HOME

– The only university among those selected for the Glocal University initiative in 2025 to receive Grade A, securing an additional KRW 500 million in incentive funding

– Glocal innovation achievements made possible through collaboration with Chungcheongnam-do Province and the cities of Asan and Cheonan

Soonchunhyang University was the only institution among the universities selected for the Glocal University initiative in 2025 to receive Grade A in the 2026 Performance Evaluation of Specialized Regional Universities (Glocal Universities), announced by the Ministry of Education. The university was recognized for its achievements in university innovation centered on AI-medical convergence. As a result of this evaluation, Soonchunhyang University also secured an additional KRW 500 million in incentive funding.

The Ministry of Education conducted its 2026 performance evaluation of 27 Glocal University models involving 35 universities nationwide. The evaluation consisted of a progress review for universities selected in 2023 and annual evaluations for those selected in 2024 and 2025. Soonchunhyang University was the only institution among the seven models selected last year to receive Grade A. The Ministry of Education recognized Soonchunhyang University as an outstanding institution, noting that it had “rapidly advanced academic reforms centered on AI-medical convergence and established a regional cooperation framework.”

Soonchunhyang University is pursuing university-wide innovation centered on AI-medical convergence, seamlessly integrating education, research, industry-academia collaboration, and regional innovation. Led by the AI Medical Convergence Innovation Education Center, the university has restructured its existing science and engineering academic programs into four medical convergence schools—Digital Medicine, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Advanced Medical Devices, and Healthcare Services—comprising 16 majors, establishing a foundation for cultivating future healthcare professionals with interdisciplinary expertise in medicine, engineering, and AI.

In particular, the university is actively advancing the development of its “AI Medical Convergence Triangle Campus,” connecting Asan (education and research), Cheonan (practical training and technology validation), and Naepo (commercialization). The university is developing an education and research campus in Asan and establishing infrastructure for clinical trials and medical big data in Cheonan, centered on the AI Medical Convergence Technology Validation Center. In Naepo, it is operating industry-linked contract-based degree programs and pursuing other initiatives to create a comprehensive innovation ecosystem for the AI-medical convergence industry, spanning the entire process from education and research to technology validation and commercialization.

This achievement is particularly significant as it marks official recognition by the government of the university's efforts to develop AI-medical convergence as a core competitive strength while rapidly advancing academic reforms and establishing a regional cooperation framework. The university plans to use the additional incentive funding to advance AI-medical convergence education, strengthen research capabilities, expand collaboration with regional industries, and enhance its global competitiveness.

President Song Byeong-kug said, "This achievement was made possible through the active cooperation and support of the local community, including Chungcheongnam-do Province and the cities of Asan and Cheonan, which have joined forces to ensure the success of the Glocal University initiative." He added, "We will continue to build an AI-medical convergence innovation ecosystem in which universities, local governments, hospitals, and businesses grow together, and establish a leading Glocal University model in Korea that advances alongside the region through education, research, and industry-academia collaboration."