Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) hosted an information session on the 'JST Shared University Convergence Major', implemented through the local government–university cooperation-based Regional Innovation Project (hereinafter the RIS Project), on the 19th to encourage student interest and participation.

JBNU is seeking a major transformation of university education centered on a Jeonbuk regional innovation platform through the RIS Project, which will receive 214.3 billion won in funding over five years starting this year, including government support and matching local government investments.

To this end, JBNU, as the lead university, established the RIS University Innovation Center and will launch the Jeonbuk Saemangeum Tech Platform University (JST) Shared University (and Graduate School), in which ten Jeonbuk universities will participate. Starting in March next year, the JST Shared University will begin training convergence practical talents, advanced research talents, field specialists, and socially creative talents who will contribute to regional development and innovation in Jeonbuk.

Three majors will be established—Future Mobility (lead university: JBNU), Energy New Industries (lead university: Gunsan National University), and Agro-Life & Bio (lead university: Wonkwang University)—to train a total of 270 field-oriented professionals across the disciplines.

At the information session, the directors from the three lead universities of the JST Shared University presented the educational objectives and talent development directions of the Convergence Major for each field.

Lee Deok-jin, Director at JBNU and head of the Future Mobility program, said, "Education will focus on transforming existing industries—such as commercial vehicles, special-purpose vehicles, agricultural machinery, and construction machinery, which are core sectors in Jeonbuk—into an eco-friendly future mobility industry ecosystem. In addition, we will cultivate innovative talent to foster new industries like aeromobility (drones, UAM). We will train individuals who possess the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to build sustainable mobility systems through innovative technologies and creative thinking."

Next, Jang Min-seok, Director at Gunsan National University and head of the Energy New Industries program, said, "The Department of Energy New Industries will emphasize education that effectively addresses major energy issues—such as climate change response, energy security, and energy transition—by leveraging a diverse range of technologies related to secondary batteries, hydrogen energy, and renewable energies (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, etc.) in an integrated and convergent manner. We will cultivate creative and interdisciplinary global talent to lead the Energy New Industries."

Choi Jun-ho, Director at Wonkwang University and head of the Agro-Life & Bio program, presented the vision: "The Department of Agro-Life & Bio will contribute to training field-customized personnel ready for practical deployment through collaboration with universities across Jeollabuk-do. This includes developing regional-linked food-tech personnel, personnel for the manufacturing and development of bio-based materials, leaders of data-driven Jeonbuk-style digital agriculture (smart farms), and personnel for sustainable nature-based medical and bio industries (bio-materials, therapeutic healing)."

Kim Hyun-kyung, Director of the RIS University Innovation Center at JBNU, stated, "By delivering employment-linked Convergence Major education in university settings tailored to corporate demand, we will cultivate innovative local talent who will settle in the region and contribute proactively to the development of the Jeonbuk region and the strengthening of the university's role."

Meanwhile, JBNU, Gunsan National University, Wonkwang University, Jeonju University, and Woosuk University drew attention by holding a coffee truck event to further promote the JST Shared University Convergence Major to students.