National Mokpo University, Mechanical, Shipbuilding and Ocean Engineering Department Rapidly Rising... New Major in Eco-friendly Energy Established

Jeonnam Leading Future Mobility and Offshore Wind Power Industries

As demand for eco-friendly ships surges recently, South Korea is solidifying its position as the world’s number one shipbuilding nation by sweeping the market for high value-added eco-friendly vessels such as LNG carriers and LNG-powered ships.

In line with this trend, the government and companies are stepping up efforts to achieve a ‘super-gap’ in domestic shipbuilding technology and firmly maintain the top global position.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced the ‘Shipbuilding Industry Super-Gap Strategy’ last year, pledging to expand workforce and provide financial support, while companies are focusing their research capabilities on eco-friendly ships, autonomous navigation, and smart yards to achieve the super-gap goal.

In response to this upward momentum, Mokpo National University (President Song Ha-cheol) has launched the Department of Mechanical, Shipbuilding and Ocean Engineering through a major restructuring that includes merging the Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering majors and establishing a new Eco-Friendly Energy Engineering major.

Freshmen entering in the 2024 academic year will enroll in the department and study various majors before freely choosing their desired major at the selection point, with a 100% guarantee of admission to the chosen major. This innovative, student-centered department operation is expected to be highly effective.

The Mechanical Engineering major is dedicated to training experts in future mobility such as electric vehicles, e-mobility, and drones.

To this end, it operates a specialized mechatronics curriculum that integrates IT technologies such as electricity, electronics, and artificial intelligence with mechanical engineering. Graduates find employment in mechanical fields at companies like POSCO and Korea Railroad Corporation, global IT firms such as Samsung Electronics and Intel, and energy system sectors including Korea Electric Power Corporation and its subsidiaries.

The Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering major focuses on training experts in eco-friendly ships, autonomous navigation, and smart yards to achieve the highest technology level and eco-friendliness in the shipbuilding and ocean industries, which are key industries in the southwestern region of Jeollanam-do.

In particular, it operates the ‘Marine Cable Testing and Research Center,’ the world’s only international certification testing and evaluation institution for subsea cables in offshore plants, and, in collaboration with LS Cable & System, secured a 330 billion KRW export contract to Taiwan. Based on this world-class technology, it is committed to cultivating specialized manpower in shipbuilding and ocean engineering.

A department official stated, “As South Korea’s shipbuilding and ocean industry is booming, the demand for design personnel, smart management personnel, and R&D personnel trained by our department is increasing every year. Since the shipbuilding and ocean industry is dominated by large corporations and has high manpower demand, there is no concern about employment or salary.”

Mokpo National University is also focusing on training personnel in eco-friendly energy. The newly established Eco-Friendly Energy major in the Department of Mechanical, Shipbuilding and Ocean Engineering in 2024 will train engineers who produce, store, transport, and utilize renewable energy sources such as offshore wind and solar power, as well as recently spotlighted eco-friendly energy sources like LNG, hydrogen, and ammonia. The establishment of this major is expected to meet the increasing demand for specialized personnel triggered by projects such as the development of the Shinan offshore wind power complex.

Additionally, the university has established the ‘Offshore Wind Power Industry Research Institute’ to conduct R&D and train personnel in offshore wind power technology, preparing to apply the university’s research capabilities to the industry.

Moreover, Mokpo National University operates the world’s only LNG cargo tank insulation system demonstration center. It collaborates with 10 universities including Seoul National University and Pusan National University, over 100 global shipyards and companies such as Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries, and seven national research institutes including the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials. Based on world-leading researchers and technology, the university is fully committed to training students as world-class experts.

President Song Ha-cheol of Mokpo National University said, “As the central university for the Ministry of Education’s Regional Innovation Platform Future Mobility Development Project, Mokpo National University has secured 21.8 billion KRW annually to build infrastructure for training experts in future mobility and eco-friendly ships. We will support students with scholarships, advanced educational environments, industry-academia cooperation education, and employment assistance by mobilizing all available resources.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Mechanical, Shipbuilding and Ocean Engineering at Mokpo National University is recruiting freshmen through the student record screening starting in 2024. Detailed admission information can be found on the Mokpo National University Admissions Office website.

Source: 1. President Song Ha-cheol of Mokpo National University during a practical class in the Department of Mechanical, Shipbuilding and Ocean Engineering

2. A Mokpo National University student practicing with a marine plant multiple crane operation training simulator.