'100 Billion Won Over 5 Years'... Jeonnam National University and Chosun University Designated as Glocal Universities After Three Attempts

(From left) Jeonnam National University, Chosun University campus view.

Jeonnam National University and Chosun University announced on the 29th that they have been officially designated as part of the Ministry of Education's "Seven New Regional University Innovation Models for National Balanced Growth" initiative (hereafter referred to as Glocal University 30).

During the selection process for the Glocal University 30, Jeonnam National University received high marks for its proposals to foster human-centered AI talent by integrating artificial intelligence with the humanities, as well as for its plans to nurture regional strategic industries through specialization in AI and future mobility. With this achievement, Jeonnam National University has emerged as a key institution for realizing Gwangju City's vision of becoming the "AI Capital" and the nation's goal of becoming one of the "Top Three Global AI Powers."

Building on its experience as the first university in Korea to establish a standalone AI college in 2019, Jeonnam National University plans to expand AI innovation across all academic disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Leveraging its advanced departments-such as the School of Artificial Intelligence, Department of Big Data Convergence, and Department of Future Mobility-along with nine interdisciplinary majors and 46 micro-degree programs, the university will introduce new AI liberal arts courses for all students, humanities-tech convergence education, and integrated bachelor's-master's-doctoral degree tracks.

Furthermore, Jeonnam National University will restructure its overall education system by hiring 50 new AI-specialized faculty members and providing retraining for professors, enhancing academic flexibility through major-free admissions, expanding AI-based edutech and industry-academia capstone design programs, and making AI ethics, philosophy, and digital literacy compulsory. At the heart of these changes is the "AI for All @CNU" project, which aims to support all members of the university in utilizing generative AI in their daily lives. The university's AI edutech platform, "HAI-Class," and the life-cycle platform, "Bitnarae," will drive innovation in student learning and career development, faculty teaching, and staff administration.

Chosun University has turned the challenges of super-aging and low growth into opportunities for new economic development. By leveraging Asia's largest well-aging big data accumulated over many years, the university has proposed an innovative model to transform the traditional senior-friendly industry into a high value-added industrial ecosystem that integrates AI, big data, biotechnology, and the humanities.

Chosun University, together with Chosun Nursing College and Chosun College of Science and Technology, will gradually pursue university integration under a unified governance system through the "Chancellor System." This approach aims to establish a comprehensive education system spanning associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and lifelong education programs, thereby cultivating regional and global professionals who will lead the well-aging industry.

In addition, the university will establish three specialized colleges: Bio-Medi, Age-Tech, and Life-Care. It will also expand its flexible major selection system (major-free and department-free) and interdisciplinary curricula, with the goal of nurturing 10,000 well-aging specialists and increasing students' academic choices. Through these efforts, Chosun University seeks to prevent the outflow of local talent and enhance the competitiveness of the well-aging industry through educational innovation.

Lee Geunbae, President of Jeonnam National University, stated, "This selection is the result of the passion of both the university and the local community. We will nurture human-centered AI talent and leap forward as Korea's leading glocal university, opening the future for the region and the nation."

Kim Choonseong, President of Chosun University, said, "This Glocal University designation is a valuable achievement made possible by the full support of Chosun University members, Gwangju City, and the local community. Now is the true starting point. Through well-aging specialization, we will become Asia's number one well-aging university and the center of glocal innovation, where the region and the world grow together."

Park Myunghee, President of Chosun Nursing College, remarked, "This final selection as a Glocal University marks a major turning point for nurturing well-aging talent who will take responsibility for the future of the region and the nation, together with Chosun University. Based on our accumulated educational capabilities in nursing, health, and welfare, we will do our utmost to foster practical professionals needed by the local community and to develop leaders who can thrive on the global stage."

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