- SCU Sets Records with Introduction of 60 Microdegrees, a First in Cyber University History

 

Seoul Cyber University Milestone, the Main Campus Introduces Open Badges to Microdegrees for the First Time.

Open Badges, built on the global standard set by the 1EdTech Consortium, a worldwide educational technology collaboration organization, are digital certificates that can be issued, shared, and managed on the Internet. Used to acknowledge and prove skills or achievements, recipients can centrally manage them in the [Open Badge Wallet] and showcase their skills on digital resumes or social media. With the broadening utilization as an alternative to paper certificates, the inclusion of blockchain technology ensures their high trustworthiness by making forgery or tampering practically impossible.

Microdegrees are minimal units of education designed to meet the demands of rapidly changing society and industries in terms of competencies, job roles, and qualifications. Among cyber universities, our institution holds the highest number, boasting 60 different microdegrees. Additionally, we are the first cyber university to introduce Open Badges into our microdegree programs.

Meanwhile, the Department of Big Data and Information Security has been established in response to the societal demand emphasizing the rapid growth of diverse data collection, processing, analysis, utilization, and the increasing importance of security. Aligned with the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the department leverages cutting-edge IT technologies to utilize big data and conducts theoretical and practical studies in the latest IT technologies to protect information at the national, corporate, and individual levels. Meaningful utilization of big data, involving processes such as collection, processing, and analysis, necessitates a simultaneous understanding of technology, regulations, and background in the field of information security. Building upon this foundation, the department utilizes big data and basic artificial intelligence technologies to create new values suitable for the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In particular, we have recruited professors with extensive practical experience, aiming to enhance students' skills and provide opportunities for participation in relevant competitions. In the field of blockchain, we have appointed adjunct professors who have managed numerous real-world projects in the domain, teaching courses such as Fintech Security, Blockchain, and Cryptocurrencies. In the domains of big data and artificial intelligence, we have professors who are Challenger and Gold rank holders on Korea's largest data competition platform, Dacon (https://dacon.io/). They teach courses like Basic Programming for Big Data, Machine Learning, Practical Data Preprocessing, Data Analysis and Visualization, and Introduction to Artificial Intelligence. Moreover, we actively encourage students to acquire national technical certifications and qualifications to adapt to the rapidly changing industry landscape. We also support and encourage students to pursue postgraduate studies, providing guidance for their career decisions in the ever-evolving technological competition.

Our focus areas include cutting-edge education in information security, starting from fundamental concepts to the latest trends such as blockchain technology, digital forensics, cyber investigations, and information security policies. In the field of data science, we provide introductory courses covering data collection, preprocessing, visualization, and artificial intelligence modeling, reflecting the latest trends. Moreover, our curriculum encompasses a comprehensive range, beginning with the basics of programming, progressing to data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving programming implementation skills, aligning with the employment trends in programming specialization.

Founded in 2020 to fortify the expertise of faculty and students in big data and artificial intelligence (AI), our Big Data and AI Center is dedicated to enhancing efficiency based on these technologies. Collaborating with the Department of Big Data and Information Security, the center has been organizing programming competitions since 2022. The university is actively fostering the expansion and convergence of big data and AI fields. Initiating X+AI seminars in 2022, the university introduced the 'Artificial Intelligence for Everyone' general education course in 2023 as a team-taught class. In 2024, the university actively works on collaborations to declare itself an AI-leading institution, with a strong focus on the Department of Artificial Intelligence and the AI Convergence College.