Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul), through its Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation and the Global Development Cooperation Institute (GDCI), announced that it will operate the “AI Ph.D. Fellowship Program” in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to train key research personnel in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in Palestine.

This program is a core talent development initiative under KOICA’s “Project to Strengthen R&D Capabilities in Innovative Technologies for Palestine’s Digital Transformation.” In addition to providing support for doctoral studies, the program aims to train researchers capable of addressing pressing issues in Palestine and to support them in leading local research and development and industrial innovation upon their return to Palestine.

The “AI Ph.D. Fellowship Program” is a long-term training program that selects 30 outstanding Palestinian talents to support their doctoral education and research and development in the field of AI in South Korea. Selected fellows will enroll in the Ph.D. program at Kookmin University’s Graduate School of AI and Software to conduct research on core AI technologies and their applications in the industrial and public sectors. Research topics will be selected in connection with key issues facing Palestine. The educational and research curriculum will be designed to ensure that research outcomes can be applied to solving local problems and driving digital transformation.

During their doctoral studies, fellows will participate in specialized AI education, joint research with Korean researchers, industry-academia collaboration projects, internships, presentations at international academic conferences, and technology commercialization programs. Through these activities, the program aims to help them develop research capabilities, practical problem-solving skills, project planning and management competencies, and an international research network.

The most distinctive feature of this program is that, unlike typical support initiatives focused on degree completion, it is designed so that trainees return to Palestine after earning their degrees to contribute to the local innovation ecosystem. Upon their return, trainees will serve as research personnel bridging universities, research institutions, and industry, playing a role in ensuring that R&D outcomes lead to products, services, and startups.

This program is also linked to “KMU VISION 2035: EDGE,” the mid- to long-term development strategy that Kookmin University is pursuing to mark its 80th anniversary. Kookmin University has designated AI+X as one of its eight specialized fields and is expanding education and research that integrates artificial intelligence with various sectors, including industry, healthcare, education, and public services. Through this program, the university plans to link the educational and research capabilities of the Graduate School of AI and Software with international development cooperation and establish a model for training AI researchers who can contribute to resolving pressing issues in Palestine and advancing its digital transformation.

Cho Hyun-kyu, Director of the KOICA Palestine Office, stated, “The AI Ph.D. Fellowship is a program that not only provides outstanding Palestinian talent with the opportunity to earn a degree but also lays the groundwork for them to lead local research and development and digital transformation upon their return home.” He added, “We hope that Korea’s experience in AI research and education will serve as a catalyst for sustainable digital innovation in Palestine.”

Professor Lee Sanghwan of the Department of Software Engineering at Kookmin University, who serves as the Project Manager (PM), “The greatest strength of Kookmin University’s Graduate School of AI and Software is its AX (AI Transformation)-centered educational system, which extends AI beyond research and software implementation to real-world systems and industrial settings, including industrial innovation, healthcare, education, and public services,” he said. “We will provide support to ensure that the program’s outcomes lead to improvements in Palestine’s public services, the creation of jobs for young people, and industrial innovation and digital transformation.”

△ Photo: Kickoff Meeting for the Project to Strengthen R&D Capabilities in Innovative Technologies for Palestine’s Digital Transformation