The Ministry of Education will foster junior colleges as regional hubs for artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation (DX) education. It plans to select 24 junior colleges and provide up to 1 billion won per college, for a total of 24 billion won.
On Feb. 4, the Ministry of Education announced the basic plan for the "2026 academic year AI and digital transformation-focused junior college support project."
The Ministry of Education will expand labs and internet-based platforms so students can use AI in their major coursework. It will also distribute Generative AI accounts to students and faculty and staff. It will support building an AI-based student support system as well.
Current students will complete coursework ranging from AI fundamentals to major-linked competencies. The Ministry of Education will also support AI pedagogy training for faculty and staff. For local residents and incumbent workers, it will run flexible short-term programs such as online and evening classes.
Participating colleges plan to specialize in fields linked to regional industries. They will also push to establish AI and digital transformation-related departments, analyze AI-based learning data, and introduce student-tailored assessment and feedback.
Minister Choi Kyo-jin of the Ministry of Education said, "We will actively support junior colleges so they can establish themselves as hubs of lifelong vocational education that encompass not only current students but also local residents and incumbent workers."