Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) selected and awarded 18 specialized departments (majors) that achieved the highest performance over the past year in subfields such as Eco-Friendly Parts & Materials and IT Convergence, New and Renewable Energy Industry, Food and Bioindustry, Medical and Life Sciences, and Culture and Media.

This evaluation selected the best departments among those that had been designated as specialized departments at least twice in the past four years. These departments are regarded as the top performers in their respective specialization fields.

As a result of the selection, in the Eco-Friendly Parts & Materials and IT Convergence field, Division of Advanced Materials Engineering (Information Materials Engineering) was selected, in the New and Renewable Energy Industry field Division of Advanced Materials Engineering (Electronic Materials Engineering) was selected, and in the Food and Bioindustry field Division of Biotechnology was selected as the most outstanding specialized departments.

The Division of Advanced Materials Engineering (Electronic Materials Engineering) published dozens of SCI-level papers over the past year, resulting in very high publication output per full-time faculty member. Its specialization-related project plans were also evaluated as excellent.

The Division of Advanced Materials Engineering (Information Materials Engineering) secured approximately KRW 1.16 billion in external research funding from last year through June of this year, and its employment rate of 78.1% was evaluated as very high. The Division of Biotechnology also received favorable evaluations for its strong publication record and department assessment performance.

In addition, the excellent departments included Department of Polymer -Nano Science &Technology, Department of Semiconductor Science and Technology, Department of Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering (Eco-Friendly Parts & Materials and IT Convergence field), Division of Chemical Engineering (New and Renewable Energy Industry field), Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Department of Bioenvironmental Chemistry (Food and Bioindustry field), Department of Veterinary Medicine (Medical and Life Sciences field), Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, Department of Industrial Design, and Department of Chinese Language & Literature (Culture and Media field).

Also, the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Division of Electronic Engineering, Department of Food Science and Technology, Department of Molecular Biology, and Department of Education received encouragement awards.

This evaluation closely examined indicators such as full-time faculty research performance (40 points), external research funding secured (20 points), employment rate (30 points), department assessment (10 points), and specialization project plans (10 points). JBNU has been selecting and awarding outstanding specialized departments since 2008. The initiative aims to generate a positive synergy effect for the entire university through healthy competition among departments.

The award ceremony for the outstanding specialized departments was held on October 17, and a KRW 40 million award was given to each most outstanding specialized department; a total of KRW 350 million was distributed in awards.

President Seo Geoseok stated, "We will continue to seek development through sustained evaluation and by expanding incentives to promote healthy competition among departments in order to secure competitiveness."