Seven universities including Korea University and Yonsei University have been selected for a new artificial intelligence-focused university programme to be launched this year.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said on May 4 it has selected 7 universities to convert from the existing software-focused university programme to the AI-focused programme, among 10 universities that will take part this year.

The AI-focused university programme uses the existing foundation of software education to establish and upgrade universities' education systems around AI. Selected universities will receive a total of 24 billion won for up to 8 years. Annual support per university is about 3 billion won.

The selected universities are Gachon University, Korea University, Sogang University, Sungkyunkwan University, Soonchunhyang University, Soongsil University and Yonsei University. The ministry plans to additionally select 3 AI-focused universities from among universities that are not currently software-focused universities and announce them in June.

The selected universities will pursue the project with four core tasks in mind: innovation in AI education and institutional improvements; operation of specialised curricula that meet demand for AI technology; support for AX transition in specialised industries and activation of AI start-ups; and strengthening their role as key hubs for spreading AI value.

Each university will, in line with its implementation plan, set up a dedicated organisation directly under the university president to oversee AI and AX education. They will also offer AI convergence bridge courses and basic and applied AI education for all students. They will also pursue industry cooperation-based problem-solving projects, student-led creative tasks, on-campus start-up support systems and programmes to spread AI education to local communities.

The ministry will share software-focused universities and education outcomes through the AI and software-focused university council, which includes 57 universities in South Korea. It plans to spread AI education innovation outcomes to universities that do not participate in the AI and software-focused university programmes as well.

Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈), deputy prime minister and minister of science and ICT, said, "University education is also at a point where new changes centered on AI are needed." He added, "We will actively support AI-focused universities so that they contribute to leading innovation in AI education based on the software education capabilities universities have built up."