Last April, selected as a participating university in the Honam‑Jeju regional project of the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET)'s 'Regional STEM Women Talent Development Project (R-WeSET 2.0),' JBNU held the '2026 J-Leaders Activity Team Launch Ceremony' on April 21 and began full-scale activities of the female STEM undergraduate activity teams poised to grow into the next generation of women in science and technology.

The J-Leaders Activity Team is a program in which undergraduate and graduate students in STEM form teams with faculty advisors or industry expert mentors to explore career paths in their majors and to strengthen research and practical skills for industrial settings.

This year, a total of 24 teams were selected from the College of Engineering, the College of Natural Science, the College of Human Ecology, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Environmental & Bioresource Sciences, and the School of International Engineering and Sciences. The selected teams cover a wide range of STEM majors, including architecture, materials, electronics, mineral resources and energy, chemical engineering, environmental science, food science, nutrition, chemistry, molecular biology, and life sciences.

The selected teams will operate for seven months until the end of November 2026. Activities will focus on three tracks: the Laboratory Experience and Graduate School Track, the Employment Competency Enhancement Track, and the Autonomous Competency Development Track.

Under the Laboratory Experience and Graduate School Track, teams will conduct laboratory visits, participate in experimental and research projects, engage in paper studies, and attend academic conferences and major-specific seminars. The Employment Competency Enhancement Track supports company and job research, industry visits, mentoring by alumni and current professionals, and preparation of resumes, personal statements, and interviews. The Autonomous Competency Development Track allows teams to freely pursue activities according to their interests, such as major-related certifications, contests and competitions, advanced major coursework, and strengthening data and software skills.

Professor Min Ji-ho, Director of JBNU's R-WeSET Project Group, said, 'The J-Leaders Activity Team is a growth program that enables female STEM students to confirm possibilities within their majors, gain experience in laboratories and industry, and concretize their future career paths. This year, because students from a variety of fields were evenly selected rather than concentrated in specific colleges or majors, I hope it will be an opportunity for them to share their major experiences and grow together.'

He added, 'The project group will continue to actively support female STEM students so they can build academic confidence, practical field competencies, and leadership to grow into the next generation of women in science and technology.'

Meanwhile, the R-WeSET project supports career exploration and major competency development for regional women in STEM. In the Honam-Jeju region, Jeju National University, National Mokpo University, and JBNU are participating together.