Partnering with Science and Technology Institutes to Nurture Local Talent... Ministry of Science and ICT to Convert Three High Schools into Science Gifted Schools

Open Application for Seven Regions Without Gifted Science Schools...
Expanding the KAIST Educational Model to Local Communities

Nurturing Talent in Advanced Fields Such as AI, Biotechnology, and Aerospace...
Final Designation Set for December

The Ministry of Science and ICT will expand a new science-gifted education model linked to science and technology institutes to local areas. For seven metropolitan cities and provinces without gifted science high schools, approximately three existing high schools will be converted into science and technology institute-affiliated science gifted schools, aiming both to nurture local talent and address educational imbalances.

On August 7, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced the launch of an open application process for the 'Designation and Conversion of Science and Technology Institute-Affiliated Science Gifted Schools.'

Korea Science Academy of KAIST campus view. Photo by The Asia Business Daily Database

This initiative is designed to allow local students to utilize the educational and research infrastructure of science and technology institutes, providing opportunities to experience university-level advanced education and research. Currently, there are eight gifted science schools operating nationwide; however, the only one affiliated with a science and technology institute is the Korea Science Academy of KAIST in Busan.

The government plans to conduct this application process in seven regions without gifted science high schools—Gangwon, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Ulsan, Jeonbuk, Jeju, and Chungnam—with the aim of converting existing general high schools into science gifted schools. Ultimately, approximately three schools will be selected, with the final designation process set to be completed by December 2026.

Regions wishing to apply must form a consultative body composed of their education offices, local governments, and science and technology institutes, and prepare a detailed school operation plan. Applications must include proposals for curriculum, financial support, and facility establishment, and must be submitted by October 16. Each metropolitan/provincial education office can only recommend one school from its region.

Focus on Research Over Admissions... Fostering Regional Innovative Talent

The newly designated science and technology institute-affiliated science gifted schools will implement a differentiated curriculum, moving away from the current admissions-focused education.

The plan includes offering university-level advanced education in collaboration with institute faculty, expanding opportunities for creative research (R&E), project-based learning (PBL), and hands-on experiments and training in cutting-edge research facilities.

Furthermore, research projects and entrepreneurship education linked with local industry, academia, and research sectors will be operated to enable students to directly tackle issues faced by local industries. Through this, the aim is to nurture creative and interdisciplinary talent to lead national strategic technology fields such as AI, biotechnology, and aerospace.

The Ministry of Science and ICT will evaluate the willingness of local communities to transition to gifted science schools, along with their curriculum and school management systems. After evaluation, selected schools will be announced in November 2026, and the final designation will take place in December after deliberation by the Central Gifted Education Promotion Committee of the Ministry of Education.

Gu Hyuk-chae, First Vice Minister of Science and ICT, said, "This conversion to gifted science schools not only strengthens local talent development pathways but also marks a starting point for moving beyond admissions-focused education to propose a new educational model for nurturing future key talent. The Ministry will actively support close cooperation among education offices, local governments, and science and technology institutes to shape a science gifted education model that drives regional and national innovation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.