InterviewKwangwoon University accelerates AI-driven transformation to boost global competitiveness

Kwangwoon University President Yoon Do-young speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Hwado Building at the university's campus in Nowon District, Seoul, April 9. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Kwangwoon University is stepping up efforts to transform itself into an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven institution, aiming to strengthen its competitiveness through advanced research and interdisciplinary education.

“We have established our vision as ‘Engineering for Humanity’ — a university that shines through cutting-edge research and convergent education,” said Kwangwoon University President Yoon Do-young.

“This reflects our goal of building strong research capabilities in advanced fields while fostering interdisciplinary education that can respond to complex social changes and ultimately becoming a university where all members take pride.”

AI woven into campus life

The university is enhancing the use of AI on campus through technologies developed in-house, improving both accessibility and efficiency across academic and administrative services.

For international students, it provides high-accuracy translation tools tailored to coursework, campus communications and daily academic needs, helping reduce language barriers and support smoother integration.

As part of the push, the university is also developing a range of AI-based systems to support students’ academic and career paths.

One key initiative is an AI-powered learning pathway recommendation system designed to help students, particularly those in AI-related fields, navigate academic trajectories and make informed decisions about their majors and careers.

“By incorporating predictive analytics, the system can flag students at risk of dropping out and enable timely intervention with customized academic support,” Yoon said.

The university is also building an AI-based e-portfolio system to enhance students’ employment readiness. The platform will allow students to systematically organize their academic and extracurricular activities into a portfolio that can be used for job applications, including resumes and other career materials.

The move reflects a broader strategy to integrate AI into both academic and administrative functions, coupled with full-cycle support for international students from recruitment through settlement, positioning the university at the forefront of higher education innovation.

It has also established a startup support program for international students, offering infrastructure and facilities to help translate business ideas into viable projects.

Beyond its use in education and research, the university is also integrating AI into student life management.

It is currently developing AI-based support systems for students to provide tailored intervention programs, including well-being and counseling initiatives aimed at helping them overcome challenges associated with campus life.

Students at Kwangwoon University conduct research using a bipedal AI humanoid robot at the university campus in Seoul. Courtesy of Kwangwoon University

The university is also pursuing a qualitative shift by positioning generative AI not merely as a supplementary tool for lectures and learning, but as an integrated component of instructional design.

To support this transition, the university has established faculty training programs and a structured support system to help instructors effectively incorporate generative AI into their teaching. The initiative aims to drive innovation in pedagogy while strengthening students’ learning capabilities.

Beyond basic algorithm training, the university is also focusing on developing AI that interacts with the physical world. This includes efforts to integrate AI with robotics, semiconductors, sensors and control systems, enabling machines to perceive, reason and act in real-world environments.

“The university has built a strong engineering foundation over decades in electronics, control systems, communications and robotics, giving it a distinct edge in linking what is widely seen as the next stage after generative AI — physical AI — with both education and research,” Yoon said.

Officials from Kwangwoon University pose with students and staff of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology following lectures by visiting Kwangwoon faculty in Vietnam. Courtesy of Kwangwoon University

Global expansion

The university is stepping up efforts to expand its research capabilities through global partnerships with overseas institutions, as emphasis on international collaboration grows in importance.

“Beyond simple exchanges, we are developing practice-oriented global programs that integrate education, research and industry-academia cooperation, while expanding our education model both at home and abroad,” Yoon said.

Shortly after taking office in September last year, Yoon met with Kingston University President Steven Spier to explore a joint model for fostering startups and global entrepreneurship, including plans to develop acceleration programs, entrepreneurship education and investment linkages to support Kwangwoon-affiliated ventures as they enter global markets.

In January this year, the university also partnered with Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology to establish a global education model in the semiconductor field.

Faculty members from Kwangwoon University traveled to Vietnam to deliver courses in semiconductor design, laying the groundwork for a proposed two plus two dual-degree program that would allow students to complete two years of study locally before continuing for another two years at Kwangwoon.

International students gather on the campus of Kwangwoon University in Seoul. Courtesy of Kwangwoon University

The university has seen a steady rise in the number of international students in recent years, with new enrollments increasing from about 120 in 2023 to 180 in 2024 and around 230 this year.

Leveraging its strengths as an engineering-focused institution, the university is actively pursuing strategies to attract global STEM talent.

“We are expanding two plus two dual-degree programs with overseas universities, particularly in semiconductor systems engineering and robotics, while continuing to increase English-track programs and courses to strengthen our global education environment,” Yoon said.

He highlighted the university’s strong financial and academic support for international students, noting that undergraduate students can receive scholarships covering 30 to 80 percent of tuition in their first semester, with opportunities to receive partial and full scholarships based on academic performance in subsequent terms, along with coaching programs to support their academic adaptation and success.

Yoon emphasized that the university aims to move beyond being simply research-focused, seeking to evolve into a global hub for research by combining international joint degree programs with research exchanges to create a virtuous cycle linking research, education and industry collaboration.

“Kwangwoon University’s strength lies in its quality-driven research competitiveness that leads to tangible outcomes in advanced engineering fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics and semiconductors,” he said.

“We plan to further expand these strengths through global joint research frameworks in the years ahead.”

Graphic by Bae So-young