, the university aims to greatly improve efficiency by automating meeting minutes, drafting documents, and streamlining various notifications and report-related tasks.
To coincide with the launch of this service, Jeonnam National University will also update its AI usage education programs and guidelines. The university will offer workshops, special lectures, and online courses to enhance AI literacy and support safe and ethical use among all members. It also plans to strengthen standards for copyright, personal data protection, and research ethics to establish a culture of responsible AI usage.
Lee Geunbae, President of Jeonnam National University, stated, "Providing free access to eight types of generative AI is not a privilege reserved for certain majors or a select group of experts. It is a crucial starting point for all members of Jeonnam National University to become an 'AI-based Glocal Innovation University.' We will accelerate AI-driven innovation in all areas-education, research, and administration-so that Jeonnam National University can establish itself as a leading AI university with global competitiveness beyond Korea."
Meanwhile, this service was made possible as a result of the "Mutual Business Agreement (MOU) for Glocal University Advancement" signed between Jeonnam National University and KT. Building on this initiative, Jeonnam National University and KT plan to expand joint AI-based projects in education, research, industry-academia collaboration, and regional innovation. Together with domestic industry-academia partners, they will actively foster professional talent to lead the digital transformation of local communities and the nation, and create new models for education, research, and industry.
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