GIST launches 'AI College' to train 1,000 AI-semiconductor convergence specialists

The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology has officially launched an AI College, committing to train world-class talent in AI and semiconductor convergence.

The GIST AI College was built by expanding and reorganizing the existing College of Information and Computing. From the outset, it operates as an education and research platform enrolling 990 students — 472 undergraduates and 518 graduate students.

The college comprises five departments and programs: the Department of AI, the Department of AX, the Department of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science, the Department of Semiconductor Engineering, and the Graduate School of AI Policy and Strategy. It offers a continuous academic pathway from undergraduate through master's and doctoral programs.

AI and semiconductors serve as the two pillars of the curriculum. The college has built an integrated education framework that extends into three areas: AI semiconductors and systems, industrial AX, and AI policy.

The college plans to run a convergence curriculum spanning AI core technologies and AI semiconductors, covering AI transformation (AX) across industries — including mobility, energy, manufacturing, and biotech and healthcare — as well as AI policy and strategy. Students will be able to systematically develop both specialized expertise and interdisciplinary capabilities suited to their fields and career paths.

Starting with the 2027 academic year, the college plans to increase its undergraduate enrollment by about 100 seats from the previous year to approximately 330, further strengthening the training of talent in advanced fields such as AI, semiconductors and biotech.

"The AI College is the starting point of an educational transformation designed to proactively meet national AI and semiconductor strategy and industry demand," GIST President Lim Ki-chul said. "We will nurture AX talent to lead innovation across all industries and establish ourselves as a core education and research hub supporting South Korea's AI and semiconductor ecosystem."