No.158 / Jun 13, 2022
Ajou University was reselected to the National Program of Excellence in Software, after being first selected in October 2015 and its term ending in February 2021. The National Program of Excellence in Software of the Ministry of Science and ICT is a national project that selects and supports specific universities so that majors can grow into practical talents, and non-majors can build basic software skills. In October 2015, eight universities (Ajou University, Chungnam National University, Gacheon University, Kyungpook National University, Korea University, Sogang University, Sungkyunkwan University) were selected first. Subsequently, the project started selecting universities once or twice a year. The five principles of program operation (activation of professional education, basic software education and convergence curriculum, industry-academic project and employment-linked internship, related facilities and interfaces, and educational activities for the underprivileged) appears to be important to selection.
When Ajou University was selected from October 2015, it strengthened its graduation requirements for the Department of Software and Computer Engineering and several software subjects for non-majors. With the selection, major students participated in industry-academic cooperation projects with famous companies like Coupang, Samsung Electronics, and Nexon by belonging to the laboratory or taking a course. Additionally, Ajou SW Camp, an educational camp, was held for elementary, middle, and high school students; APC, programming contest, was held every year; and Ajou SOFTCON, an exhibition that displays students’ projects was held every semester.
In order to be selected in 2022, Ajou University established a new college and the curriculum innovation committee to strengthen major subjects. It also plans to focus on micro-curriculum (Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, etc.), and on strengthening industry-academic cooperation and start-up support system again. Students look forward to the changes that will follow the 11 billion won and national support.
By Noh Hyun-jin, AG Reporter
noh0605@ajou.ac.kr