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Advanced Convergence University Project’s 2nd CO-SHOW to Be Held in Busan

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Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Park Heong-joon announced that the 2nd CO-SHOW (Convergence & Open–SHOW) of the Advanced Convergence University Project (hereinafter “CO-SHOW”), hosted by the Ministry of Education together with the National Research Foundation of Korea, will take place from November 26 to November 29 at BEXCO Exhibition Hall 1.

This year’s event, which features participation from 67 universities, is the nation’s largest advanced convergence education festival. It showcases the outcomes of the Ministry of Education’s Advanced Convergence University (COSS: Convergence & Open, Sharing System) initiative and brings together, in one venue, the full landscape of advanced university education.

CO-SHOW has established itself as the representative event of the Advanced Convergence University Project, which is built on a shared and open education model across universities and presents future directions for nurturing talent in advanced industries. Its first-ever hosting in Busan adds further significance.

The event is hosted by the Ministry of Education and jointly organized by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Council of Advanced Convergence University Project Leaders.

This year’s CO-SHOW consists of 21 contests across 18 advanced fields and 60 education and experience programs. Along with showcasing the excellent achievements of the Advanced Convergence University Project, the event provides a comprehensive look at the growth and transformation of advanced technologies and university education, offering valuable opportunities for not only local students but also parents.

In particular, the number of contests has increased from 17 fields and 17 contests last year to 18 fields and 21 contests this year, while the number of education and experience programs has significantly expanded from 29 to 60.

A total of 1,000 finalists, who advanced through preliminary rounds held throughout the year, will compete for top honors at BEXCO during the event. Creative competitions in various advanced fields—including “AutoRace 2025” and “AutoHack 2025” in the autonomous driving sector, as well as hacking defense competitions in data security—are expected to offer exciting attractions for visitors.

The venue will also feature a wide variety of hands-on contents open to the public, such as semiconductor circuit fabrication, robot production, artificial intelligence (AI) activities, metaverse experiences, and escape-room challenges, allowing participants to enjoy both the fun and the rapid progress of advanced technologies.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to use this event as an opportunity to widely promote the city’s achievements as a leader in university–industry cooperation, as well as Busan’s unique appeal.

A policy promotion booth themed “Designing the Future, Busan” will highlight key accomplishments of the municipal administration, Busan’s model of university–industry collaboration, and exemplary cases of advanced talent development.

In addition, a lifestyle-type personality test will enable student teams and spectators visiting from other regions to naturally experience Busan’s major attractions, cultural assets, and high quality of life. The city’s official character “Boogi” will also take part, helping promote a friendly city image.

Meanwhile, the Advanced Convergence University Project is a national talent development initiative aimed at fostering future professionals in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and intelligent robotics.

Participating universities jointly develop curricula, and students—regardless of their major—are free to enroll in desired subjects, providing high-quality education with few barriers and earning strong positive responses.

Launched in 2021 with 8 fields and 46 universities, the project has expanded to 18 fields and 67 universities this year. Universities in the Busan region are currently participating in four fields, including next-generation batteries.

Kim Gwi-ok, Director General of the Youth & Industrial-Academic Support Bureau, stated, “This event offers a valuable opportunity to experience up close the present and future of advanced technology education at major Korean universities, as well as a meaningful occasion to explore Busan’s advanced industrial ecosystem and the achievements of university–industry cooperation at a glance.” She added, “We hope many students will be inspired to explore career paths they have long been interested in and find motivation to become future innovators. We encourage everyone to enjoy and participate in the diverse programs prepared for this event.”