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Busan Metropolitan City Strengthens Talent Development Foundation through AI-Centered University, Driving AI Transformation of Regional Industries

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that Dong-A University has been selected for the Ministry of Science and ICT’s “2026 AI-Centered University” project.

The AI-Centered University initiative is a national competitive funding program designed to transform university education systems around artificial intelligence, cultivate specialized AI professionals and interdisciplinary AI talent across diverse industries, and accelerate the AI transformation, or AX, of regional industries.

Together with Dong-A University, Busan Metropolitan City will invest a total of KRW 25.2 billion over eight years from 2026 through 2033, including KRW 21.2 billion in national funding, to establish a demonstration-oriented AI-Centered University that will lead the Physical AI Transformation, or Physical AX, of industries unique to the southeastern region.

Dong-A University was selected for the project based on the foundation it has built for AI and software education and its achievements in industry-academia cooperation through its existing Software-Centered University program.

With this opportunity, the university will expand its focus from software-centered talent development to AI-centered talent development encompassing on-site industrial demonstrations, employment and entrepreneurship, and long-term settlement in the region.

First, Dong-A University will comprehensively restructure its existing software-centered education system around AI and establish a system for cultivating specialized and interdisciplinary AI talent extending from undergraduate major and interdisciplinary education through graduate studies.

The College of Software will be reorganized into a College of Artificial Intelligence, while an AX Convergence College and a graduate-level Department of AI Convergence will be established. The university will also provide foundational “AI for Everyone” education to all students and operate an integrated and linked bachelor’s-master’s AI and AX FastTrack program.

In addition, the university will expand field-oriented Physical AX demonstration education linked to industries unique to Busan and the southeastern region, while using industry-academia cooperation with companies to connect talent development with employment, entrepreneurship, and long-term settlement in the region.

AI technologies will be introduced in stages at corporate worksites in major Busan and southeastern-region industries, including manufacturing and energy, human care, and maritime, port, and shipbuilding sectors, to verify their commercialization potential. At the same time, industry-academia cooperation projects and long-term internships will provide students with practical experience at corporate worksites and support pathways to employment or entrepreneurship at local companies and long-term settlement in the region.

Building on this selection, Busan Metropolitan City plans to advance the regional AI and software talent-development foundation established through the existing Software-Centered University program into one centered on AI and AI transformation, while strengthening cooperation between universities and companies to support the AI transformation of the region’s key industries and encourage outstanding talent to remain in the region.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “This selection will provide an opportunity to further advance the region’s AI and software education foundation, which has been built through the Software-Centered University program, and transform it into an AI-centered education and industrial innovation system.”

He added, “We will actively support the creation of a virtuous-cycle ecosystem in which AI talent cultivated by universities leads the AI transformation of local companies and goes on to find employment, start businesses, and build their lives in Busan.”