Pukyong National University and Geumyang to Establish New Interdisciplinary Major in Secondary Batteries

Selected for 12 Billion Won Secondary Battery Specialized University Support Project

Busan-Style Industry-Academia Model ... Training 600 Professionals

Pukyong National University (President Jang Youngsoo) is establishing the Department of Energy Convergence Technology Engineering, the nation's first industry-academia-research linked interdisciplinary major for fostering professionals in the secondary battery sector, in collaboration with Geumyang (Chairman Ryu Gwangji).

Pukyong National University recently partnered with Geumyang and was selected for the Ministry of Education's "Secondary Battery Specialized University Support Project" (Director: Professor Oh Pilgeon, Deputy Director: Professor Lee Songyi). Over the next four years, the university will receive more than 12 billion KRW in government funding to launch an industry-demand-based curriculum aimed at securing advanced industrial competitiveness in the secondary battery field.

Starting from the upcoming second semester, Pukyong National University plans to establish the Department of Energy Convergence Technology Engineering to produce next-generation battery process and materials specialists. The specialized interdisciplinary curriculum in secondary battery processes and materials offered by this department consists of three stages: basic major, advanced major, and advanced specialization.

Over the next four years, a total of 600 professionals are expected to be trained through double major and micro-degree programs open to both students majoring in secondary battery-related fields and students from other departments. The "Baekgyeongi Program," which offers overseas training opportunities, will also nurture 10 global talents annually for four years.

To support this, the "Ji-San-Hak Innovation Laboratory," established at the Yongdang Campus?the largest secondary battery specialized integrated education cluster in Korea?will provide a "One for All" integrated educational environment, enabling training in all aspects of electrode processing from laboratory scale to mass production. The university's Process Education Center (Director: Professor Oh Pilgeon), Materials Education Center (Director: Professor Noh Sanghoon), Education Support Center (Director: Professor Lee Sanggil), and Career & Startup Support Center (Director: Professor Kim Jongoh) will also participate in supporting the project.

Additionally, at Geumyang's secondary battery joint R&D center dry room, research will be supported in large-area pouch cell manufacturing, industry-linked electrode material recycling, lithium mineral processing, and advanced material synthesis.

Notably, Pukyong National University is carrying out autonomous projects in the secondary battery field as part of Busan City's Busan Regional Innovation Platform (RIS) initiative. Through this new industry-academia-research linked interdisciplinary major, the university aims to spread the Busan-style industry-academia-research cooperation model nationwide and present an innovative example of collaboration where local universities and industries grow together.

Professor Oh Pilgeon (Department of Nano Convergence Engineering), who leads the project, stated, "Busan City, the university, and industry will work together to nurture talents equipped with specialized knowledge and practical skills in the secondary battery field, playing a central role in regional innovation and talent development, and contributing to Korea's global competitiveness in the secondary battery sector."

The faculty members participating in the "Secondary Battery Specialized University Support Project" are posing for a commemorative photo at the Secondary Battery Industry-Academia-Research Innovation Laboratory. (From the top left: Professors Kyungho Kim, Woonik Park, Sangkil Lee, Songyi Lee; from the bottom left: Professors Sanghoon Noh, Pilgeon Oh)

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