Changwon National University and Hanwha Aerospace launch defense AI graduate school
Version 2: A third outlet, Seoul Shinmun, has picked up the launch of the defense AI graduate school, but adds no new details beyond confirming the programme is under way.
In short
National Changwon University and Hanwha Aerospace have launched an “AX Graduate School” to train artificial intelligence specialists for the defense industry, the university said on Oct 6. Hanwha Aerospace joins as a joint research and development institution in a six-year programme worth 17.7 billion won. The university plans to select more than 50 students a year from 2027 and train 250 master's and doctoral-level graduates, with 10 industry scholarship students and five of them linked to jobs at the company.
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National Changwon University and Hanwha Aerospace have officially launched an “AX Graduate School” to train artificial intelligence talent for the defense sector, the university said. Hanwha Aerospace is taking part as a joint research and development institution, and 17.7 billion won is to be invested in the programme over six years. [ 1 , 2 ]
The graduate school is part of a talent-training project run by the Ministry of Science and ICT at 15 universities nationwide. Maeil Business reported that Changwon National University is the only selected university in Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongsangnam Province, and that 15.5 billion won comes from the national budget while Gyeongnam Province and Changwon Special City each provide 3 billion won. The university received its selection plaque at the project's launch ceremony, held on Oct 6 at Yonsei University's Baekyangnuri Hall, the newspaper said. [ 2 ]
Under the plan, a “D.AX” (Defense AI Transformation) track will be opened in the university's general graduate school. The existing Department of AI Convergence Engineering will cover defense operations innovation and the Control and Instrumentation major will handle defense manufacturing innovation. From 2027 the university intends to select more than 50 students a year and train 250 master's and doctoral-level graduates over six years, it said. Hanwha Aerospace specialists will take part in joint lectures and student supervision. [ 1 , 2 ]
The programme also links corporate training and hiring. Ten third-year undergraduates are to be chosen as Hanwha Aerospace industry scholarship students and receive scholarship benefits and company-linked education from their fourth year, with five of them connected to employment at Hanwha Aerospace after a combined bachelor's and master's course. Maeil Business reported that students will carry out joint research projects using real industrial data provided by the company and take part in hiring-linked internships, and that part of the company's new-employee training can be completed in advance as university coursework. [ 1 , 2 ]
University president Park Min-won said the university would combine the defense and manufacturing base of the Changwon National Industrial Complex with its AI capabilities to train people who can lead AI transformation in industry, and to create a cycle in which local talent grows locally and settles at local companies. Maeil Business reported that the university plans to use its EON building and AI Institute, the TUG Campus unmanned mobility test site, and an AI robot operation centre due for completion by the end of this year. [ 1 , 2 ]
Seoul Shinmun also carried the launch, reporting in a headline that the defense AI talent training effort is getting under way. No further details from that outlet were available. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The programme links a national university, a major defense company and regional government funding in one pipeline from selection through study to hiring, which the university says is intended to keep local graduates working at local firms. For the defense industry it is part of a push to apply AI to operations and manufacturing. The Ministry of Science and ICT is running the same scheme at 15 universities nationwide, so Changwon is one case among several.
Key facts
- National Changwon University and Hanwha Aerospace officially launched an “AX Graduate School” to train AI talent, the university said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Hanwha Aerospace takes part as a joint research and development institution, and 17.7 billion won is to be invested over six years. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The graduate school is part of a Ministry of Science and ICT talent-training project involving 15 universities nationwide. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A “D.AX” (Defense AI Transformation) track is to open in the university's general graduate school. [ 1 , 2 ]
- More than 50 students are to be selected each year from 2027, with 250 master's and doctoral-level graduates to be trained. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Ten third-year undergraduates are to be chosen as Hanwha Aerospace industry scholarship students, with five linked to employment at the company. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Hanwha Aerospace specialists will take part in joint lectures and student supervision. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- National Changwon University and Hanwha Aerospace launched the AX Graduate School. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Hanwha Aerospace is a joint research and development institution and 17.7 billion won is to be invested over six years. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The project is part of a Ministry of Science and ICT programme covering 15 universities. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A D.AX track for defense AI transformation will be set up, and 50 or more students are to be selected each year from 2027 for 250 graduates. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Ten industry scholarship students are to be selected, with five connected to Hanwha Aerospace hiring. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Hanwha Aerospace experts will serve as instructors and advisers. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The funding split of 15.5 billion won from the national budget and 3 billion won each from Gyeongnam Province and Changwon Special City. Only the Maeil Business report gives this breakdown; the Yonhap article states only the six-year total of 17.7 billion won.
- Whether the planned graduate output is 250 people or more than 250 over six years. Yonhap says 250 master's and doctoral-level graduates; Maeil Business says 250 or more.
- Details of the university facilities to be used, including the EON building, AI Institute, TUG Campus and an AI robot operation centre due for completion by the end of the year. These are reported only by Maeil Business.
- What Seoul Shinmun reported beyond the headline. Only the outlet's headline was available; no article text or feed summary was provided, so it adds no details.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reports the university's announcement of the AX Graduate School launch with Hanwha Aerospace. [ 1 ]
- Maeil Business reports the launch, adding that the university received its selection plaque at the Ministry of Science and ICT AX Graduate School launch ceremony at Yonsei University's Baekyangnuri Hall the same day. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Shinmun carries a headline reporting that the defense AI talent training effort is getting under way. [ 3 ]