Naver Connect Foundation is joining hands with Seoul National University to expand the artificial intelligence (AI) education ecosystem by using a regional talent network.

Naver Connect Foundation said on Thursday it signed a memorandum of understanding at Seoul National University on May 26 to foster AI talent and expand education opportunities.

The foundation, which has built know-how in AI and software education, and Seoul National University, which has a nationwide regional talent network, aim to create a customised education environment for future generations.

The two organisations plan to expand cooperation starting with the AI Agent Challenge programme for 200 university students from 10 national universities across the country.

Run together with Seoul National University's University Solidarity Regional Talent Development Project Group, the programme provides practical training in which students design and build AI agents to solve problems they encounter in everyday life. Developers and planners from Team Naver will take part as mentors, offering group feedback and special lectures. Participating students are expected to develop practical workplace skills demanded in the field.

Under the agreement, Naver Connect Foundation and Seoul National University will jointly develop and run education programmes suited to the AI era and support university students in various regions to receive high-quality education. They also plan to continue collaborating by finding new education models through joint research and academic activities.

Naver Connect Foundation has also made ongoing efforts to spread practical training at universities. It has been running since last year a course titled "Frontend Development Using AI", jointly developed with Seoul National University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering by restructuring the foundation's AI developer training curriculum for a university setting. It also offers skills-building education tailored to regional characteristics, including running a course with Pusan National University titled "Using AI and Solving Local Community Problems".