| 52 students admitted to Seoul New Collar School AI SW department
| Integrated education program linking 3 years of high school and 2 years of technical college
| P-Tech, operating in over 200 schools in 13 countries

The integrated high school-vocational college innovative education program for nurturing future technology talents such as AI is accepting its first freshmen in Korea.

IBM Korea announced on the morning of the 4th that the first P-TECH school in Korea, 'Seoul New Collar School', will open at Seoul Samyeong Computer High School and that 52 new students will have an entrance ceremony.
Students admitted to the AI Software Department of Seoul New Collar School, which operates as a five-year integrated education program of three years of high school and two years of professional training, are divided into two classes and study at Semyung Computer High School for three years, then take classes at Gyeonggi Science and Technology University for two years. After graduation, they are awarded a high school diploma and a two-year associate's degree. Some of the curriculum includes content jointly developed by IBM, Semyung Computer High School, and Gyeonggi Science and Technology University.

In the first and second years, students take basic specialized courses in programming, database, and big data analysis along with the regular high school curriculum. Third-year students will receive 100% specialized coursework, and will learn advanced courses in machine learning, programming, and big data analysis.

In the 4th and 5th years of the vocational college course, the focus will be on specialized courses including big data applications and AI design that can be directly utilized in actual companies, as well as on-site training at industrial sites.

Across all grade levels, classes include not only technical expertise but also soft skills such as communication, analytical thinking, leadership, and collaboration as basic job competencies.

IBM will work with schools to support the curriculum of specialized courses, provide expert lectures, paid internships, and provide work experience sharing, professional coaching, and career mentoring for students through IBM employees.
Jang Hwa-jin, President of IBM Korea, said, “I sincerely welcome the students who entered Seoul New Collar School today with the dream of becoming AI experts,” and added, “I hope that the students will develop the specialized skills and practical capabilities required by the new era and grow into leaders who will lead the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution.”

Meanwhile, P-Tech is an educational model that aims to foster talents with the academic and technical capabilities required in industrial settings as the demand for 'New Collar' occupations related to cutting-edge technologies such as AI, data science, and cybersecurity increases across all industries in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

The students Students learn future technologies through STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)-based curriculum. In addition, one-on-one mentoring, company visits and field trips, and paid internship programs are included in the curriculum, helping students gain early workplace experience and acquire the capabilities needed for 'new collar' jobs. P-Tech, which was first established in New York in 2011, is currently operating in over 200 schools in 13 countries including the US, Australia, and Singapore, and tens of thousands of students are benefiting.

With over 500 large and small businesses in the information and communication technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and energy sectors and 80 universities as partners, P-Tech has produced approximately 180 graduates to date. IBM directly supports 11 of these schools and leads the strategy and technical support for the entire education network.