What Should We Prepare for in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Seongdong-gu 'Seongdong 4th Industrial Revolution Experience Center' AI Future Talent Training for 2,100 Elementary, Middle, and High School Students... Focus on Nurturing Future Talent through Establishment and Operation of Own Online Education Platform and Mobile Service This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) will operate the ‘Seongdong Future School Special Education’ program twice, in April and July this year, targeting eight elementary, middle, and high schools in the region, focusing on AI (Artificial Intelligence).

Under the themes ‘What Should We Prepare for in the AI Era?’ and ‘Turning Imagination into Reality in the AI Era,’ experts will deliver special online lectures about the future changes brought by the AI era and the competencies that youth need to prepare for.

This year, in response to COVID-19, a home school program is provided through the establishment of an online education platform on the official website, allowing lectures to be accessed via mobile devices as well.

Additionally, online and offline courses will be offered to local school teachers to strengthen teaching capabilities and provide students with diverse learning opportunities related to future technologies such as AI and software (SW).

Seongdong-gu was the first in the nation to open the ‘Seongdong 4th Industrial Revolution Experience Center’ in October 2017, adopting as a key policy the cultivation of future talents equipped with convergent problem-solving skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, proactively preparing for the 4th Industrial Revolution era led by artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology.

Accordingly, various educational programs in fields such as the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), robotics, drones, 3D printing, and coding have been made available not only to elementary, middle, and high school students but also to families and various community groups.

Since its opening until March this year, over 53,000 Seongdong-gu residents have participated in the programs, and the curriculum has evolved diversely, including hybrid online and offline courses, keeping pace with the changing educational environment.

In particular, due to strengthened social distancing measures last year amid COVID-19, the program was operated online and in small group experiential formats, receiving high acclaim from a total of 970 participants. The program’s distinctiveness and professionalism were recognized, leading to its selection for two consecutive years as a base institution for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education’s startup experience centers in the Seoul area.

Meanwhile, last month, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the Seongdong 4th Industrial Revolution Experience Center and emphasized the importance of cutting-edge science and technology education such as artificial intelligence.

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “This year marks the seventh year since Seongdong-gu was designated as an education special zone. We expect the ‘Seongdong 4th Industrial Revolution Experience Center’ to play a pivotal role in nurturing future talents equipped with core competencies such as creativity, convergence, and communication in the post-COVID-19 era.” He added, “We will focus even more on cultivating future talents in line with rapidly changing future technologies.”

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