Sahmyook University and Sahmyook Foundation Sign MOU to Foster AI Professionals

Strengthening AI Education Collaboration in the Social Welfare Field

Sahmyook University announced on February 25 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Sahmyook Foundation, a social welfare corporation, to foster artificial intelligence (AI) professionals and strengthen research cooperation.

From the left: Je Haejong, president of Sahmyook University, and Bae Sunggyun, executive director of Sahmyook Foundation. Sahmyook University

This agreement is part of a strategic collaboration aimed at being selected for the recently announced "AI-Centered University" project by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and at extending the university's AI education and research capabilities into the social welfare field. Building on the fact that the Sahmyook Foundation operates more than 70 social welfare facilities nationwide, the partnership focuses on establishing practical cooperation models such as field-oriented talent development and the operation of contract-based academic programs.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will gradually promote: cooperation on establishing contract-based departments and restructuring curricula for nurturing talent for the AI-Centered University initiative; joint implementation of research projects and commissioned research; exchange of research personnel and sharing of information on industry-academia projects; joint promotion of value-diffusion projects; support for field training and employment linkage; and sharing of education and research infrastructure.

Sahmyook University plans to establish a system for training professionals that combines AI with the welfare field, providing current students with employment-linked field training opportunities and expanding re-education opportunities for employees of the foundation through contract-based departments and graduate programs. Based on this, the university intends to support the digital transformation of the welfare field and systematically cultivate practice-oriented professionals who can respond to on-site needs, including the development of AI-based smart work systems.

The Sahmyook Foundation, a social welfare corporation, operates more than 70 social welfare facilities nationwide, serving an average of over 20,000 users per day and approximately 4.22 million users annually. Around 3,700 employees work there, and the foundation is actively pursuing digital transformation, including the advancement of AI-based welfare services and the introduction of smart work systems.

Je Haejong, President of Sahmyook University, said, "AI is now changing not only specific industrial sectors but also the overall way society operates," adding, "Through education and research models linked to the welfare field, we will expand the university's social role and ensure that this leads to tangible talent development and research outcomes."