Inside South Korea’s university programs offering a direct route to Samsung and SK Hynix

AI disruption has led several prominent entrepreneurs to question the value of traditional college graduate programs. But top South Korean tech companies continue to ascribe value to degrees.In fact, they are helping craft university courses that fast-track entry into the AI sector, with some offering guaranteed jobs to graduates. Jung Chae-rin is a second-year student at Sogang University's Department of System Semiconductor Engineering, a four-year degree established in partnership with memory-chip maker SK Hynix.Her course comes with a guarantee of employment in SK Hynix upon graduation.At Sungkyunkwan University, or SKKU, third-year student Kim Tae-rin is at the Department of Intelligent Software, a five-year integrated bachelor's and master's program in AI software, created in partnership with Samsung Electronics. Her route also increases the chances of employment, but she must first clear a separate Samsung hiring process. The corporate programs belong to a category within South Korea's university system known as "contract departments." Companies help universities develop courses, provide financial support and create pathways through which qualifying students can join them. S...