ABOUT

  • Home
  • ABOUT
  • National Software Program

Department of Software wins and runs the National Software Program in Software for Gachon University.


The Ministry of Science and ICT named eight universities, including Gachon University, as the first batch of universities for National Programs of Excellence in Software. The Ministry supports each National Program with 11 billion Korean Won a year for six years.

Software has changed our world. In other words, we’re living in a software-powered world. Without even realizing it, we use countless products and services created by software on a daily basis. Smartphone has become a necessity--we use it to call, text, play games, watch video clips, take pictures, find directions, look up bus lines and relevant information, buy products and make reservations. We even pay public transport fares using transportation cards. These wouldn’t be possible without the power of software.

Over the last 40 years and especially the last 20, software has brought widespread changes to our lives and will continue to change the world at an ever-faster pace.

To enhance Korea’s competitiveness, the Ministry of Science and ICT is pursuing the ultimate goal of making Korea a “software-powered society” society by focusing on basic software education for elementary through high school students and has tasked the universities selected for the National Programs of Excellence in Software to play a pivotal role in realizing the “software-oriented society.” .

Four Pillars of “National Software Program in Software” Project.

  • First, dramatically innovate the current software education for over 100 students to focus on the industry’s demands
  • Second, require every student, regardless of major, to take one basic software class as an elective
  • Third, motivate students not majoring in software to pursue a dual degree or minor in software.
  • Fourth, provide basic software education to the members of local communities (elementary to high school students and ordinary citizens).


Essential Elements of National Software Program in Software Project at Gachon University

Field-oriented practical training and enhancement of global competence

  • Students are required to write at least 40,000 lines of code before graduation and enhance problem-solving skills via high-intensity practical training
  • Students work in teams on a large-scale project (Capstone Design) over three semesters and two vacations.
  • Students receive an intensive 3.5-year training in which they are required to take software classes in the very first semester of their first year and complete at least 90 credit hours in the major
  • Various programs to help students learn about the field, such as special guest lectures, field trips to businesses, software festivals, IT seminars, etc.
  • Open-source software education
  • R&D collaboration with startups and SMEs and internship programs for students
  • Systematic education on professionalism and character building (character-building seminars, strict class management rules, development of teamwork and leadership via team projects, improvement of presentation skills, volunteer activities, etc.)
  • Improvement of the ability to communicate in English via English classes tailored to software majors, assignments and presentations in English, enhanced English proficiency requirement for graduation, etc.
  • Internship programs at and collaboration projects with world-renowned universities and companies

Basic/Convergence Software Education

  • 3-phase basic software education for students not majoring in software that takes into account the characteristics of their majors and departments
  • Curriculum that incorporates software to motivate students to pursue a dual degree/minor in software
  • Software theory classes and practical training for freshmen before they start their first semester

Software Education for Local Communities

  • Software classes for elementary to high school students on Scratch, robot programming, 3D modeling, etc
  • Mentoring program where Gachon University students visit local middle/high schools and create software with students
  • Volunteer program to teach software to middle/high school students and the elderly
  • Special lectures for students and organizations of local communities to promote their understanding of software and discuss the future of software