STAI-AWS 2025 Learncation:
Cultivating Global Talent with AI for Climate Action
The "STAI-AWS 2025 Learncation Program," operated for 7 days by the Cheju Halla University RISE Center, gathered 30+ graduate and undergraduate students from KAIST, Yonsei University, and Cheju Halla University around the theme of "AI for Climate Action."
Program Overview
The "STAI-AWS 2025 Learncation Program," operated as part of the Jeju RISE Project supported by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, was held in Jeju with 30+ graduate and undergraduate students from KAIST, Yonsei University, and Cheju Halla University, centered on the theme of "AI for Climate Action."
Program Purpose
This program combined hackathons, special lectures, and hands-on experience programs to teach AI technologies for addressing the climate crisis, with the goal of cultivating digital transformation talent and enhancing global employment competitiveness. Notably, global company Amazon Web Services (AWS) directly organized the hackathon, mentoring, and workshops to provide practice-centered cloud and AI technology education.
AWS-Led Hackathon and Workshop
Global company Amazon Web Services (AWS) directly organized the hackathon, mentoring, and workshops, providing practice-centered cloud and AI technology education. Participants gained hands-on experience developing climate crisis response solutions using AWS's latest cloud technology and AI services.
Through mentoring from AWS experts, participants were able to improve practical competencies in cloud infrastructure setup, machine learning model development, and data analysis.
Special Lectures and Expert Sessions
Professor Hiba Baroud from Vanderbilt University (USA) visited Korea to deliver a special lecture on infrastructure investment models and social impact assessment for climate crisis response, offering global perspectives on climate issues.
Special lectures and team projects by KAIST and Yonsei University faculty along with various other experts further elevated participants' capabilities.
Jeju Local Resource Learncation Experience
During the midpoint of the program, July 7 (Mon) to July 8 (Tue), a learncation program combining Jeju local resource-based education and cultural experiences was also conducted.
On July 7 (Mon), participants visited the National Institute of Meteorological Sciences for a special lecture and hands-on experience related to climate research and AI technology. On July 8, they attended a color hunting workshop at Tutti Colori in Aewol, exploring the value and potential of local resources through learning in nature.
Team Research Presentations and Awards
On July 10 (Thu), team research presentations were held on topics including "AI Solutions for Addressing Our Society's Crisis from Climate Change," "AI Technology for Enhancing Urban and Rural Climate Resilience," and "AI-Based Solutions for Improving Climate Resilience in Developing Countries."
The STAI-tuned team, which presented on "Development of an AI-Based Dual Verification Platform for Climate Infrastructure Projects in Developing Countries," won the grand prize — the Governor's Award. The STAI-tuned team will subsequently participate in the KOICA-organized "AI for Climate Action Award" international competition with their project.
Cooperating Organizations
The "STAI-AWS 2025 Learncation Program" is a public-private-academic collaborative global talent development program with Cheju Halla University, KAIST, Yonsei University, AWS, and Saltlux as partners, supported by the Asan Nanum Foundation. It is expected to continue contributing to the expansion of a sustainable learncation education model centered on Jeju.
Future Vision
The Core Talent Development Center of Cheju Halla University RISE Center (Director Young Joon Lee) stated that "this program is a meaningful example of collaboration among domestic and international universities, global companies, and local institutions around the global agenda of climate crisis response."
"We will continue to discover and develop international education models grounded in Jeju's local resources."
- Director Young Joon Lee, Core Talent Development Center
Meanwhile, Cheju Halla University is advancing various programs as part of the Jeju RISE Project — in collaboration with the Jeju RISE Center, Jeju National University, and Jeju Tourism University — to cultivate talent tailored to Jeju's strategic industries and industry demand, with the shared goal of regional development and mutual growth.