Students at UNIST will have a new space to learn with advanced technologies—and closer to the industry expertise behind them.

Nexus Hall, newly opened in the College of Engineering, brings a wall-sized LED display and integrated audiovisual systems to courses and programs spanning semiconductors, materials, and engineering. 

Developed with support from Ulsan Metropolitan City, the hall replaces a conventional projector-based classroom into a digital teaching environment built around the large LED display. An electronic lectern and instructor-tracking cameras complete the setup, while the classroom itself has been redesigned for better visibility and comfort. 

The name   Nexus , meaning a point of connection, captures the idea behind the space—bringing education and research into closer contact with industry. The hall will host regular and special courses, along with interdisciplinary semiconductor courses that bring perspectives from outside the university into the classroom.

That connection was already evident at the opening ceremony on August 25, 2026. Joo-Young Lee, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics, and Se-Yeon Kim, Executive Vice President of SK hynix, spoke with students about shifts in the semiconductor industry, emerging technologies, and the expertise the field increasingly demands. 

About 80 representatives from UNIST, Ulsan Metropolitan City, and industry attended the opening, including UNIST President Chong Rae Park and Ulsan Mayor Sang-Wook Kim.

The new hall also reflects a broader effort by UNIST and Ulsan Metropolitan City to connect education and research with the region's industrial base. UNIST plans to expand ties with semiconductor companies and research institutions, drawing on UNIST's research strengths and Ulsan's manufacturing expertise as the region moves toward more AI-enabled industry. 

“Nexus Hall will bring education, research, and industry closer together as we prepare students for rapidly changing industries,” said UNIST President Chong Rae Park. “By connecting academic training more closely with industry, we hope to develop students who can work across disciplines and contribute to industrial innovation in Ulsan.”

“Semiconductors underpin advances in artificial intelligence (AI), batteries, future mobility, and other emerging industries,” said Ulsan Mayor Sang Wook Kim. “We will continue working with UNIST and other universities in the region to develop the expertise companies need and create more opportunities for young people to build their careers in Ulsan.”