UNIST has welcomed the second cohort of its AI Executive Program, an executive education initiative aimed at helping business and institutional leaders navigate the growing impact of artificial intelligence on industry and organizational strategy.

The program opened on May 6 at the UNIST Pioneers Campus with approximately 30 executives from companies and public institutions across the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region.

Designed and operated by the UNIST Industrial Innovation Team, the program focuses on strengthening AI leadership capabilities within Southeast Korea's core industries, including manufacturing, energy, and advanced materials. The curriculum combines lectures, workshops, networking sessions, and global case studies covering AI technologies, technology management, commercialization, and strategic leadership in the AI era.

The opening session featured a keynote lecture by UNIST Collaborating Professor Sedol Lee, who reflected on the relationship between AI, human judgment, and leadership. Vice President Hyun Sil Ahn for Research Affairs also delivered a lecture examining Korea's strategic challenges and opportunities in an increasingly AI-driven geopolitical landscape.

Faculty members and collaborating professors specializing in AI, industrial innovation, and technology strategy will participate throughout the program, including Vice President Sung Chul Bae for Academic Affairs, Vice President Hyun Sil Ahn, and Dean Jae-Young Sim of UNIST Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence.

Beyond the formal curriculum, UNIST plans to support continued collaboration among participants through a regional alumni network designed to encourage industry-academic partnerships, joint initiatives, and the exchange of AI implementation strategies.

“AI has become a defining factor in industrial competitiveness,” said President Park. “We hope this program will help regional leaders deepen their understanding of AI and contribute to the broader transformation of industry across Southeast Korea.”

Through initiatives such as the AI Executive Program, UNIST aims to further strengthen regional innovation partnerships and expand the broader ecosystem for AI-driven industrial transformation.