The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Baek Kyung-hoon, hereinafter referred to as MSIT) and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (President Hong Jin-bae) held the “Virtual Convergence Graduate School Achievement Sharing Conference” at Sogang University in Seoul on the 21st.
To commemorate the 4th anniversary of the launch of the Virtual Convergence Graduate School, the event was attended by Second Vice Minister Ryu Jae-myung, the chief professors of the graduate schools, current students, and CEO Kim Dong-kyu of Calibur (Chairman of the Korea Virtual Convergence Digital Industry Association). Attendees shared their achievements and discussed ways to cultivate convergent talents who will lead the AI era.
The Virtual Convergence Graduate School has been operating a curriculum that encompasses advanced technologies such as extended reality (XR), big data, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital twin, as well as the humanities and social sciences. It has been producing specialized talents equipped with planning and research and development capabilities for virtual convergence services through industry-academic cooperation projects.
Since 2022, the graduate schools operated by eight universities, including Sogang University, KAIST, Konkuk University, Sungkyunkwan University, Sejong University, Kyung Hee University, Soongsil University, and Chung-Ang University, have selected 420 master’s and doctoral students. Along the way, they have opened 124 specialized education courses, completed 203 industry-academic cooperation projects, published 141 SCI-level papers, registered 87 patents, and launched 2 startups.
The event began with opening remarks from Sogang University President Hyun-Dae and a congratulatory address from Second Vice Minister Ryu Jae-myung from MSIT. It continued with presentations on the outline and achievements of the Virtual Convergence Graduate School project and a talk concert. During the talk concert, themed “Prospects for Cultivating Convergent Talents in the AI Era,” consensus was formed that the virtual convergence industry will play a key role in connecting various sectors of industry and society in the AI transformation (AX) era.
Sogang University introduced the establishment of the International Metaverse Association (IMA), the hosting of a global conference, and examples of industry-academic cooperation projects with Hyundai Construction. KAIST shared research on “New Jam Daejeon” and the status of hosting the IEEE ISMAR conference scheduled for October. Konkuk University showcased an AI-based “Virtual Memorial Service,” and Sungkyunkwan University presented cases where next-generation video compression and transmission technology (MIV) was reflected in international standards.
Sejong University presented its achievements in operating an online campus using the “Meta-Sejong” platform, and Chung-Ang University shared the example of hosting the “2025 Virtual Convergence × Gaudí Nature-Inspired Architecture Hackathon.” Soongsil University introduced the XR-based class platform “META-XClass,” and Kyung Hee University announced plans for the “VIVEN” platform service utilizing visual and tactile convergent content.
In particular, Sogang University’s Ph.D. student Park Jong-hyeong drew attention by presenting a case in which he connected his idea developed in a Web 3.0-based class, “Trust-Based AI Diagnostic Chatbot,” to papers, patents, and technology startups.
Second Vice Minister Ryu Jae-myung stated, “Cultivating talents who possess convergent thinking and creativity in the AI era is a definite investment for the future,” and expressed expectations that the Virtual Convergence Graduate School will become a global hub for research and talent that drives innovation across industries.
