The rechargeable battery industry is rapidly growing due to the global transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles. While Korean companies are global leaders in technology and market share, the number of specialists being produced by academia is insufficient to keep up with the pace of market growth. In response to the high demand for R&D professionals, SK On has partnered with Sungkyunkwan University to cultivate future battery experts.

The SKKU-SK On Rechargeable Battery Contract Department is a specialized graduate program at Sungkyunkwan University, established through a partnership with the battery company SK On. The program is designed to train professionals for the rapidly growing battery industry, which is experiencing a shortage of skilled R&D personnel.

This "contract department" is a collaboration between a university and a company to nurture industry-specific talent. A key feature of this program is that SK On directly selects the students, providing a customized curriculum to meet the company's needs.

To cultivate experts in the field of rechargeable batteries to meet the high demand from the industry.

The program primarily targets master's degree students.

The admission process is similar to a job application, including a document screening, an interview, an SK personality test, and a pre-employment medical examination. Students are selected as industry-academia scholarship students through the graduate school admission process.

Upon graduation, students who successfully complete the program are guaranteed a job at SK On.

Students accepted into the program receive a comprehensive support package from SK On to help them focus on their studies and research.

Students receive a full tuition waiver for the two-year master's program.

A monthly stipend of 1,200,000 KRW is provided to students, along with a 1,000,000 KRW monthly research grant for their affiliated lab.

Students receive material support for their research, such as a tablet PC.

Students are offered opportunities to participate in various seminars and on-site visits organized by SK On, allowing them to network and gain practical experience.

Students are expected to prepare their master's thesis on a research topic related to rechargeable batteries. They must consult with professors participating in the program, such as Professor Young Jun Kim, Prof. Seongpil An, and Prof. Il Jeon, to discuss and prepare their thesis topics in advance.