University to establish Wellbeing Care College and Safety College in 2028
Gwangju University has been selected for the Ministry of Education's 2026 Leading Regional University Specialization Development Project.
The ministry announced Monday that it had selected 33 universities — 16 four-year universities and 17 junior colleges — and would provide around 600 billion won ($449 million) in total support through 2030. This year's support for four-year universities amounts to 85 billion won, averaging about 5 billion won per institution.
Gwangju University has designated "Human Life (Care & Safety)" as its core specialization area, with plans to build an integrated talent development system encompassing care and safety. The university aims to strengthen its specialization by linking its accumulated education and research capabilities across care-related fields — including social welfare, psychology and nursing — with safety-related fields such as policing, firefighting and emergency rescue.
To that end, the university plans to establish a Wellbeing Care College and a Safety College in the 2028 academic year, reorganizing its current academic structure. The restructuring is intended to deepen expertise in its specialization areas while promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and building an academic framework that can respond flexibly to social demand and changes in the industrial environment.
The curriculum will also undergo a comprehensive overhaul, centered on AI convergence competencies and practical field skills.
The university will further strengthen field-centered education by introducing an eight-week paid internship program called "Co-op" for third-year students. The program is designed to help students apply their major knowledge and practical skills in real industry and workplace settings, improving their understanding of job functions and on-site adaptability.
sij@heraldcorp.com
