Science ministry launches 18 AI-focused universities, 15 AX graduate schools

The science ministry said Tuesday it launched 18 AI-focused universities and 15 AX graduate schools, part of a push to rebuild university education around artificial intelligence and to train graduate-level AI talent together with industry.

A joint launch ceremony was held at Yonsei University's Baekyang Nuri Hall, drawing about 90 people including the university presidents of participating schools and 26 companies taking part as joint research partners. The selected universities will receive up to 3 billion won ($2.21 million) a year for as long as eight years, and the 15 AX graduate schools up to the same amount for up to six years.

Participating schools are expected to strengthen AI major courses, make basic AI education mandatory for all undergraduates and open new interdisciplinary courses that combine AI with existing majors. Next year the ministry plans to evaluate the 38 remaining software-focused universities and move them all into the AI-focused category.

Samsung Electronics, Hanwha Aerospace, POSCO Holdings, Doosan Robotics and LIG D&A are among 26 companies joining as joint research organizations, with the schools and companies setting up AX research cooperation centers, a dual-advisor system and student-led project-based learning.

Non-capital region universities make up 11 of the 18 AI-focused universities and eight of the 15 AX graduate schools. The ministry said it will raise the share of such universities among newly selected schools to more than 70 percent from 2027.

The ministry also selected non-capital region universities to lead 20 new AI Star Fellowship projects, which support creative research by early-career researchers. Ten of the projects involve industry cooperation and 10 involve joint research with other universities, with up to 2 billion won ($1.47 million) a year for up to six years per project.

"Universities in the AI era must go beyond teaching AI and become engines of innovation that change education itself to fit the AI era," said Ryu Je-myung, the ministry's second vice minister. "We expect the AI-focused universities and AX graduate schools to establish themselves as bases for AI education innovation spanning universities and graduate schools, universities and industry, and the capital region and non-capital regions."

Yonsei University President Yoon Dong-seop and Hallym University President Choi Yang-hee shared examples of change at their campuses at the ceremony, discussing how universities should restructure themselves for the AI era.