Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) held a performance-sharing meeting on December 22 at 2:00 p.m. in the Jinsudang 77th Anniversary Hall to share the outcomes achieved through the Glocal University 30 Project and to gather momentum for the successful implementation of future project activities. The event was organized to disseminate past achievements of the Glocal University 30 Project both internally and externally and to present a sustainable innovation model that coexists with the local community.

The event was attended by Nam Gwan-woo, Chair of the Jeonju City Council; Yoon Su-bong, Member of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Council; Kang Young-seok, Director of the Special Self-Government Education Cooperation Bureau of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province; along with university presidents from across the province, representatives from regional industry and public institutions, Glocal University stakeholders, university staff, and students—more than 200 people in total.

The performance-sharing meeting featured a report on key achievements by the Director of the Glocal University Development Project Group and three presentations of outstanding outcomes: AI future education, the AI-based integrated career and employment platform "AI JOB," and a sustainable internationalization model.

▲ JUIC Triangle Visualizes Achievements in Regional–Industry Collaboration

Through the Glocal University Project, JBNU established the "JUIC Triangle" cooperation model—bringing together local government, industry, and the local community—and advanced a regional industry–university collaboration structure. The university secured research funding totaling KRW 160.3 billion focused on the defense industry, secondary batteries, and veterinary pharmaceuticals, and produced 223 specialized personnel in chemistry, electronic engineering, and veterinary medicine, achieving a virtuous cycle of research and human resource development.

At JUIC@Saemangeum, JBNU established the Department of Secondary Battery Engineering and is proceeding with the establishment of a secondary battery R&BD Complex and a specialized graduate school for secondary battery studies. It generated KRW 6.5 billion in R&D results in mobility and eco-friendly secondary battery sectors. In the defense industry, JBNU opened the Hanwha Aerospace HUB specialized research center, launched the Defense Industry Convergence Major and the Department of Advanced Defense Technology and Industry, and was selected as a university for defense project management training, thereby expanding education and research infrastructure. In sensors and semiconductors, the university attracted a semiconductor joint research institute valued at KRW 60.2 billion and generated KRW 22.9 billion in research outcomes in collaboration with Samsung Electronics and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

Additionally, by operating an integrated university–research joint campus, JBNU created a foundation to disseminate the research outcomes of the university and research institutes into education and industry.

▲ Strengthening Student Choice Through Educational Innovation; Establishing an AI-Based Support System

Change was also evident in educational innovation. JBNU has progressively expanded the non-major system (self-directed majors) and interdisciplinary major structures so that students can design their own majors and learning paths after matriculation, increasing the rate of transfers and department changes to up to 30%. Through broadening enrollment units, 75.9% of the 2025 admissions quota was filled under the non-major system. Microdegrees and student-designed MD programs grew from 37 to 103 within two years. The number of students completing multiple majors has steadily increased; these results are viewed as representative achievements of curriculum restructuring centered on student choice.

AI-based education and student support innovation was cited as a core achievement. JBNU has established an integrated support system for learning, career, and employment using AI to provide tailored career and employment planning based on each student's learning data and competency analysis. It also offers campus community members and elementary, middle, and high school students in the province access to spaces and infrastructure where they can experience the latest generative AI tools and advanced digital technologies.

▲ Expanded Internationalization Achievements… Namwon Glocal Campus to Open in 2026

Global innovation outcomes were also prominent. Seventy-five percent of international students are enrolled in degree programs, indicating strong overseas interest in JBNU's educational and research capabilities. JBNU established the "JBNU International Center" up to its seventh branch as a hub to attract 5,000 international students, expanding recruitment bases in regions such as Europe and South America. Two-way global hybrid courses increased dramatically from eight in 2023 to 159 in 2025. Support for diversifying global PBL led to 266 students participating in 32 programs, demonstrating tangible strengthening of global competencies.

Sharing outcomes with the local community also drew attention. Campus spaces such as libraries and educational resources have been opened to the local community, and lifelong and re-education programs for residents have been expanded, creating a structure in which the university jointly assumes responsibility for local learning and growth. In particular, in cooperation with Namwon City, the plan to create the Namwon Glocal Campus—exclusively for international students—using a closed local school was presented as the nation’s first model that combines regional regeneration through reutilizing closed schools with university internationalization. The Namwon Glocal Campus is scheduled to begin first-year academic operations in March 2026.

Meanwhile, interviews with students who participated in the Glocal University project and a celebratory performance by Korean and international students symbolically showcased the global campus environment and student-centered project achievements.

President Yang O-bong said, "We will widely disseminate the achievements and exemplary models of the Glocal University 30 Project and turn them into opportunities for new innovation momentum," adding, "We will more firmly pursue key tasks to advance as a student-centered university that coexists with the region and as a global hub university."