National Technical High School Students Learn AI at Seoul National University, KAIST, and Pusan National University

Ministry of SMEs and Startups Signs Business Agreement with Seoul National University, KAIST, and Pusan National University

Minister Park Young-sun of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and others are signing an MOU agreement for the operation of the National Technical High School AI education program and taking a commemorative photo. From the left, Lee Jun-woo, Principal of Gumi Electronics Technical High School; Jeon Ho-hwan, President of Pusan National University; Oh Se-jung, President of Seoul National University; Minister Park Young-sun; Shin Sung-chul, President of KAIST; Choi Jae-yong, Principal of Busan Mechanical Technical High School; and Doo Seung, Principal of Jeonbuk Mechanical Technical High School.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry) announced that Minister Park Young-sun signed a business agreement on the 19th at the Hoam Faculty House of Seoul National University with the presidents of Seoul National University, KAIST, and Pusan National University, as well as the principals of three national technical high schools under the Ministry, to operate an artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum at national technical high schools.

Reflecting industry demands, national technical high schools nurture talents in specialized fields such as electronics, electrical engineering, and machinery. This year, for the first time, they plan to operate an AI-linked specialized education curriculum. Through this business agreement, Seoul National University, KAIST, and Pusan National University will support the operation of the specialized education curriculum at national technical high schools for the next three years. Seoul National University, KAIST, and Pusan National University will conduct special lectures on new technology fields such as AI for students of national technical high schools. Each university will deliver special lectures reflecting the requests of each national technical high school on topics including AI in general, robotics, semiconductors, and smart factories, coordinating in advance among universities to avoid content overlap.

They will also support technical training for teachers at national technical high schools. Until now, national technical high schools have strengthened teachers' capabilities in new technology education through commissioned training and appointments of industry teachers, but have faced difficulties securing specialized training institutions. Accordingly, Seoul National University, KAIST, and Pusan National University plan to open AI-related technical training courses during national technical high school vacation periods for teachers to participate in, including intensive training such as residential courses.

Finally, the universities will support national technical high schools by recommending and connecting outstanding companies for field training, facilitating visits to university research labs, and designating university master’s and doctoral mentors for career and counseling support for outstanding students of national technical high schools. On this day, Minister Park also stated that she would actively support smooth collaboration between universities and national technical high schools and announced separate support plans for outstanding students participating in the AI curriculum.

Minister Park said, "We gave national technical high school students who achieved excellent results in skills competitions the opportunity to participate in the CES exhibition for the first time earlier this year. This broadened the participating students' technological perspectives and provided an opportunity to consider various career paths, including entrepreneurship." She added, "We will actively provide opportunities for students who complete the AI curriculum to participate in excellent overseas exhibitions and establish SME contract departments linked to the AI curriculum to enable advanced learning after graduation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.