PAJU — The Gyeonggido Business and Science Accelerator has teamed up with Smilegate Hope Studio to build a digital inclusion program that draws on young adults' digital skills to support artificial intelligence creation activities by children in local communities.
The agency said on Oct. 1 that it held a kickoff meeting for the AI Education Facilitator Training Project with Smilegate Hope Studio as part of its Gyeonggi AI Digital Learning Center program. Backed by the Ministry of Science and ICT and Gyeonggi Province, the Gyeonggi AI Digital Learning Center is a flagship digital inclusion program that helps any resident of the province learn and use AI and digital technologies.
The project is a public-private model that trains 20 college students as AI education facilitators to build AI-based creative skills among children at community children's centers. About 50 people attended the kickoff event, including Kim Hyun-gon, president of the agency, Kim Jung-sup, president of Smilegate, college student facilitators and teachers from community children's centers, who shared the direction of the initiative.
Participants went through hands-on sessions covering everything from character and story planning using generative AI to game development, strengthening their ability to teach in the field. Going forward, teams of two college students and one community children's center teacher will develop AI education curricula tailored to each institution and run six mentoring sessions for children at community children's centers during October and November.
The two organizations plan to analyze the results after the project ends and establish an AI creation education guide that can be applied in the field. The Gyeonggi AI Digital Learning Center also plans to keep expanding digital education closely tied to residents' daily lives by linking eight hub centers, 11 experience zones and mobile edu-buses across the province.
"This partnership has created an opportunity to close the AI digital divide for children in local communities and spread a creative environment for future generations," said Kim Jung-sup, president of Smilegate. "Drawing on Smilegate's experience and know-how, we will actively cooperate in building an AI education ecosystem for vulnerable groups."
"This is a meaningful starting point that connects young adults' AI skills with local communities to support the growth of future generations," said Kim Hyun-gon, president of the agency. "By linking private-sector expertise with public infrastructure, we will build an inclusive education environment where everyone can enjoy the benefits of digital technology."
