University of Seoul received the highest grade (S) for educational innovation in the “2025 University Innovation Performance Evaluation” conducted by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

The University Innovation is a general financial support program that supports autonomous innovation at universities, and as of 2025, 138 universities are participating nationwide (including 60 in the Seoul metropolitan area).

The evaluation comprehensively assessed the university’s innovation achievements to date and its implementation plans for 2025–2027. It determined that the University of Seoul received high scores for △ the institutional establishment and advancement of major self-selection system centered on the School of Liberal Majors and Major Design Convergence Support Center; △ the operation of flexible academic systems such as double majors and modular curricula; and △ the realization of student-centered educational innovation through AMAZE, an integrated career–academic–employment support system based on the student growth cycle. In addition, the university was recognized for its outstanding achievements in overall educational innovation, including △ strengthening basic academic disciplines, △ expanding convergence and interdisciplinary education, and △ improving the academic system.

University of Seoul, which boasts a 107-year history and tradition, is the only four-year public university in Korea, and is a "university created by Seoul and nurtured by Seoul.” University of Seoul has set "Leaping into the world with Seoul" as its university vision and "Leading-Edge University that changes Seoul and the world with advanced technology-based urban science" as its characteristic vision, and is preparing to leap into the world by establishing various strategies to respond to the changing needs of the times.

University of Seoul has made notable progress in the first half of 2025 as a result of these ongoing efforts.

First, University of Seoul was approved by the Ministry of Education to increase the number of seats in advanced fields in recognition of its track record of specializing in advanced fields and excellence in curriculum. Moreover, from the Academic Year 2026, it plans to increase the number of students by 55 students in the Department of Artificial Intelligence, School of Advanced Fusion Studies, and Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Second, it has been selected as the lead university for three projects of the Seoul Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE) project, leading the way in building a representative model of Seoul-style innovation in various areas such as fostering high-tech future strategic industries, solving local problems, and enhancing lifelong learning for citizens. 

Third, University of Seoul was newly selected for the “Software Center University” project supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and was externally recognized for its vision and execution in fostering AI and SW convergence talent. Thus, the program will receive a total of KRW 15 billion in government funding over the next eight years to accelerate the development of core software talent to meet industry demand.

"As a result of our steady efforts to strengthen competitiveness and secure sustainability, our university has continued to achieve meaningful results, such as obtaining the best grade in the performance evaluation of the University Innovation, increasing the number of advanced fields (55) this year, and being newly selected for the Regional Innovation System & Education (RISE) project and the Software Center University project." "We will continue to actively support the growth of both students and faculty based on the excellent evaluation of the University Innovation," stated President Yongkul Won.