Microsoft reveals a new AI skilling initiative for Korea, expanding opportunities for Koreans to build and enhance their AI capabilities.
As AI continues to transform industries, it is unlocking new possibilities for economic growth and employment. To support this transition, Microsoft is broadening its AI skilling programs worldwide, helping individuals access AI, develop AI-powered solutions, and apply AI technologies in diverse fields.
In Korea, Microsoft is working to ensure more people can take their first steps in AI adoption. Through partnerships across various sectors, the company is committed to providing AI engagement opportunities and enabling practical applications of AI skills.
Through key partnerships in the public sector, Microsoft is advancing AI engagement. In collaboration with the Ministry of Personnel Management, Microsoft has launched an AI Learning Hub within the HRD Platform AI Learning Center, a digital platform for government officials. This initiative will allow national public servants to explore AI-related content and enhance their AI understanding. Additionally, Microsoft is working with 8 regional hub municipalities to operate the ‘AI Solution Bus Tour’, a mobile AI learning space that expands access to AI-driven resources for government officials and institutions. Microsoft is also collaborating with major municipalities to organize AI Ideathon, encouraging the development of AI-driven solutions for public services.
Yong-Soo Park, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel Management stated, “By working with Microsoft and other private sector partnerships, we are committed to helping government officials navigate the AI era. The AI Learning Center provides a flexible and accessible platform where government employees can develop AI competencies and apply them to administrative processes, public service enhancements, and government innovation.”
Microsoft continues to expand AI engagement opportunities in elementary, middle, and high schools. The company is working with regional education offices nationwide to help teachers, students, and parents build AI competencies. Additionally, Microsoft is inviting elementary, middle, and high schools to participate in a ‘Train-the-Trainer program’, enabling educators to incorporate AI topics into their lessons, and also providing AI education toolkits to schools, ensuring more institutions have access to AI learning resources.
Microsoft is committed to helping upskill AI competency at the university level as well. Through partnerships with the Korean government’s Glocal University 30, Microsoft is helping university students, faculty members, and government officials gain hands-on AI experience. Additionally, in cooperation with the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity (KOFAC), Microsoft is creating AI engagement opportunities for pre-service teachers enrolled in teacher’s colleges, education colleges, and graduate schools of education, equipping them with AI insights they can later apply in classrooms.
To close the AI accessibility gap for the public, Microsoft is empowering National Information Society Agency (NIA) under the Ministry of Science and ICT to introduce AI simulation-based learning content and instructor engagement programs through Digital Learning Centers nationwide. These resources are available both online and at 36 regional hubs, allowing 600,000 citizens to explore AI-driven applications. This initiative aligns with Korea’s digital inclusion policy, ensuring individuals across different demographics have access to AI resources.
Moon-Sil Choi, Director of Digital Inclusion at NIA, stated, “By working with Microsoft, we are delivering AI engagement programs for individuals who may face barriers to digital access due to age, location, or infrastructure limitations. Our AI simulator-based approach is helping citizens familiarize themselves with emerging technologies, and we will continue expanding AI accessibility so that more people can develop digital capabilities and actively participate in the digital economy.”
To support AI adoption in businesses, Microsoft is supporting INNOBIZ Association (Korea’s SMB Technology Innovation Association) to provide AI-related opportunities to 23,000 tech-driven SMBs (INNOBIZ companies). This initiative will assist 800,000 employees, including business leaders, by equipping them with AI-driven resources to enhance business operations and improve productivity.
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About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.