Hanyang University ERICA (President Lee Ki-jeong) announced the successful conclusion of the “2nd Kakao Ansan Impact Challenge with ERICA IC-PBL” camp, held from July 16 to 18 at the Kakao Data Center in Ansan.

Now in its second year, the camp is a collaborative project between HYU ERICA, Kakao Corp., and the City of Ansan aimed at fostering creative solutions to local community issues. The program integrated IC-PBL (Project-Based Learning) and design thinking methodologies to enhance students’ hands-on problem-solving capabilities.

The three-day camp brought together 40 HYU ERICA students, selected through document screening and interviews, who were grouped into 10 teams. Each team tackled major issues facing Ansan, including ▲a rising foreign population, ▲population decline, ▲transportation infrastructure utilization, and ▲university–community engagement strategies. Among the participating teams, three were selected for their outstanding solutions.

The first-place team, “Anyone Team,” presented a proposal to improve school zone safety. Team member Dang Hyun-song, a third-year student in the School of ICT Convergence, commented, “As someone who was born and raised in Ansan, it was a meaningful experience to directly engage with local issues. I hope to further develop this project through coursework and contribute to building safer school environments for children.”

In addition, five teams (20 public officials) from Ansan City Hall joined the camp to provide administrative perspectives and help refine the students’ ideas. Among their proposals, three teams were awarded for presenting practical solutions—such as improved meal support during school breaks—that can be immediately implemented within the city.

Jin Chang-ha, Director of the Center for IC-PBL Teaching and Learning at Hanyang University ERICA, stated, “I hope the students’ passion for solving local problems inspires change through collaboration with both local governments and businesses. We will continue to support our students so they can lead and expand these initiatives through academic courses.”

Lee Jae-seung, Kakao’s Regional Cooperation Lead, added, “The goal of this project goes beyond creating outcomes—it’s about transforming ideas into actionable policy proposals for the local community. Even setbacks in the process are valuable learning experiences, helping students develop authentic problem-solving skills grounded in real-world contexts.”

Park Seung-kyu, Director of Planning and Budget at Ansan City Hall, remarked, “The Impact Challenge provides talented young individuals with opportunities to engage with municipal policy and explore ways to connect with actual governance. We also plan to offer students future opportunities to participate in public policy projects and internships.”

This project is part of the 2025 general education course “Impact Challenge Studio,” organized by the Hanyang University ERICA Center for IC-PBL Teaching and Learning. It is expected to significantly enhance both the educational value and real-world applicability of student-led initiatives.