《As the saying goes, 'There is no end to learning,' lifelong learning while working has become a trend in the 2020s. At the center of this trend are cyber universities.

Cyber universities provide tailored educational opportunities to a diverse range of learners, including office workers, housewives, and those seeking reemployment, based on the flexibility of completing degree programs online without time and location constraints. Recently, cyber universities have been strengthening practical, industry-focused interdisciplinary majors in areas of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the metaverse, focusing on nurturing field-ready talent. Various educational services, including customized learning platforms, real-time and non-real-time lectures, mentoring, and field-oriented practice, are actively being introduced. For those who are thirsty for a degree while working in the field or want to obtain a certification to have their abilities recognized, cyber universities are becoming a practical key. The strengths of each cyber university, which will recruit new and transfer students for the 2026 academic year starting in December, are explored.》

Seoul Cyber University has ranked first in new student enrollment for six consecutive years, operating the largest number of 49 departments (majors) in the country, and has received an A grade in all three official accreditation evaluations by the Ministry of Education. As a leading AI university, it is at the forefront of innovating university education by incorporating AI technology. Its self-developed AI chatbot and AI tutor have established themselves as edutech solutions that transform the paradigm of future education, particularly creating a fresh wave with lectures utilizing AI humans from 2025. For the 2026 academic year, it is establishing new departments such as the Pet Industry Department and Sports Guidance Department, and reorganizing departments like Drone and Robotics Engineering to provide education that meets social demand and trends.

Korea Cyber University is opening a new general graduate school and a business school for the 2026 academic year. As the first cyber university to operate an integrated master's and doctoral program with Ministry of Education-approved regular graduate schools, it is establishing a business school that combines AI and big data with traditional business administration. The general graduate school presents 'Solving Social Problems through AI and Big Data Convergence' as its core vision. The major is centered on 'Convergence Informatics' and consists of three detailed tracks: Data Science, AI Business, and Human Science, fostering both academic and practical skills. The business school introduces an 'AI Transformation (AX)' curriculum that incorporates AI and big data utilization capabilities into the MBA framework.

Hanyang Cyber University achieved an employment rate of 81.2% in 2025, reaching the highest level of performance. It was selected in the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) Top 100 for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025. Through digital-based educational innovation, it developed the AI learning analytics system 'HY-LIGHT,' which significantly reduced dropout rates with advanced functions such as predicting dropout risks and recommending personalized content. For the 2026 academic year, it is establishing two new departments reflecting the rapidly changing social and industrial environment. 'AI Applied Software Engineering' nurtures talents with AI and software convergence capabilities, while 'Elderly Welfare and Care Studies' trains care and welfare experts in response to a super-aged society.

Sejong Cyber University is implementing substantial educational system innovation with the goal of 'AI Agenda to AI Practice.' It provides an innovative learning environment by introducing the first AI tutor system among cyber universities and building a metaverse campus. The AI tutor learns subject-specific materials, lecture subtitles, syllabi, and references to respond to students' questions in real-time 24 hours a day. The metaverse campus offers an environment where domestic and international students can attend lectures without time and space constraints and freely communicate and engage in tutoring activities. For the 2026 academic year, it has significantly strengthened AI-related departments, including the establishment of an AI Creation Department.

Kyung Hee Cyber University, established in 2000, has seen over 50,000 students enroll over 20 years. For the 2026 academic year, it is establishing the Smart Architectural Engineering Department and AI Mechanical Control Engineering Department to cultivate digital transformation and AI experts, and opening a Child and Family major in the Social Welfare Department. Selected as an excellent university (A grade) in the Ministry of Education's comprehensive evaluation of distance universities for three consecutive times, Kyung Hee Cyber University has proven its outstanding educational competitiveness. This year, it was selected for the Ministry of Education's distance university support project, newly establishing an AI educational technology-based teaching and learning system, a multilingual subtitle system, and learning support infrastructure. It also received approval for a general graduate school, opening master's programs in three departments.

Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies has established itself as the only 'foreign language-specialized' cyber university in Korea by integrating the educational know-how of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies online. It proactively utilizes AI technology in educational content and actively incorporates it into the curriculum. Aiming for innovation in the field of language engineering, it established an AI & English sub-major in the English Department last year and opened an AI & English Department in the newly established general graduate school this spring. As a global convergence education institution specialized in 'foreign languages + practical studies,' it offers courses combining various languages and AI education, containing content useful for enhancing AI literacy, allowing students to experience differentiated learning.

Daegu Cyber University is enhancing a regionally tailored lifelong education model based on its traditional strengths in special education, counseling and welfare, and rehabilitation therapy, providing an inclusive online education infrastructure and field-linked learning. Selected for the Ministry of Education's '2nd Cycle Distance University Education Innovation Support Project' in 2024, it has achieved substantial outcomes such as enrollment, employment, and entrepreneurship for many individuals with disabilities by implementing an online learning environment for those with physical disabilities, brain lesions, and visual and hearing impairments. It operates a practice-oriented curriculum linked to over 20 certifications, strengthening students' job expandability through a micro-degree program that allows for various major combinations.

Wonkwang Digital University provides specialized education in the fields of well-being health, Korean culture, and practical welfare. The student age range is diverse, from those in their 20s to their 70s, with 70% of students balancing work and study. Despite being a cyber university, it offers offline special lectures to support academic achievement and interaction among students. It has various practice rooms on campus, such as a medicinal cooking practice room, yoga meditation room, oriental beauty practice room, and traditional performance practice room. Recently, it completed the 'HyperXR Studio,' a next-generation XR-based practice-oriented education system combining advanced video production technology and an online education content development environment. It allows 360-degree filming with multi-view cameras.

Seoul Digital University is reorganizing into 12 faculties and 37 departments (majors) for the 2026 academic year, establishing new majors such as AI Practical Application, Fine Arts, Crime Correction, and Applied Counseling. It accelerates practical education immediately applicable in the industry and educational innovation tailored to the digital and AI era. Seoul Digital University has proven its educational competitiveness by winning the 'Consumer's Choice Quality Satisfaction Award' for 16 consecutive years and the '2025 National Empathy Award' in the education management category. The tuition fee per credit is an average of KRW 67,500, the lowest among cyber universities, and scholarships are provided to all new students. New students receive a 25% tuition fee reduction until graduation.

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