– The two ministries held the first vice-ministerial-level TF meeting to advance cooperative tasks related to AI talent development.
【Relevant National Task】
22. Securing “unmatched” frontier technologies and talent in artificial intelligence (AI).
The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon) and the Ministry of Education (MOE, Minister: Choi Kyo-jin) held the first “AI Talent Fostering” TF meeting on April 24 at the main conference room of the Presidential Advisory Council on Science & Technology (PACST).
The TF dedicated to fostering AI talent is a follow-up measure to the MSIT-MOE Talent Policy Meeting* held on March 19 between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae of MSIT and Minister Choi of MOE. The TF is co-led by the Vice Ministers of the respective ministries to ensure the swift implementation of inter-ministerial AI collaboration initiatives.
* (Topics discussed at the meeting) Inter-ministerial cooperation tasks for talent development including 1) innovating AI education and fostering AI talent; 2) nurturing and supporting science and technology (S&T) talent; 3) promoting collaboration among institutes of S&T, government-funded research institutes, and regional flagship national universities; and 4) facilitating the shared use of university research facilities and equipment.
At this first TF meeting, the two ministries reviewed the progress that has been made on the inter-ministerial cooperative tasks related to AI talent development and shared areas requiring further collaboration going forward.
In particular, the meeting discussed: 1) cooperation methods among MSIT’s AI Colleges (four institutes of S&T) and AI-centered Universities (receiving MSIT’s support for AI-focused education), and MOE’s AI Flagship National Universities; 2) the implementation of cooperative tasks under the “Korea AI Action Plan” including the establishment of a hands-on AI learning platform for elementary, middle, and high schools and the reform of teacher training and professional development systems in the AI era; and 3) the development of guidelines on the use of generative AI to enable teachers and students to use AI safely.
“Given the rapid pace of AI advancement, conventional approaches to talent development are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of industry. This is the time for both ministries to come together and actively discuss a paradigm shift in AI talent fostering,” said Ryu Je-myung, Second Vice Minister of MSIT. “If MOE lays a solid foundation in basic education, MSIT will actively provide advanced research environments and a hands-on infrastructure, thereby building an ecosystem in which our talent can grow into world-class AI professionals.”
Choi Eun-ok, Vice Minister of MOE, said “Talent policy in the AI era is an agenda that cannot be achieved by a single ministry alone. Rather, inter-ministerial cooperation is essential. Starting with today’s inaugural meeting, I hope that the efforts of both ministries in fostering AI talent will create a synergy effect that transcends ministerial boundaries.”