Korea Aerospace University and Gyeongsang National University held an in-person agreement ceremony on October 23 in the Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration Seminar Room on the second floor of Korea Aerospace University’s main building, reaffirming their commitment to fostering talent and conducting joint research in the aerospace and defense sectors. The ceremony was held in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed in writing on July 28, and the two universities discussed future directions for cooperation.

Attendees included Hee-young Huh, President of Korea Aerospace University, and Jin-hoe Kwon, President of Gyeongsang National University, along with Hwang Wan-sik, Director of Korea Aerospace University’s Anchor Project Group; Kwon Do-gyun, Deputy Director of the Anchor Project Group; Lim Hyun-tae, Director of Gyeongsang National University’s Anchor Project Group; and Kim Seon-young, Director of its Regional Education Innovation Center.

Based on this agreement, the two universities will strengthen educational and research cooperation in the aerospace and defense sectors in connection with the Regional Growth Talent Development System (Anchor) and the “5 Regions, 3 Specializations Shared University” initiative. Areas of cooperation include: operating curricula linked to companies and research institutions in aerospace and defense and conducting joint research; providing field-based and hands-on education using demonstration-based educational and research infrastructure; developing joint education and research programs linked to the Anchor and 5 Regions, 3 Specializations Shared University initiatives; promoting AI convergence education and joint industry-academia AX education and research to support AI transformation in regional industries; and sharing educational and research facilities, equipment, data, and professional personnel.

Gyeongsang National University is a flagship national university in Gyeongsangnam-do and serves as the lead institution of the GNI Shared University, a southeastern regional initiative involving universities in Gyeongsangnam-do, Busan, and Ulsan. The GNI Shared University shares educational and research resources among participating universities, focusing on regional strategic industries and establishing a collaborative framework for joint education and research that responds to industrial needs.

 

This collaboration is significant because it enables universities in the Seoul metropolitan area and other regions to share educational and research resources across regional boundaries and jointly contribute to developing talent for national strategic industries and strengthening regional industrial competitiveness. By combining Korea Aerospace University’s established expertise and demonstration infrastructure in aerospace with Gyeongsang National University’s shared-university cooperation network, the partnership is expected to expand opportunities for field-based education linked to companies and research institutions, as well as demonstration-based joint research. The two universities plan to define specific collaborative initiatives, including joint curricula and the identification of joint research projects, through further working-level discussions.

President Hee-young Huh said, “Since the early days of my presidency, I have envisioned educational cooperation in the aerospace industry that connects the entire country beyond regional boundaries. To ensure that this agreement does not remain merely formal, we will establish direct communication channels between faculty members at both universities and work together to achieve tangible results across education and R&D.”

President Jin-hoe Kwon of Gyeongsang National University said, “To strengthen competitiveness in the aerospace and defense sectors, it is important to connect the specialized capabilities of universities and closely link education and research with industry. Through continued cooperation with Korea Aerospace University, we will provide students with broader educational opportunities and pursue joint research outcomes that contribute to the development of regional industries.”