Organization of “Eco-up Innovation Convergence University Project Team” by Sejong-si and five universities including YU

Received 40.8 billion won from the government for 4 years to nurture talents in leading eco-friendly high-tech industries

YU Department of Environmental Engineering invests KRW 6.9 billion to nurture talents specialized in “water industry”

[June 15, 2023]

YU (President CHOI Oe-chool) was selected for the project of “University of Advanced Field Innovation and Convergence” to be managed by the Ministry of Education and National Research Foundation of Korea.

“University of Advanced Field Innovation and Convergence” is a project to cultivate talents in high-tech fields at the national level through convergence, openness, and cooperation between universities in the metropolitan area and non-metropolitan areas.Sejong-si and five universities [Korea University (Sejong), Korea University, Konkuk University, YU, and Vision College of Jeonju] participated in organization of “Eco-up Innovation Convergence University Project Team” and, through this selection, the Project Team will promote the project by receiving a total of 40.8 billion won from the government until February 2027.

 The Project Team will cultivate talents in six areas to lead environment-friendly (eco-up) advanced industries. Eco-up deals with industries that design, manufacture, and install environmental facilities and measuring devices by converging smart technologies or provide services related to environmental technologies. The six areas consist of ▲ Greenhouse gas reduction, ▲ Climate change adaptation, ▲ Sustainable water conservation, ▲ Resource circulation, ▲ Pollution prevention and management, and ▲ Biodiversity conservation. Among the participants, YU, centered on the Department of Environmental Engineering (Professor JEONG Jin-young, in charge of the project), is responsible for fostering specialized talents centered on sustainable water conservation, pollution prevention, and management with government support of 6.92 billion won.

YU is already making significant achievements in the field of cultivating talents in national water industry cluster and smart water industry through support from central government and local governments, and it is expected that this selection for the project will generate synergies in promoting the project to cultivate talents in the eco-friendly field.YU plans to create an eco-smart city convergence major and a microdegree related to the high-tech environmental industry and participating students will receive various benefits such as subsidies.

 The universities, industries, and public agents participating in this project will jointly utilize the innovative convergence university system, advanced practice rooms, and equipment and will carry out national project research and education together with local government, academia, industry, and research to solve problems in the six major areas of eco-up. In addition, they plan to maximize the effect of the project by simultaneously improving the system within the universities, such as operation of convergence and complex courses between disciplines (major) and flexibilization of the teacher and undergraduate system.

 President CHOI Oe-chool of YU said, “YU has been continuously selected for large-scale government support projects such as software-oriented university support projects. This is the result of external recognition that YU's bold reforms are meeting the demand for talent in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution. We will fulfill our role as a university to develop talents who will lead the development of the local economy and the future food industry of Korea.”