UNIST Launches 'Novatus Graduate School' to Nurture AI Professionals with Customized Programs for Industry

Published 02 Sep.2025 14:38(KST)

Connecting Industry with Education and Research
Launching a Practice-Oriented Master's Program in Engineering
Expanding to Five Majors Including Future Mobility, Energy, and Safety by 2026

UNIST has launched a customized engineering master's program for employees in the industrial sector.

On September 2, UNIST (President Park Jongrae) held the opening ceremony for the 'Novatus Graduate School' at the Pioneers Campus in Duwang-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan, officially announcing its establishment.

The ceremony was attended by Ulsan Mayor Kim Doogyeom, Ulsan Research Institute President Pyeon Sanghun, Ulsan Technopark President Cho Youngshin, Ulsan Information Industry Promotion Agency President Jang Byungtae, Ulsan Industry-Academia Convergence Institute President Shin Dongmok, and Korea Zinc Refinery Director Kim Seunghyun, who celebrated the launch of the graduate school and welcomed its first cohort of students.

Novatus Graduate School is a two-year professional engineering graduate school offering practice-oriented curricula that can be directly applied to industrial sites. The master's program is focused on practical skills, supplying the local industry with highly skilled technical professionals. As a hub for industry-academia-research cooperation, it is expected to drive innovation within the regional industrial ecosystem.

The curriculum aims to enhance problem-solving capabilities, secure global market competitiveness, and strengthen regional industrial competitiveness. In particular, it features a worker-friendly curriculum that directly connects the demand for AI technology in corporate settings with educational opportunities.

The establishment of this graduate school is an expansion of the non-degree education program 'Novatus Academia,' which UNIST has operated since 2021. While Novatus Academia focused on short-term AI projects, the graduate school offers a regular master's degree program with a broader range of majors.

This year, majors in Industrial Artificial Intelligence Technology and Mechanical Engineering have been introduced. Starting in the 2026 academic year, the school plans to expand into future mobility, future energy, and industrial safety AI fields. Recruitment for the 2026 incoming class will begin in October.

UNIST Novatus Graduate School plans to undertake projects that reflect the research needs of local companies. The regional industry anticipates that the school will produce practice-oriented professionals who can be immediately deployed to the field.

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President Park Jongrae emphasized, "Novatus Graduate School will leverage UNIST's top-tier research capabilities and educational infrastructure to deliver tangible results in the industrial sector," adding, "We will focus on cultivating world-class talent to drive future growth for the region and the nation."