Amid heightened risks to crop production due to climate change and expanding international trade, the Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Graduate School of Plant Quarantine is recruiting new students for the second semester of the 2024 academic year.

The Graduate School of Plant Quarantine is a specialized graduate school established through a consortium of three universities: JBNU, Kyungpook National University, and Chonnam National University. It aims to train specialists capable of diagnosing, identifying, and controlling pests and diseases and to re-educate field personnel. The program provides convergent education tailored to the rapidly changing agricultural environment and seeks to secure food security.

The application period runs from June 3 through June 14, 2024. An oral examination will be held on July 5, 2024, and the final successful candidates will be announced on July 12, 2024. Application forms can be downloaded from the Graduate School of Plant Quarantine website (https://gpq.jbnu.ac.kr/gpq/index.do) from).

Under the consortium, JBNU is responsible for "Establishing an AI-Based Pest and Disease Management System," Kyungpook National University for "Developing Quarantine Pest Management Technologies," and Chonnam National University for "Developing Integrated Crop Pest Management Technologies." Each university has developed a curriculum for its respective area. The three universities also operate common courses, engage in academic exchange, and provide online and in-person laboratory and practical classes.

In particular, by selecting field-centered new research project topics for the program for working professionals, the school has established a virtuous cycle between education and research. It provides comprehensive support necessary for training plant quarantine specialists.

Chu Byeong-gil, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Director of the Graduate School of Plant Quarantine, said, "The Graduate School of Plant Quarantine is doing its utmost to train specialists who can provide one-stop solutions to on-site problems in agricultural production at a time when training personnel related to pest and disease management in the agricultural sector is urgently needed," and added, "We will continue to strengthen the graduate school's programs so that second-term entrants can grow into outstanding professionals in crop pest and disease management and quarantine."