"Vaccine Talent" Nurtured Locally... National Kyunguk University Achieves SK Bioscience Employment Success

Industry-Academia Cooperation Bears Fruit Through Field Training and Scholarships
Glocal University Proves Regional Settlement-Oriented Employment Model

The industry-academia cooperation for vaccine industry talent development promoted by National Kyunguk University has led to employment outcomes, presenting a model case for the glocal university's regional settlement-oriented model. The collaboration system, which links university education, corporate demand, and regional policy, has been evaluated as producing tangible results.

On January 20, National Kyunguk University (President Jung Taeju) announced that Kwon Minji, a graduate of the Department of Vaccine Biotechnology (graduating in February 2025), has been officially accepted by SK Bioscience (CEO Ahn Jaeyong).

From the left: Professor Jang Yohan, Professor Jeon Sejin, student Kwon Minji, Professor Lim Jaehwan, Professor Yoon Sunwoo

Kwon’s acceptance is a visible outcome of the vaccine industry talent development agreement signed between National Kyunguk University and SK Bioscience, and is significant as it demonstrates the potential of an industry-academia cooperation-based talent development model linked to the local industry.

Since signing an agreement in 2019 with SK Bioscience, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Andong City, and the International Vaccine Institute to promote the domestic vaccine industry, National Kyunguk University has gradually expanded related programs.

In particular, since 2021, the university has strengthened its industry-oriented educational foundation by receiving scholarship funds from SK Bioscience, selecting scholarship recipients, and operating field training programs.

Additionally, in September 2025, the university will sign an additional business agreement with SK Bioscience for the training and recruitment of specialized vaccine industry professionals, and is currently operating a system to recommend outstanding graduating students to the company each year.

Kwon, as a beneficiary of this program, has grown into a well-rounded talent with both academic and practical capabilities, based on her major studies and hands-on experience, and has ultimately secured her acceptance.

Kwon stated, "The support from the Glocal University Promotion Group and the Regional Industry-Linked University Specialization Innovation Support Group was a great help in gaining field experience at SK Bioscience. The overseas experience provided by the glocal program also broadened my perspective. I hope to grow into an expert who contributes to the development of the vaccine industry."

Lim Jaehwan, Head of the Glocal University Promotion Group at National Kyunguk University, emphasized, "Through scholarship support and field training, we are building a virtuous cycle where students accumulate practical capabilities that lead to actual employment. We will continue to focus on nurturing core talent for both the region and the nation."

Yoon Sunwoo, Head of the Vaccine Convergence Innovation Center, said, "This achievement is a tangible result of the glocal university model, where university education, corporate demand, and regional policy are organically connected. National Kyunguk University will continue to foster practical talent who can be immediately utilized in the vaccine industry and build a sustainable industry-education ecosystem that enables them to settle and grow in the region."

This case is evaluated as a symbolic example of industry-academia cooperation created jointly by the university, companies, and the region, demonstrating that locally nurtured industry talent can lead to employment and regional settlement. It suggests that the glocal university model may be an important solution for securing competitiveness in the vaccine industry as well as for strategies aimed at balanced regional development.

The virtuous cycle in which talent nurtured in the region enters the local industrial field is a key indicator of "regional university innovation." This successful case at National Kyunguk University reaffirms that the success or failure of industry-academia cooperation must be proven by employment outcomes, not just declarations.