Korea University Undertakes to Educate Leaders in Future Mobility Industry
Korea University and Hyundai Motors agree to establish a Contract Department to train next-generation leaders in the field of engineering
The Division of Smart Mobility - Nation’s First Employment-Guaranteed BS-MS Integrated Program
First Cohort of Students in 2023 - Annually 50 Students to be Admitted for the Next 5 Years
The Program comes with various benefits including full scholarship, opportunities to participate in industry-academia joint projects and guaranteed employment by Hyundai Motors

Korea University establishes the nation’s first employment-guaranteed BS-MS Integrated program to educate the next-generation leaders of the mobility industry.

Korea University and Hyundai Motors held a ceremony at the Main Hall of Korea University at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 26 May to celebrate their agreement to establish the Division of Smart Mobility.

Based on the agreement, Korea University offers admission to the Division of Smart Mobility to 50 students annually for five years, starting from 2023. The Division provides a Bachelor-Master Integrated Program, where students can earn both BS and MS degrees in five years (BS 3.5 years + MS 1.5 years).

The Division of Smart Mobility has been established through the application of Open Innovation, so its teaching and learning systems can be tailored to the students. Its curriculum, designed by both parties, aims to educate students so they can start working in the fields of research and development upon graduation without additional on-the-job training. Researchers at Hyundai Motors serve as adjunct professors, providing hands-on industry perspectives to the students.

To foster well-rounded talents possessing both technical knowledge and creative thinking skills, the Division offers a wide array of foundational (humanities, social sciences, technology, communication, etc.) and major (hydrogen, robotics, etc.) modules. The interdisciplinary program plans to bridge courses in the fields of engineering such as chemical, mechanical, electric/electronic and computer engineering with ones in other fields such as humanities, psychology and business.

Students received a wide variety of benefits, including full tuition waiver for their entire 5-year study, as well as opportunities to participate in industry-academia joint projects, present their research at academic conferences, visit renowned research facilities in other countries and be mentored by experienced industry experts.

Upon graduation, students are guaranteed employment with a research & development department within Hyundai Motors. The corporation is also considering a scholarship program for students achieving highest honors in each specialization to study abroad in pursuit of a Ph.D.

“Hyundai Motors is the world’s leading corporation that pioneers future mobility sectors in the global market, and Korea University is a school that fosters the finest talents, with admirable professors whose expertise lies in the application of hydrogen and robotics, as well as well-established educational and administrative infrastructure that can support the new program,” said President Chung Jin Taek of Korea University. “We promise to ensure that the graduates of the program become core assets of Hyundai Motors.”

“The competitiveness of Hyundai Motors in the future mobility market comes from creative talents who have the ability to innovate,” said Chang Jay, CEO of Hyundai Motors. “Hyundai Motors is committed to investing in world-class engineering leaders through an exemplary collaboration with Korea University.”

Korea University has established both the Contract Department of Cyber Defense in 2012 jointly with the Ministry of National Defense and the Contract Department of Semiconductor Engineering in 2021 jointly with SK Hynix. Following the Contract Department of Next-Generation Communication, which has been established in collaboration with Samsung Electronics and will have its first students in 2023, the new program jointly designed with Hyundai Motors marks the fourth contract department.

 ▲ (From Left) Choi Seo-ho, head of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Production Quality; Kim Yong-hwa, director of R&D Planning and Coordination; Choi Jae-ho, director of Management Support;

Chang Jay, CEO of Hyundai Motors; Chung Jin Taek, President of Korea University; Ryu Jin-hee, executive vice president for Academic Affairs; Jang Gil-soo, head of the Office of Planning & Budget; and Hur Tae-kyun, head of the Office of Academic Affairs.