By Lee Kap-soo

Hyundai Motor ASEAN HQ launched the Future Mobility School in collaboration with the UNESCO APCEIU and the South Korean Ministry of Education, expanding the educational program to ASEAN countries, the company said on Nov. 6. 

The classes have been in session since August for the fall semester of 2023, at a total of 12 schools – three in Indonesia, five in Malaysia and four in Cambodia.

The Future Mobility School was first introduced by Hyundai Motor Company and the South Korean Ministry of Education in 2016, and this year, Hyundai Motor ASEAN HQ worked together with the UNESCO APCEIU to expand the program to ASEAN countries. 23 skilled teachers from South Korea have been selected to provide a variety of learning activities to primary, junior and senior high school students in Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia.

“Hyundai is committed to using mobility for the betterment of humanity, and we believe that education plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation, especially in ASEAN countries, with its demographic bonus,” said Young-tack Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor ASEAN Headquarters. “Future Mobility School is one of the ways we can prepare youths in ASEAN countries on the emerging career paths to become leaders of the mobility industry themselves.”

Through the program, students learn about innovations in the mobility industry, such as autonomous driving systems, electrification and eco–friendly mobility. The program is specifically designed to provide an educational experience through hands–on projects, discussions, and workshops, engaging them in the journey of mobility transformations throughout the decades.

For primary and junior students, three different classes are provided: “Eco–Friendly Mobility Saving Our Planet,” “Making Our Future Mobility” and “Creating a Future City.” In the class, students are encouraged to express their creativity and unique vision of the future city and vehicle by building clay sculptures and drawing pictures. Students also make a keychain from recycled materials as an introduction to eco–friendly mobility solutions.

Senior students take two advanced courses: “Understanding Autonomous Driving Technology” and “Autonomous Driving Mobility Experience,” where they learn about safety technologies used in autonomous driving systems and create their own model cars to test the autonomous driving features firsthand.

“One of my dreams is to become a car designer,” said a grade 4 student at a primary school in Cambodia. “During this program, I learned a lot of things about cars and the technology. I also discovered what my future job could look like, and even got the chance to make my own futuristic model car. I hope this program continues to be held every year.”

Hyundai’s Future Mobility School has been making positive impacts on both teachers and students, as the survey shows – in the previous program in South Korea, 98 percent of teachers were satisfied with the program, while 97 percent of students answered that the program helped them set their career paths.

Since its first introduction in 2016, over 46,500 students have participated in the Future Mobility School program in South Korea. Hopefully, the 2023 program can also bring a positive influence to the participating ASEAN countries and lead to a successful landing in the Philippines and Thailand in 2024.