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Pusan National University to spearhead Busan’s shared education project

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By Jhoo Dong-chan
  • Published KST
Key officials of the Busan Shared University pose during the education project's launch ceremony at BEXCO in Busan, Jan. 29. Courtesy of Pusan National University

Key officials of the Busan Shared University pose during the education project's launch ceremony at BEXCO in Busan, Jan. 29. Courtesy of Pusan National University

Pusan National University said Monday it hosted an official launch ceremony and orientation for Busan Shared University at BEXCO in Busan on Jan. 29.

Busan Shared University is a joint education system involving 13 four-year universities in the Busan region. The initiative aims to cultivate interdisciplinary talent to support the region’s core industries and emerging future sectors.

Pusan National University serves as the lead institution and operates the Busan Shared University headquarters.

The program prioritizes building a sustainable regional ecosystem by aligning university education with industry demand, supporting industrial growth and encouraging graduates to remain and work in the region.

Busan Shared University has been operating since 2024 under the Regional Innovation System program, a local government-university cooperation initiative. This year it transitioned under the Regional Innovation System & Education framework, following evaluations of its initial outcomes, according to Pusan National University.

The launch event marked the formal start of the upgraded education system and welcomed newly selected students for the 2026 academic year.

Academic operations will begin in March. While four core universities — Pusan National University, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Dong-A University and Pukyong National University — oversee program management, courses will be delivered both online and offline using shared infrastructure across all 13 participating universities.

A total of 357 students were selected this year. They will receive industry demand-based, practice-oriented education in four fields: future mobility, marine future industries, clean energy and artificial intelligence innovation.

Key representatives from local government, universities and industry join the ceremony, including Lee Dong-keun, head of the Busan Shared University headquarters; Kim Gui-ok, director general of the Youth and Industry-Academia Bureau at the Busan Metropolitan Government; and Lim Young-ho, chief executive officer of HD Hyundai Marine Solution Tech.

“Students and companies are the central stakeholders of the Busan Shared University,” Busan Shared University Headquarters head Lee Dong-keun said, adding that educational outcomes will be evaluated based on satisfaction from both groups.

“The program will continue refining its curriculum to ensure industry-driven education contributes to the advancement of Busan’s industrial structure.”