As the artificial intelligence (AI) industry rapidly grows, specialized high schools across the nation are changing their names to '○○ AI High School.' This effort aims to enhance competitiveness by adopting names linked to new industries like AI and big data, but there are concerns about whether it will translate into actual educational effectiveness.
According to the education sector on the 28th, along with the establishment of 'Yangsan AI High School' in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, scheduled to open in March, Jeonbuk's Yeongseon High School has also changed its name to 'Jeonbuk AI High School,' joining the ranks of AI specialized high schools. Jeonbuk AI High School received approval from the Jeonbuk Office of Education last November and will be operated as a vocational high school centered on AI software starting this year.
In Seoul, Songpa Industrial High School established AI Electronics and AI Computer departments in 2022 and changed its name to 'Seoul AI High School' in 2023. That same year, Kwangwoon Electronics Technical High School also renamed itself 'Kwangwoon AI High School' and restructured its AI-related departments.
Changing the school name must go through the approval of each local education office, but it is being pursued as a measure to enhance student recruitment competitiveness amid declining school-age populations. By promoting specialized education that reflects the latest industrial trends, schools can attract the attention of students and parents. In fact, Yangsan AI High School operates four departments: AI Convergence Factory, AI Automatic Control Systems, AI Content, and Bio Food, achieving a new student competition rate of 2.4 to 1.
Efforts to change school names in connection with various promising industries, including semiconductors, aerospace, and mobility, are continuing. Uijeongbu Industrial High School in Gyeonggi changed its name to 'Korean Mobility High School' this year and shifted its educational direction toward smart cities, future energy, robotics, and intelligent mobility. Jeju Hallim High School specialized in the aerospace industry by appointing a corporate executive as principal and changing its name to 'Korean Aerospace High School.' Seoul Huigyeong Technical High School has renamed itself 'Seoul Semiconductor High School' with a goal of focusing on nurturing semiconductor talent.
However, some in the education sector worry that excessively following trends in changing school names could lead to confusion. There are also concerns that some schools have only changed the names of existing information and communication or electronics-related departments.
Simply changing a school’s name does not mean that experts in AI, semiconductors, or aerospace will be produced; thus, there is a call for substantial educational innovation, such as expanding corporate collaboration and establishing practical training environments.
Prof. Bae Sang-hoon of Sungkyunkwan University noted, 'School names are an important element in forming a school's identity, and specialized efforts are needed to align with the rapidly changing industrial environment.' However, he added, 'If only the signage is changed, students may respond cynically.' He further stated that to strengthen specialized education in areas like AI and semiconductors, comprehensive plans should back efforts in career design, securing teachers and instructors, and developing curricula, as well as connections with college admissions and employment.