Founded in 1953, the School of Mechanical Engineering at PNU was the pioneering institution of its kind among national universities. Since the 1970s, we have evolved into a specialized school dedicated to nurturing top talents in Korea.
Comprising five majors, namely mechanical systems design, energy systems, precision manufacturing systems, control and automation systems, and nuclear engineering systems, our institution accommodates approximately 1200 undergraduate students and 270 graduate students. We boast a dedicated team of 60 professors, 24 research professors, along with 26 staff members.
Welcome to the School of Mechanical Engineering at Pusan National University, the largest educational platform for mechanical engineering in Korea.
I am deeply thankful, enthusiastic, and honored to take on the role of School Chair for the School of Mechanical Engineering, starting January 1, 2024.
Comprising over 1,500 students, 58 faculty members, and over 50 research professors and staff, the School of Mechanical Engineering at Pusan National University stands as an institution capable of conducting extensive group research in the field, thanks to its diverse composition and substantial size. Students engage in classes across classrooms, laboratories, and makerspaces. Through a variety of team-oriented exercises and prototype production, we aim to instill in our engineers a strong foundation in engineering ethics, creative thinking, and, most importantly, the ability to collaborate effectively as team players.
According to the 2024 QS World University Rankings, the School of Mechanical Engineering attained remarkable standings, securing the 7th position domestically and placing within the esteemed 200-250 range worldwide in the discipline of mechanical engineering. It has demonstrated a commendable level of both qualitative and quantitative research, securing the 7th position with a research budget totaling $20 million USD as of 2023. Additionally, it stands at 3rd place nationally in the total number of SCI papers in the mechanical engineering field.
At present, over 20,000 alumni from the School of Mechanical Engineering are playing pivotal roles in industry, academia, and research. They hold the 6th position in executive numbers among the top 10 companies and claim the top spot in producing new CEO at leading domestic companies such as Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and LG Electronics. Recognized by the Ministry of Education and the Korean Council for University Education as the best university, the School of Mechanical Engineering at Pusan National University holds a prominent position from an industry standpoint.
The school is actively engaged in world-class research initiatives, collaborating with Rolls Royce of the UK as the University Technology Center (UTC) on the development of gas turbine Additionally, the LG CARE center, in pursuit of global excellence in consumer electronics with LG Electronics. Operating more than 20 related research centers and institutes, the School of Mechanical Engineering continues to lead the mechanical engineering industry in Korea since its designation as a nationally specialized department in 1973.
Recently, in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, we are restructuring the education and research environment to nurture talent prepared for new industrial fields such as future mobility, artificial intelligence application, and high-tech defense industry. Currently, 80% of employment of the graduates are in large corporations and public institutions. In order to raise the employment rate of high-quality undergraduate students from 74% to over 80%, we are developing employment guarantee link programs with major companies in demand. The employment rate of graduate students is over 89%, and the number of students entering doctoral programs ranks second in the nation in the mechanical engineering field.
Pusan National University's School of Mechanical Engineering offers courses to help students develop system design skills by applying theories learned in the classroom through an experiment-oriented learning process. In the nation's best makerspace, students develop their ability to quickly create prototypes of their ideas using a variety of tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and woodworking tools at any time. Students also belong to their own clubs and collaborate with their peers. Gold prize in the National Student Design Contest hosted by the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers, final winner at CyArt Korea, winner in the future vehicle self-driving software contest, and silver prize in the KSAE automobile contest. These achievements underscore our students' proficiency in applying classroom knowledge to address real-world challenges.
PNU ME pledges to persist in its current efforts, striving to deliver engineers and technologies that can make meaningful contributions to society. This commitment is grounded in an educational and research environment characterized by vibrancy, innovation, and a willingness to embrace failure as an opportunity for growth. We eagerly anticipate your active participation in our endeavor.
