The Ministry of Education will invest a total of 1.4 trillion won next year to nurture artificial intelligence (AI) talent. It will expand "universal AI education" so that everyone, from elementary school students to the general public, can use AI well, and will establish a "fast track" so outstanding AI talent can complete bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in five and a half years.
Minister Choi Kyo-jin of the Ministry of Education released "a plan to nurture AI talent for all" at a briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex on the 10th. To foster AI talent, the ministry plans to invest a total budget of 1.4 trillion won next year, including 900 billion won for related elementary and secondary education and 500 billion won for higher education.
◇ Educating from elementary school so people can use AI well
First, it plans to expand basic education from the elementary school level so that anyone can use AI. For example, of the total 68 hours in the middle school information curriculum, the AI-related portion will be adjusted from the current 13 hours to about 21 hours. It will expand operation of "AI-focused schools," which significantly increase AI class hours compared to general schools, from 730 schools this year to 2,000 schools next year.
It will newly designate Meister high schools specialized in AI and annually select seven schools, 35 in total by 2030, to participate in a re-jump support program that encourages the use of AI in Meister high school major subjects. It will also strengthen restructuring of vocational high school departments toward AI fields. Among restructured departments, the adoption rate of AI subjects will be raised from 20% this year to 50% by 2030.
In addition, it will expand support for operating AI and software (SW) specialized curricula and programs at science high schools and science academies for the gifted from 14 schools this year to all 27 science high schools and academies for the gifted next year. It also plans to expand AI admissions tracks so that science high schools and academies for the gifted can select students with competencies related to AI in science, mathematics, and information. AI admissions tracks are currently operated at schools including Gyeonggi Science High School and North Chungcheong Science High School.
To secure AI teachers, it will include basic AI literacy education in teacher training program coursework at colleges of education and colleges of teacher training, and will deploy 1,800 digital tutors—personnel dedicated to AI and digital learning environments—at schools next year.
◇ Completing bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs: 8 years → 5.5 years
A "fast-track" program will also be established to allow AI talent to enter industry and research in their early to mid-20s by integrating the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs—which typically take more than eight years—so they can earn a doctorate in five and a half years. It usually takes at least eight years to complete up to the doctoral program.
There are also concerns that AI technology development could further widen the gap between the Seoul metropolitan area and the regions. To address this, regional flagship national universities will be intensively fostered as AI hub universities, with 30 billion won to be provided to three schools next year. Universities and graduate schools that seek to run department curricula centered on AI will also be allowed to increase enrollments.
To secure AI faculty at national and public universities, it plans to grant a special exception to allow salaries to be set above the upper limit specified in civil servant pay regulations. It also plans to establish a national distinguished professorship system so that world-class scholars can continue research and teaching at domestic universities without retirement restrictions.
In addition, it will strengthen the Artificial Intelligence-Digital (AID) intensive courses for working adults so that adult learners can build job-related AI skills, and will expand digital lifelong education vouchers so adult learners age 30 or older can develop AI and digital skills without financial burden.
Regarding the difference from the "comprehensive plan for nurturing digital talent" released in 2022, Minister Choi said, "If 2022 focused first on elementary and secondary education, this announcement aims to support AI education from a life-cycle perspective by encompassing higher education and lifelong education," adding, "We also plan to strengthen the foundation for AI education in regions that have lagged compared to the metropolitan area, so that AI education can significantly contribute to balanced national development."