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Kyungpook National University, Selected As SW-Centered University by the Ministry of Science and ICT

             Kyungpook National University (KNU) has been selected as a “Software(SW)-Centered University” by The Ministry of Science and ICT. This selection for the second phase of funding follows KNU’s selection for the first phase in 2015. With a total second-phase funding of KRW 11 billion over six years (KRW 1 billion the first year, then KRW 2 billion the following years), KNU aims to lead the advancement of innovative SW education.

             The selection for SW-centered universities initiated in 2015 to promote a cultivating system for training SW professionals, including the revision of SW curriculum based on industrial demand, the expansion of student quota for SW majors, and the fostering of SW convergence personnel. With the second phase, the SW education system is to be developed more in-depth, by strengthening the education on new technology such as artificial intelligence, and dividing and developing SW curriculum by departments and levels. A total of nine universities were selected for the second phase of the project this year, including seven general-track universities (of which KNU is included) with a competition ratio of 4:1, and two special track universities with a competition ratio of 5.2:1.

             As part of the project, KNU plans to form and jointly operate a ‘Network of SW Universities' with universities in Daegu and Gyeongbuk to establish a SW industry-academic cluster amidst industrial complexes and strengthen on-site training based on industrial demand. In addition, KNU SW Education Center, the main educational entity of the first phase, is to be promoted to SW Education Institution. An SW convergence education committee will also be established to strengthen convergence education, the chair of which will be KNU Vice President of Education. Moreover, KNU will establish the AI Computing Major (Track) in the School of Computer Science to strengthen the education of recently established AI-related, graduate-level SW majors such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Convergence Computing, and Artificial Intelligence Convergence Education.

             Dr. Won-hwa Hong, the president of KNU, states, "Having been selected as one of the first SW-centered universities in 2015, KNU has been transforming its education system to be SW-oriented to train professionals of relevant capability, and to strengthen SW competitiveness of not only students, but also of the institute amongst companies and regions. Founded on our infrastructure and achievements, KNU will take the lead in promoting an SW-oriented society by not only advancing the fostering of internationally recognized professionals but also by spreading SW values."