JBNU has successfully concluded the in-service professional course it operated as the first program in the Jeonbuk region for defense-industry employees: the '2026 JBNU In-Service Professional Course for Acquisition of the Defense Project Manager National Certification'.

On August 2, 2026, JBNU held a completion ceremony for the program at the CAMTIC Integrated Technology Institute and awarded certificates of completion to 45 participants who completed the prescribed curriculum.

The program was designed to strengthen the planning, procurement, contracting, and project-management capabilities of employees at local defense companies and to support acquisition of the Defense Project Manager national professional qualification administered by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The weekend-intensive course ran from June 27, 2026 to August 2, 2026, and was attended by employees of regional defense companies and related institutions.

The Defense Project Manager is a national professional qualification that verifies professional project-management capability in the defense project field. It is regarded as an important credential by employees of defense contractors and defense-related institutions to demonstrate practical expertise. With recent expansion of K-defense exports, development of advanced weapon systems, and the advancement of defense acquisition procedures, the importance of end-to-end project-management capabilities—from defense planning through acquisition, contracting, and test and evaluation—has increased.

The curriculum focused on the essential areas required for the Defense Project Manager qualification. Trainees completed a total of 28 subjects over 71 hours, covering defense planning management systems, project management, defense acquisition, contract management, and test and evaluation. The program emphasized not only theoretical instruction and certification exam preparation but also strengthening the planning, coordination, contracting, and risk-management skills required in actual defense-project settings.

Following last year’s local-first program for 57 students and job seekers, JBNU established this separate specialized in-service course for employees of defense companies this year. Through this, the university expanded its training target from prospective defense workforce to on-site employees and laid the groundwork for a regional defense-industry workforce development system that links university education with corporate re-education.

The course is particularly meaningful as the first in-service professional education offered after Jeollabuk-do was selected by DAPA as an advanced-materials-focused Defense Industry Innovation Cluster. For regional companies to participate in future defense R&D, procurement projects, and cluster support programs, it is essential to secure expertise in defense requirements and acquisition procedures, cost and contract management, and test and evaluation. This course is expected to serve as a starting point for cultivating practice-oriented talent that responds to such field needs.

Kang Eun-ho, Chair of the Department of Advanced Defense Technology and Industry, said, "Producing 45 graduates from the in-service professional course for Defense Project Managers—the first such program opened in Jeonbuk—represents a meaningful achievement that demonstrates the regional defense-industry talent development system has taken a significant step forward. I expect the graduates to serve as key personnel who will enhance their companies' capabilities in defense project planning, procurement, and contract management."

He added, "Going forward, we will closely link regular in-service education with the Jeonbuk Defense Industry Innovation Cluster and continue to expand tailored programs that can practically support regional companies' project participation and growth."

Meanwhile, JBNU operates the nation’s first undergraduate program in the Department of Advanced Defense Technology and Industry and offers a Defense Industry Convergence major. The university has also established an education and research foundation linked to the Defense Industry Innovation Cluster. In August, JBNU will run a simultaneous Defense Project Manager education program for enrolled students and plans to progressively expand on-site internships and recruitment linkage with defense companies, in-service job training, and defense-project consulting to strengthen its role as a hub university for cultivating K-defense professionals.