On June 4, Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung-ryul) announced that it held a launch ceremony for the fourth batch of students participating in the SEA:ME (Software Engineering in Automotive and Mobility Ecosystems) program at the Volkswagen Group Korea Foundation.

The SEA:ME program is a project-based learning (PBL) and peer learning-based educational curriculum developed and operated in collaboration between National University, the Volkswagen Group Our Foundation, and 42 Wolfsburg in Germany, aimed at cultivating future automotive software talent. The one-year intensive program, conducted at the 42 Wolfsburg campus, consists of five core modules—embedded systems, autonomous driving systems, cybersecurity, and others—designed to help students grow into global mobility software experts.

The launch ceremony was attended by Kookmin University President Jeong Seung-ryeol, Volkswagen Group Our Foundation Chairman Till Scheer, Future Car Innovation Convergence Consortium Director Shin Sung-hwan, Deputy Director Kim Jong-chan, and SEA:ME 4th term students. A total of 10 students—six from Kookmin University, three from Inha University, and one from Ajou University—were selected for the fourth program and began a 12-month educational program in Germany on July 1.

The Volkswagen Group Our Foundation, which is leading social contribution through the cultivation of talent in the mobility field, and Kookmin University, the host university of the Future Automotive Consortium, are taking the lead in realizing the value of cooperation and sharing that transcends the boundaries between universities by expanding participation opportunities for students from participating universities, and are presenting a model for practical industry-academia cooperation.

Til Share, Chairman of the Volkswagen Group Our Foundation, said “C:ME is the flagship education and scholarship program of the Volkswagen Group Our Foundation, best embodying the Group’s vision of becoming ‘The Global Automotive Tech Driver.’ Graduates of the program have already demonstrated their potential in the industry, proving the program’s value. We will actively support participants in growing into mobility software experts who will drive industrial transformation.”

President Jeong Seung-ryeol of Kookmin University said, “Kookmin University will strive to support the growth of students through field-based experiential education, integrated education that transcends majors, and self-directed education where students design their own majors. The SEA:ME program, with its collaboration with global companies and overseas educational institutions and its PBL-based educational system, will serve as the best example of realizing this vision.“ He also expressed gratitude, saying, ”We sincerely appreciate the Volkswagen Group Our Foundation's full support for cultivating specialized software talent in the future automotive field."

Additionally, Kookmin University plans to integrate the educational modules of the SEA:ME program into its regular curriculum to systematize the cultivation of outstanding talent in future automotive software and expand the number of beneficiaries.