Restructuring the School of Convergence: Focusing on AI

The Announcement

In March, the School of Convergence announced a restructuring plan that would merge its four current majors — Data Science Convergence, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Convergence, Culture & Technology Convergence, and Self-Designed Transdisciplinary Studies — into a single department, which would be renamed into the School of AI Convergence. Established in 2019 under the College of Computing and Informatics, the school was created to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and cultivate creative talents to lead in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. However, after careful consideration and internal discussions, the School of Convergence Dean Song Ha-yeon explained that the school decided to strengthen its academic direction by primarily focusing on AI and dissolving the other specialized majors. The plan entails a complete redesign of the original curriculum, including the introduction of a new convergence micro-degree program. This would allow students to earn cross-disciplinary micro-degrees by completing AI-focused courses alongside classes from other fields of study. Additionally, the curriculum would be expanded to include more AI-related technology and engineering courses, better aligning with current industry needs. However, discussions regarding the merger are ongoing, and no final decisions have been made, meaning the proposal is subject to change.

Progress or Setback?

The students’ reactions to the announcement of the School of Convergence merger have been sharply divided. On one side, the supporters view it as a solution to the school’s lack of a clear identity, a long standing issue. The current curriculum has been receiving criticism for failing to deliver on the promise of interdisciplinary integration, with concerns about weak connections between the different fields of study. For instance, the Culture & Technology Convergence Major, which was initially intended to offer courses that combined new technologies with content creation, has primarily focused on only content production. Proponents of the merger argue that restructuring the curriculum around AI will address these issues and promote proper interdisciplinary integration. They also believe that expanding AI-related courses will foster more opportunities for specialization and development of hard skills, offering students an advantage in the job market. A junior from the Data Science Convergence Major shared in an interview with the Sungkyun Times (SKT), “This merger aligns well with current AI trends and will ultimately benefit our employment opportunities.” However, there is also strong opposition, particularly among those in the Culture & Technology Convergence and Data Science Convergence Majors. They argue that consolidating these majors into a single AI-related major would in effect eliminate the other tracks. These students view this as an irresponsible decision that disregards the academic integrity and value of the existing majors, stating that the new curriculum could disrupt the intended career paths of both current students and alumni. A sophomore from the Culture & Technology Convergence Major expressed their concerns with the SKT, saying, “If the curriculum focuses only on AI, I will not be able to receive the content creation-specific education I had expected, which will eventually impact my job prospects.” Given the deep division among students, it is crucial for the university to carefully consider differing perspectives and engage in thoughtful discussions to find a well-reasoned solution for the department’s restructuring.