Honam University Opens 'AI Education Center' to Fully Launch AI Convergence Talent Development

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Honam University (President Park Sangcheol) is set to fully launch AI convergence talent development.

Honam University LINC+ Project Group (Director Yang Seunghak) announced on the 23rd that it will hold an opening ceremony for the ‘AI Education Center’ on the 24th.

The AI Education Center utilizes an artificial intelligence practice room to enable basic AI programming, fundamental deep learning education, and software development practice for implementing video recognition, voice recognition, and language recognition technologies. It will serve as an AI education venue not only for students but also for industry workers and citizens.

Additionally, various educational programs will be operated, including autonomous driving model car sensor technology implementation using big data and AI autonomous driving training kits, playing a pivotal role in innovative education that activates AI convergence education across all academic fields.

Honam University LINC+ Project Group invested over 700 million KRW earlier this year to build an AI convergence campus and established the AI Education Center with the goal of ‘training AI talent through project-based practical education’ to realize the vision of an AI-specialized university.

The center is equipped with AI education simulators, high-performance servers, an AI facial recognition automatic attendance system, and high-spec computers, focusing on extensive AI foundational education based on mobile and cloud technologies.

Last year, Honam University launched the ‘AI-Centered University Promotion Committee’ directly under the president (Chairman Jeong Younggi, Dean of ICT Convergence College) to prepare an innovative curriculum centered on ▲ AI campus construction ▲ development of AI basic convergence liberal arts courses ▲ mandatory offering of AI courses in major curricula ▲ development of at least one AI-linked (convergence) major in every department.

The AI-related liberal arts courses increased the required credits in big data and AI literacy areas from 3 to 9 credits, and each major requires students to take two AI courses (6 credits), making a total of 15 AI credits mandatory. Furthermore, every department is developing at least one linked or convergence major to integrate AI mindsets into their fields, maximizing the effect of AI-linked (convergence) education.

Since 2018, Honam University has invested over 1.5 billion KRW over three years to build the nation’s first AI campus for AI convergence education. It established 12 AI-dedicated classrooms and smart classrooms, installing cutting-edge educational equipment such as laptops and electronic podiums necessary for AI education and smart lectures.

In particular, the AI-dedicated classroom on the second floor of IT Square is equipped with optimized AI education facilities, including a facial recognition automatic attendance system, AI autonomous driving training kits, and high-performance deep learning servers.

Alongside this, Honam University has focused on spreading AI education by inviting AI experts and operated advanced big data and AI courses for professors during last winter vacation to ensure early establishment and foundation of AI curricula. Various scholarship programs have also been introduced to encourage students’ AI learning.

Director Yang Seunghak said, “With the opening of Honam University AI Education Center, we will devote all efforts to nurturing AI convergence talents in line with Gwangju Metropolitan City’s four major strategies as an AI-centered city,” adding, “We will strive to make the Honam University AI Education Center a gateway for producing regional AI talents in the future.”

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