South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT Launches AI Education Programmes at 33 Universities
On 8 October 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT launched two programmes to transform university education through AI, selecting 18 AI-centred universities and 15 AI Transformation (AX) graduate schools. Each of the 18 AI-centred universities will receive KRW 3 billion annually for up to eight years, must make foundational AI courses compulsory for all students, and will introduce interdisciplinary programmes. The 15 AX graduate schools will each receive KRW 3 billion annually for up to six years and will work with 26 companies, including Samsung Electronics, POSCO Holdings and Doosan Robotics, on joint research centres and project-based learning. Eleven of the 18 AI-centred universities and eight of the 15 AX graduate schools are outside the Seoul metropolitan area, and from 2027 at least 70% of newly selected institutions are to be outside the capital region.
The programmes move AI education from a specialist technical subject towards a requirement across university disciplines, and through compulsory foundational courses, interdisciplinary programmes and joint university-industry training they change graduates' skill profiles, affecting AI talent supply and demand for education products. Universities must restructure curricula and training plans, while the participation of 26 companies and project-based learning create clear space for industry collaboration and practical training tools. The limits are that the funding amounts, durations, institution numbers and company list come from the ministry's announcement, and the actual implementation, course quality and delivery of the regional distribution target still require later evaluation. The 18 AI-centred universities must make foundational AI courses compulsory for all students and introduce interdisciplinary programmes, directly changing their curricula and teaching organisation. The 15 AX graduate schools will build joint research centres with 26 companies and use joint university-industry supervision, changing master's and doctoral training and industry collaboration.