New Law Enables South Korean Firms to Launch In-House Graduate Schools | Be Korea-savvy

New Law Enables South Korean Firms to Launch In-House Graduate Schools


South Korea is set to allow companies to establish in-house graduate schools that can confer official master's and doctoral degrees. (Image courtesy of Samsung Electronics)

South Korea is set to allow companies to establish in-house graduate schools that can confer official master’s and doctoral degrees. (Image courtesy of Samsung Electronics)

SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Korea Bizwire) South Korea is set to allow companies to establish in-house graduate schools that can confer official master’s and doctoral degrees, marking a significant shift in corporate education and workforce development.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on January 16, 2025, that the enforcement decree for the “Special Act on Advanced Industry Talent Innovation,” enacted in January 2024, passed the Cabinet meeting on January 14 and will take effect on January 17. This legal framework enables corporations to operate internal graduate programs beyond the existing lifelong education-focused corporate universities.

Through this initiative, companies can leverage in-house experts and advanced, high-cost equipment to cultivate specialized talent. Employees will be able to earn accredited master’s and doctoral degrees through educational programs tailored for balancing work and study.

The introduction of the “Specialized Talent Training System” is expected to encourage collaboration between corporate graduate programs and universities, facilitating joint research and allowing university faculty to teach within corporate institutions.

Additionally, the law paves the way for industries to jointly establish and support sector-specific academies dedicated to advanced industries. Following the launch of the Semiconductor Academy in 2023 and the Battery Academy in 2024, the government plans to introduce the Display Academy in 2025.

To further bolster talent development in cutting-edge sectors, the Ministry will establish the “Advanced Industry Talent Innovation Center” within the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology. This center will oversee and support comprehensive talent innovation initiatives for high-tech enterprises.

A Ministry official emphasized, “As of 2023, industries accounted for 79% of the nation’s R&D investments and 73% of its research personnel. We anticipate active participation from the industrial sector in nurturing advanced industry talent and will provide institutional support for these efforts.” 

Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)

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