Gwangju City Produces 305 'AI Specialists'

AI Officer School Graduation Ceremony... 52 Early Hires
1,221 Customized Practical Experts Trained Over 5 Years
"Companies Head to Gwangju... Strong Talent Development Ladder"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung attended the 'Gwangju Artificial Intelligence Academy 5th Performance Sharing and Graduation Ceremony' held on the afternoon of the 26th at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu, where he took commemorative photos with the trainees. Provided by Gwangju City

The ‘AI Academy,’ the hub for nurturing artificial intelligence (AI) talent in Gwangju, has completed its 10-month journey and produced 305 AI specialists.

Since its first recruitment in 2020, the AI Academy has graduated 1,221 students over five years through a solid curriculum, reaching its 5th cohort this year. Among graduates from cohorts 1 to 4, 68% have succeeded in employment or entrepreneurship, and the 5th cohort has shown tangible results with 52 early job placements.

In particular, this year, to enhance learning of the latest technologies such as generative AI and strengthen practical corporate experience, the program offered NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Institute (DLI) courses and operated team learning clubs in collaboration with companies like Korea IBM and Data Solution Co., Ltd., reflecting the trainees’ demands with various learning programs, thereby raising the qualitative level of the curriculum.

On the afternoon of the 26th, Gwangju City and the AI Industry Convergence Project Group held the ‘5th Gwangju AI Academy Performance Presentation and Completion Ceremony’ at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center.

The event was attended by about 300 people, including Mayor Kang Gi-jung, Jeong Su-jin, Head of the Regional Digital Headquarters at the National IT Industry Promotion Agency, Oh Sang-jin, Director of the AI Industry Convergence Project Group, and representatives of AI companies.

A job fair involving 25 companies such as Alice Group Co., Ltd., Daeshin Information & Communication Co., Ltd., and Ssangyong Information & Communication Co., Ltd. was also held, providing graduates with job information, on-site interviews, and counseling services.

A trainee who participated in the completion ceremony said, “Through the academy’s education over the past 10 months, I was able to acquire AI theory and practical skills, and I am currently preparing to start a business with fellow trainees,” adding, “I want to become the CEO of an AI company representing Gwangju.”

Mayor Kang Gi-jung said, “Recently, semiconductor fabless companies have consecutively visited Gwangju and signed agreements. This is another opportunity for our city and proves the results of the talent development ladder we have been promoting,” adding, “Since you are the main actors of these achievements, Gwangju will continue to support talent development through the AI Academy-centered talent ladder to attract investment, create jobs, and increase the resident population.”

Meanwhile, next year’s 6th AI Academy is expected to be composed of a more professional and solid education program, including ▲expanded curriculum operation ▲education by level and stage ▲new follow-up support programs for graduates.

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