Pukyong National University

Pukyong National University Selected for the “Advanced Industry Talent Development Bootcamp” Program

- KRW 7.66 billion in funding to cultivate AI-based smart marine and fisheries talent

Pukyong National University (President Bae Sang-Hoon) has been selected in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) field for the 2026 Advanced Industry Talent Development Bootcamp Program, jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT).

The program is a government-funded initiative in which universities and companies jointly operate short-term, intensive training courses to cultivate practice-oriented professionals who can be immediately deployed in industrial settings.

Over the next five years, Pukyong National University will establish an AI-based interdisciplinary talent development system with a total budget of KRW 7.66 billion, including KRW 7.12 billion in national funding, KRW 360 million from the municipal government, and KRW 180 million in university matching funds.

Accordingly, the university will launch a new “Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp Convergence Major” beginning in the first semester of the 2026 academic year. Centered on the Big Data Convergence major (Project Director: Professor Noh Maeng-Seok), the program will involve departments in the marine and fisheries fields, including Applied Mathematics, Fisheries, Aquaculture, Fisheries Resources, and Oceanography, offering a practice-oriented curriculum that integrates AI with specialized marine and fisheries industries. Students will strengthen their competencies step by step through minor and double-major options, as well as intermediate and advanced micro-degree programs.

A total of 20 companies, including Dongwon Industries Co., Ltd. and Silla Trading Co., Ltd., will participate in the bootcamp, collaborating on curriculum design, project mentoring, and field training. Through industry demand-driven project-based learning, the program aims to strengthen industry relevance and employment linkage.

In addition, the university will expand GPU-based training environments and operate intensive seasonal semester programs to enhance students’ project execution capabilities. For those who complete the intermediate and advanced courses, the program will provide scholarship support and linked career programs, offering practical career development opportunities.

Pukyong National University plans to link this project with its strategy of “cultivating AI talent specialized for Busan as the maritime capital.” Through this initiative, the university will foster professionals in marine-specialized convergence fields such as smart fisheries, marine big data, autonomous navigation, and intelligent ocean observation, while supplying high-level talent that meets the needs of regional industries.

President Bae Sang-Hoon stated, “This selection recognizes Pukyong National University’s capabilities in AI education and research, as well as its strong foundation for industry collaboration.” He added, “By advancing practice-oriented education, we will contribute to technological innovation in the marine and fisheries sectors and to the creation of youth employment opportunities in Busan, the maritime capital.” <Pukyong Today>