South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT on Saturday announced the 2026 AI-core university programme and said it will newly select 10 universities this year, with a total budget of 25.5 billion won.

The programme aims to quickly establish and strengthen AI education systems at universities by using the existing software education foundation. It seeks to foster not only "AI specialists" who develop and implement AI technology itself, but also "AX convergence talent" who can combine and apply AI technology in each major field.

Starting with a total of 10 universities in 2026, the programme will expand to 30 universities by 2030. Selected universities will receive annual support of 3 billion won for up to eight years (3+3+2 years).

The ministry said the programme will support general four-year universities, excluding "AI hub universities" (nine regional flagship national universities) and "AI single colleges" (four science and technology institutes), to prevent overlapping investment among similar projects and quickly expand AI education at universities.

Universities selected for the programme will set up a dedicated organisation reporting directly to the president to oversee AI and AX education. They will run a combined bachelor's-master's fast-track programme, secure an operating system for AI convergence departments, strengthen faculty evaluation and compensation systems, and build a research environment for AI education practice. Universities will reorganise existing AI and software curricula into specialised, university-specific curricula tailored to industry demand to maximise capabilities.

They will provide basic and applied AI education regardless of major to help anyone grow into talent equipped with fundamental AI literacy. They will newly develop and introduce "bridge" courses, intermediate subjects that incorporate AI into major knowledge, so students in a wide range of majors, including humanities, social sciences and medicine, can build AI convergence capabilities.

The programme will also build corporate-university cooperation models to lower hiring barriers between job seekers and industry. Measures include setting up job-linked programmes after graduation, promoting long-term internships and carrying out industry-academia projects with participation by industry mentors.

It will support AX transition in specialised industries and promote start-ups. Universities will form a jointly participated organisation between universities and industry, tentatively named the Curriculum Innovation Committee, to discuss and improve cooperation matters in education and establish a virtuous cycle. To accelerate AX transition in industry, they will run company-tailored education curricula and pursue discovery and cooperation on industry problem-solving projects.

To promote a culture of entrepreneurship challenges in AI at universities, the programme will encourage students to carry out student-led creative tasks. Outstanding participating students will receive support needed for start-ups, including mentoring, an AI practice environment and funding. Support will be strengthened for students who actively take on competition, such as participation in external AI competitions.

AI-core universities will also open their infrastructure to local communities to serve as hubs to spread AI value. They will run tailored programmes by target group, such as AI camps for elementary and middle school students, technology seminars for workers and AI volunteer groups for marginalised groups. They will open strong lecture content developed by universities so anyone can use it for free through an online integrated platform called "Our AI Learning."

Bae Kyung-hoon, deputy prime minister and minister of science and ICT, said the newly 추진하는 AI-core universities and SW-core universities that have achieved strong results will work closely together. He said the government will actively support efforts to systematically foster core AI and software talent and broadly spread the value of AI education across society.