KAIST to Train Experts in Virtual and Augmented Reality

Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Strategy and Finance, visited the K-Style Hub service site at the Korea Tourism Organization Seoul Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 26th, touring the tourist information center and experiencing virtual reality (VR). Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is launching a program to train experts in augmented reality software and platforms.

KAIST Augmented Reality Research Center announced on the 7th that it will operate the "Virtual and Augmented Reality Professional Training Project" through the Industrial Innovation Talent Growth Support Project.

This project aims to train master's and doctoral level professionals and is led by the Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Industry Promotion Association (KEA), with KAIST (augmented reality software and platforms), Sogang University (virtual reality application services), and Seoul National University (augmented reality hardware) forming the project team. The government is providing 6.65 billion KRW in funding, and with additional budgets from participating institutions and companies, a total of 8.4 billion KRW will be invested over five years.

KAIST has established an "Augmented Reality Program" at the Graduate School of Culture Technology and will select new students in the first half of this year to cultivate convergence talents with practical augmented reality skills over the next five years, starting from the fall semester.

The newly established graduate program, "KAIST CT-AR Program," is recruiting new students until the 13th. Each year, about 10 master's and doctoral students will be selected to be educated in core augmented reality software and platforms such as digital twins, environmental recognition and tracking, immersive augmentation, intelligent information augmentation, and 3D interaction, aiming to nurture talents who will lead key technologies in the field.

Selected students will receive tuition and academic incentives. Opportunities for joint research with domestic and international related companies and participation in international conferences will also be provided. The goal is to provide a foundation for students to grow into AR R&D professionals equipped with both industrial experience and international leadership.

In particular, to strengthen practical skills that respond to the real demands of the industry, project-based classes have been planned with participation from KAIST industry-academic cooperation companies such as Vornect Co., Ltd., Postmedia Co., Ltd., Maxst Co., Ltd., Xtripple Co., Ltd., AST Co., Ltd., and Victoria Production Co., Ltd. Students must complete these classes as a major requirement, where they identify, analyze, and solve real-world problems together with these companies.

Professor Woontak Woo, head of the major at KAIST Graduate School of Culture Technology, said, "Based on 20 years of experience and achievements, we will strive to cultivate excellent research and development personnel in the augmented reality field," adding, "Over the next five years, together with participating companies, we will prepare for the digital twin-based virtual and augmented reality era."

Meanwhile, detailed information about the KAIST CT-AR program new student recruitment can be found on the Graduate School of Culture Technology website.

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