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Kwangwoon University and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Sign MOU
to Foster Future Talent in Semiconductors

– Building a “growth ladder” for semiconductor talent from high school to university –

– Giving vocational high school students direct access to the university’s semiconductor equipment and faculty​ –

Kwangwoon University–Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education MOU to Foster Future Semiconductor Talent

(Left) President Do-Young Yoon / (Right) Superintendent Geun-Sik Jung

Kwangwoon University (President Do-Young Yoon) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (Superintendent Geun-Sik Jung) on Monday, March 16, to foster semiconductor professionals through a high school–university linkage program.

This agreement was established to provide vocational high school students with high-quality educational opportunities and clear pathways for career development by linking high school and university curricula and sharing infrastructure in the semiconductor field, a key industry of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The signing ceremony was attended by Geun-Sik Jung, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education; Sun-Young Cho, Chair of the Kwangwoon Academy Foundation; Do-Young Yoon, President of Kwangwoon University; Do-Bong Kim, Principal of Kwangwoon AI High School; Tae-Ik Lee, Principal of Kwangwoon Middle School; Myeong-Seok Song, Principal of Namdaemun Middle School; Seong-Hee Han, Principal of Kwangwoon Elementary School; and Sang-Hoon Oh, CEO of Luxrobo, all of whom reaffirmed their shared commitment to nurturing future talent.

The key provisions of the agreement include: 

  (1) the establishment and operation of a shared high school–university semiconductor curriculum, 

  (2) the operation of educational programs for employed learners under a “work first, study later” pathway, 

  (3) the development of semiconductor programs through industry–academia cooperation, 

  (4) the construction and use of shared infrastructure for semiconductor education and 

  (5) the joint planning of government- and local government-funded projects.

In particular, through this agreement, students at vocational high schools in Seoul will have the opportunity to gain early exposure to Kwangwoon University’s state-of-the-art semiconductor equipment and receive guidance from its expert faculty while still in high school. 

In addition, even after graduation and employment, they are expected to be able to continue their university education through a “work first, study later” system, creating a “growth ladder” for their academic and career development.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Superintendent Geun-Sik Jung and the other participants visited the AI Education Experience Center at Kwangwoon AI High School, as well as the design lab of Kwangwoon University’s Semiconductor Specialized University Project Group and the training lab of its Intelligent Robotics Innovation Convergence University Project Group. 

As they toured the sites of hands-on semiconductor process training and robot control practice, the attendees were able to observe the university’s practical education environment firsthand.

At the signing ceremony, Superintendent Geun-Sik Jung emphasized, “The key to this agreement is not simply its symbolic meaning, but ensuring that it provides real opportunities for our students.” He added, “The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will spare no administrative or financial support so that this can become a successful model of collaboration among local communities, industry, and academia, with high schools and universities working closely together.”

Sun-Young Cho, Chairman of the Kwangwoon Academy Foundation, stated, “As an educational institution encompassing elementary, middle, and high schools as well as a university, Kwangwoon Academy has long been a leader in ICT education in Korea.” She continued, “It is especially meaningful that, based on the semiconductor education capabilities we have built up over the years, we are now establishing a systematic talent-development model that enables organic linkage across all levels of schooling.” She added, “We will continue to work closely with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to foster the key talent needed to lead future industries.”

Do-Young Yoon, President of Kwangwoon University, said, “It is very meaningful for Kwangwoon University to be able to share the outstanding educational assets it has built over many years in the fields of ICT and semiconductor engineering with the local community and with high school students.” He added, “We will actively cooperate with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, beyond the boundaries of the university, to cultivate the core practical talent who will lead future industries.”

With this agreement as a starting point, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to further strengthen collaboration between vocational high schools and universities in the city and continue expanding a customized talent-development system that responds to rapidly changing industrial demands.