Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) and the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Office of Education (Superintendent Cheon Ho-seong) have begun collaborating to expand artificial intelligence (AI) education opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school students in the Jeonbuk region and to systematically cultivate local talent linked to growth engines.

The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding on the 27th at 2:00 p.m. in the superintendent's office of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Office of Education to launch the 'Project to Revitalize AI Education for Jeonbuk Elementary, Middle, and High Schools and to Develop Local Talent Linked to Growth Engines.' The signing ceremony was attended by JBNU President Yang O-bong, Superintendent Cheon Ho-seong, and other officials from both institutions.

The agreement was reached to proactively establish a foundation for the successful implementation of the Ministry of Education's program to develop local talent linked to growth engines. In line with the program's goal of linking regional strategic industries with the capacities of universities and educational institutions to cultivate key personnel needed locally, the plan calls for establishing a Jeonbuk-specific talent development system that connects AI foundational competencies, career exploration, and advanced study from the elementary through high school levels.

The two institutions agreed to jointly cooperate on: ▲establishing a customized talent development collaboration system based on local talent linked to growth engines; ▲activating AI foundational, applied, and career education for elementary, middle, and high school students; ▲operating high school–university linked curricula and student growth support programs; ▲strengthening teachers' AI education capabilities and supporting application in school settings; ▲utilizing and disseminating AI educational content, practical training environments, and educational infrastructure; and ▲identifying educational demand, sharing outcomes, and disseminating exemplary cases.

In particular, JBNU will link the AI education and research capabilities and practical training infrastructure it has accumulated through its AI College with regional educational settings. Through this, the university plans to establish a continuous educational foundation that enables students to build AI foundational competencies according to their school-level growth stages and to continue into career exploration and advanced learning.

The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Office of Education will identify AI education needs in schools and support capacity building and the application of AI education in school settings so that elementary, middle, and high school teachers can operate AI education effectively. The two institutions will jointly identify and pursue detailed collaborative projects going forward, and will share and disseminate educational outcomes and exemplary cases to build a Jeonbuk-model for nurturing future AI talent.

This agreement is significant in that it concretizes the cooperative foundation between the university and the education office for implementing the program to develop local talent linked to growth engines. JBNU and the Jeonbuk Office of Education plan to organically connect curricula, infrastructure, and field support to enable regional students to respond proactively to changes in future industries and grow into leaders of regional development.

JBNU President Yang O-bong said, 'This memorandum of understanding is a starting point for combining the university's expertise with the capacities of regional educational settings to provide broader and more systematic AI education opportunities to students in Jeonbuk.' He added, 'As a regional public university, JBNU will work closely with the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Office of Education to ensure students acquire the core competencies needed for future society and grow into leaders of regional development.'

Superintendent Cheon Ho-seong of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Office of Education also responded, 'AI education is a core competency that students must have to proactively navigate future society,' adding, 'Through this agreement, we will organically connect the expertise of schools and universities and create an educational environment in Jeonbuk that allows students to expand their career paths and capabilities.'