미래가치를 창출하는 글로컬 산학일체 혁신대학
College of Convergence and Undeclared Majors
By Park Min-seo Cub Reporter, Sophomore of Chemical and Biological Engineering
In 2025, HBNU established the College of Convergence and Autonomy, a new educational model designed to foster interdisciplinary thinking and creativity in response to the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This innovative system provides students with greater flexibility in selecting their majors while fostering well-rounded, future-oriented professionals.
Unlike traditional colleges, the College of Convergence and Autonomy enables students to explore various academic disciplines in their first year before deciding on a major in their second year. This approach enables students to consider their interests and aptitudes, empowering them to take an active role in shaping their academic journey. Additionally, this system not only broadens students’ choices but also cultivates individuals with diverse academic perspectives and strong interdisciplinary skills. In addition to allowing freedom in offering flexibility in, it provides students with the opportunity to design their learning paths and engage with their studies in a way that best suits them.
Structure and Key Features
The College of Convergence and Autonomy is composed of five divisions: Division of Undeclared Majors, Division of Engineering, Construction, Environment & Design, Division of Information Technology, Division of Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, and Economics, and Division of Convergence and Multidisciplinary Studies. Each division offers flexible academic options, allowing students to design their own educational paths based on their interests and career goals.
Students in the Division of Undeclared Majors have access to most of the university’s academic programs without enrollment capacity restrictions. This allows them to gain broad knowledge across multiple disciplines without being confined to a single field of study.
The Division of Engineering and Construction, and Information Technology focus on convergence education in engineering and IT, helping students build core competencies in these areas. Students in these divisions can choose from designated majors within the respective faculties. However, unlike the Division of Autonomous Major, major selection is subject to a limit of 150% of each department’s enrollment capacity. This system balances students' freedom of choice while preventing excessive concentration in specific majors.
The Division of Humanities and Socioeconomics offers an interdisciplinary learning environment in humanities, social sciences, business, and economics. Students in this division can develop a deep understanding of societal changes while honing their problem-solving skills. Similar to the engineering and IT divisions, students in this division must select from designated majors within the respective faculties.
Finally, the Division of Convergence Multi-Major enables students to combine two or more majors, creating a customized academic plan. This structure encourages students to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, exposing them to diverse academic perspectives and fostering distinctive skill sets. This division promotes interdisciplinary learning, creating an environment where students can generate innovative ideas and deepen their expertise.
Expected Impact and Key Challenges
The introduction of the College of Convergence and Autonomy provides incoming students with a wider range of academic experiences. By taking courses in various fields, students can explore their interests more thoroughly before deciding on a major. Additionally, exposure to multiple disciplines fosters creative and interdisciplinary thinking, allowing students to approach problems from diverse perspectives.
However, some students may still face difficulties in selecting a major and competition for popular programs could become more intense. To address these challenges, the university must implement structured major exploration programs and provide personalized career counseling. Providing students with comprehensive information will be crucial, and a well-structured mentoring system will play a key role in guiding them through this decision-making process.
Furthermore, it is essential to offer students the flexibility to change or add majors even after making an initial selection. Interests and career goals may shift during their studies, so providing opportunities for major adjustments will help students stay aligned with their evolving aspirations.
Future Directions
The College of Convergence and Autonomy shares similarities with the autonomous major programs found at some universities. However, it distinguishes itself by emphasizing hands-on education and industry-academia collaboration. HBNU envisions itself as a “global industry-academia integrated innovation university that creates future value” and actively supports students in acquiring practical skills needed in the workforce.
Looking ahead, the college seeks to deepen industry partnerships, enhance global competencies, and broaden interdisciplinary education. These efforts will equip students with the adaptability and expertise required to thrive in a rapidly evolving society and job market.
The establishment of the College of Convergence and Autonomy marks a significant shift toward a student-centered, flexible education system at HBNU. This initiative not only offers students diverse academic opportunities but also serves as a foundation for them to develop into highly competitive professionals. By enabling students to design their own academic and career paths, the university is fostering a dynamic learning environment that supports continuous growth in an ever-changing industrial landscape.