- Chonnam National University launches campus-wide AI transformation, embedding AI across teaching, research and administration
- Free access to eight generative AI platforms provided to 30,000 students, faculty and staff under the 'AI for All @ CNU' initiative
- Project aligned with Korea’s Glocal University 30 programme, backed by long-term funding to boost innovation and global competitiveness
Chonnam National University has launched an ambitious artificial intelligence campus transformation project aimed at embedding AI tools across teaching, research and administrative functions, marking a significant step in its efforts to make artificial intelligence an everyday part of academic life. The initiative reflects the university’s broader vision of building an inclusive and future-ready campus where AI is accessible to all, rather than limited to select departments or specialists.
As part of the project, the South Jeolla-based national university will provide free access to eight leading generative AI platforms for all students, faculty members, staff and researchers, covering a campus population of around 30,000. A university official said the decision was driven by the need to remove financial and technical barriers that often prevent widespread adoption of AI tools across disciplines. Individually, subscriptions to these platforms can cost about 200,000 won, or roughly $140, per month, but the university has chosen to absorb the cost to ensure equal access.
The generative AI tools now available on campus include ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Grok, Llama, Mistral and Qwen. University administrators said institutionalising access to these platforms aligns with Chonnam National University’s long-term strategy under the banner 'AI for All @ CNU'. This approach builds on years of groundwork laid since 2019, when the university established its AI Convergence College and began investing heavily in AI education and infrastructure.
Unlike traditional models that restrict AI usage to computer science or engineering programmes, Chonnam National University’s initiative is designed to integrate AI into daily academic and professional workflows. University leaders said the shift reflects an understanding of AI not just as a specialised field, but as a practical utility that can support routine tasks across teaching, learning, research and administration.
Also Read: OpenAI's ChatGPT Receives Voice Upgrade and New Customization Features
In classrooms, faculty members are being encouraged to use AI tools to design syllabi, develop course materials and create assessment items. Students, meanwhile, are expected to leverage AI in research, academic writing, project development and even career planning. The university said the objective is to help students build real-world AI fluency that will be essential in future workplaces.
On the research side, AI tools will support activities ranging from idea generation and data analysis to drafting research papers, with the aim of improving productivity and global competitiveness. Administrative staff are also expected to benefit, as AI is positioned as a time-saving resource for preparing meeting minutes, drafting correspondence and handling routine reports.
“Chonnam National University’s AI transition is not limited to providing software”, a university official said. “We are equally focused on helping our faculty and staff become proficient in using AI responsibly”. To that end, the university is rolling out workshops, online training programmes and clear guidelines addressing ethical, legal and privacy concerns related to AI use.
The AI campus transformation is also part of the national Glocal University 30 initiative led by Korea’s Ministry of Education, which aims to strengthen regional universities as engines of local and global innovation. Chonnam National University was selected as a Glocal University 30 institution in September and is set to receive around 22 billion won over five years to support education, research, job creation and graduate development.
