Gyeonggi Science & Economy Promotion Agency Cultivates University Students as 'AI Education Facilitators' to Support Community Children's Centers

The Gyeonggi Science & Economy Promotion Agency (hereafter, the Agency) held a meeting for the 'AI Education Facilitator Cultivation Project' on the 30th as part of the 'Gyeonggi AI Digital Learning Hub' initiative.

The 'Gyeonggi AI Digital Learning Hub' operates with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT and Gyeonggi Province. The project cultivates university students as 'AI Education Facilitators' who support AI-based creative activities for children at community children's centers.

The core objective is to expand educational opportunities by connecting the digital competencies of young talent with the local community and to establish an AI creative education model that can be applied in practice.

The event was attended by approximately 50 participants including Gyeonggi Science & Economy Promotion Agency Director Kim Hyun-gon, Smilegate President Kim Jung-seop, 20 university student facilitators, and 10 teachers from community children's centers, who directly operated AI creative programs that can be utilized in actual educational settings.

Participants experienced the entire process from planning characters and stories using generative AI to game production, and teams composed of 2 university students and 1 community children's center teacher developed customized AI education curricula for each institution.

The Agency plans to operate a total of 6 mentoring sessions through November targeting children at community children's centers under participating teachers' supervision. After the project concludes, the Gyeonggi Science & Economy Promotion Agency and Smilegate Hope Studio plan to analyze results and present education models applicable to real-world settings.

The Gyeonggi AI Digital Learning Hub operates 8 hub centers and 11 experience zones within the province and plans to expand environments where citizens can access AI and digital education close to their daily lives by connecting mobile education buses that directly visit regions with insufficient equipment.

Smilegate President Kim Jung-seop stated, "We have created an important opportunity to bridge the AI digital gap at community children's centers and to spread creative environments for future generations," adding, "We will share our experience and expertise to cooperate in expanding creative environments for disadvantaged groups in AI education."

Gyeonggi Science & Economy Promotion Agency Director Kim Hyun-gon said, "This project is a meaningful starting point for supporting the creative growth of future generations by connecting youth's AI capabilities with the local community," and continued, "We will actively link private sector expertise with public education infrastructure to create an educational environment where everyone can benefit from AI and digital technology."