The South Korean Ministry of Education, along with the Korean Council for University Education, has introduced a new initiative to develop a basic artificial intelligence (AI) education curriculum that will be implemented in 20 universities by 2026. This program aims to ensure that all university students possess foundational skills in AI, allowing them to leverage these technologies within their respective academic disciplines. The initiative is designed to support the growing need for AI literacy in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Participating universities will receive funding to create AI basic education courses and will be required to establish these courses as mandatory for incoming freshmen. Additionally, specialized minor programs in AI-related non-engineering fields will be introduced. The initiative also includes support for innovative teaching methods, which will involve collaboration between AI and non-AI faculty to enhance the educational experience. This holistic approach to AI education is positioned to transform how future generations of students engage with technology.

Furthermore, the program will foster collaboration among participating universities, encouraging them to share educational modules and resources, including credit exchanges and the integration of courses into the K-MOOC (Korean Massive Open Online Course) platform. Each university selected for the program will receive substantial funding to implement these changes, with applications open until the end of March 2024. As established universities standardize AI education, this could pave the way for more comprehensive educational reform across the nation's higher education system.