A new non-degree education program created by SK Group (034730.KS) to nurture young talent for the artificial intelligence era has drawn such strong interest that about 4,000 people applied just to attend its information session. Analysts say the response reflects demand for an alternative to degree- and employment-focused education, as AI reshapes both the skills companies want and the job market young people face.
SK said on the 27th that an offline information session for AIGEN, a two-year non-degree program, will be held at 1 p.m. on the 28th at the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies in Seoul.
SK had planned to invite only about 130 people to keep the session tightly run. But after roughly 4,000 people applied, far more than expected, the company decided to hold the in-person session as planned while adding a live YouTube broadcast so that applicants unable to attend could still watch.
The name AIGEN combines AI and "generation," and the program targets young adults aged 19 to 34. Unlike conventional education centered on acquiring knowledge, passing exams and earning degrees, it is designed to help participants use AI to identify and solve problems on their own.
Those selected will take part full time for two years. In the first year, they will plan and carry out projects addressing problems facing individuals, society and businesses. In the second, they will tackle real-world challenges aligned with their chosen career paths. SK will provide 3 million won ($2,100) a month in growth support for two years, along with tailored skills training, project mentoring and dedicated workspace. In partnership with Seoul National University's AI Institute, the program will also offer humanities-based insight and career planning.
The entry bar has been lowered as well. Applicants are not judged on academic credentials or major, and no coding experience or specialized AI knowledge is required. The program is also open to a wide range of fields, including technology, research, culture and the arts, and public and social sectors.
AIGEN does not guarantee a job at a particular company or an academic degree. Rather than teaching skills needed for immediate employment, it emphasizes building the problem-solving ability young people need to forge their own career paths. It amounts to a new talent model that invests in young people's growth itself, departing from the earlier approach of training employees after hiring them.
The approach aligns with the vision of AI-era talent long championed by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. "In the AI era, training aimed at quickly acquiring knowledge and performing well on exams is being replaced by AI," Chey has said, stressing that "it is important to build well-rounded capabilities that allow people to adapt to a variety of changes and keep multiple options open."
SK will accept applications for the first AIGEN cohort from the 1st to the 15th of next month, select about 50 participants in late December and begin running the program in March 2027.