Master's Degree through Startup... Inha University Establishes 'Thesis-Substitute Startup Track' System

Inha University Campus View

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Inha University announced on the 3rd that it has established the country's first 'Thesis-Substitute Startup Track,' allowing students to earn a master's degree through startup activities.

Starting from the first semester of the 2023 academic year, entrepreneurs or prospective entrepreneurs can replace their thesis by completing startup-related coursework, participating in extracurricular startup programs, and undergoing an evaluation of their startup achievements.

To apply, candidates must meet the general graduate school's thesis substitution eligibility requirements and submit a business plan and startup verification documents to the Startup Support Group for evaluation.

Inha University also decided to expand the startup leave of absence system, previously applicable only to undergraduate students, to graduate students as well.

As a regional hub university for the startup ecosystem, Inha University is leading the cultivation of excellent startups by conducting projects such as the 'Early Startup Package' led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of Education's '3-Stage Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation Leading University Development Project LINC3.0,' and the 'Business Incubation Center (BI)' project.

Going forward, to promote the startup specialization strategy, one of the university's key management goals, Inha University plans to provide full-cycle support to successfully lead the startup process?from discovering entrepreneurs, advancing business models, startup education, professional mentoring, investment attraction linkage, to startup funding support.

Lee Sangcheol, head of Inha University's Startup Support Group, stated, "We will enhance the entrepreneurial capabilities of university and graduate students by establishing an organic collaboration system with the school, local governments, and field experts," adding, "We will expand the existing startup education programs centered on undergraduates to discover graduate students and faculty companies with excellent technologies and actively support investments to ensure startup achievements lead to job creation."

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