Welcome Financial Group is partnering with Soongsil University to run a master’s programme aimed at strengthening employees’ professional capabilities in finance and artificial intelligence (AI).

Welcome Financial said on Sept. 7 it will establish a contract department, the Department of Digital Finance AI, at Soongsil University’s graduate school and begin operating it this month.

The Department of Digital Finance AI is a master’s programme for employees. It is designed to help them build specialised capabilities that combine finance and AI while continuing their work.

The two sides have discussed establishing the department since 2025 and signed a memorandum of understanding on Sept. 1 after completing reporting procedures with the Ministry of Education.

The curriculum focuses on using AI in financial workplaces. It covers AI business strategy and applications in finance, practical use of generative AI, data-driven decision-making, development and operation of a finance-specialised large language model (LLM), AI governance and regulatory response, and design and operation of AI agents.

Welcome Financial plans to use the master’s programme to strengthen employees’ AI expertise and expand organisation-wide capabilities to apply AI to actual financial work.

Hyun-sik Lim (임현식), head of management support at Welcome Savings Bank, said, "AI transformation is not a task for a specific organisation but an issue of capability across the entire company." He added, "We will support employees so they can build expertise and reflect it in their work."

Kyung-nam Jang (장경남), vice president for academic affairs at Soongsil University, said, "The Department of Digital Finance AI is a programme that directly addresses workplace issues within the curriculum." He added, "We will foster talent that understands both finance and AI."