Source: Korea Radio Promotion Association (RAPA)

The first cohort of the 'Nexon MapleStory Worlds Academy,' a collaboration between the Korea Radio Promotion Association (RAPA) and Nexon Korea, held its entrance ceremony on the 13rd and officially began its curriculum. This program is a hands-on initiative designed to train content creators using the 'MapleStory Worlds' platform. The students, selected through a highly competitive process, will spend six weeks working on practical projects covering planning, development, and operations.

The curriculum aims to cultivate next-generation UGC (User-Generated Content) creators equipped with practical skills ranging from content planning to development and operation using 'MapleStory Worlds.' The academic schedule officially kicked off with an entrance ceremony held at the RAPA Seocho office in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

The recruitment process saw a total of 755 applicants, resulting in a competition rate of 25.2 to 1. The 30 students selected will participate in the six-week program, which runs until July 18. They will be responsible for planning and developing content based on 'MapleStory Worlds' and will carry out team projects.

The entrance ceremony was attended by approximately 40 people, including Shin Min-seok, Director at Nexon Korea, other 'MapleStory Worlds' representatives, officials from RAPA, representatives from the educational operating agency Diarium, and the students.

During the event, Nexon Korea introduced the 'MapleStory Worlds' platform and its UGC ecosystem, while the program organizers outlined the curriculum and project management plans. Students received briefings on upcoming project phases and creator growth support programs, followed by a networking session.

The program is project-centered, allowing students to plan their own ideas, create and launch content, and operate it as if it were a live service. It is designed to help them acquire not only creative skills but also experience in collaboration, problem-solving, and service operations.

Throughout the program, students are provided with individual GPU-equipped laptops. Additional benefits include access to generative AI tools, certificates of completion, recommendations for collaboration projects with Nexon for top-performing students, and opportunities for exposure on the 'MapleStory Worlds' platform.

RAPA stated that the UGC ecosystem, where users create and grow content together, is becoming a new industrial competitive advantage, adding that it intends to foster creators and developers who will lead the future content industry through the 'Nexon MapleStory Worlds Academy.'

Nexon Korea described 'MapleStory Worlds' as a UGC platform that allows anyone to easily create and service their own content, expressing hope that this academy will enable new creators to realize diverse ideas and expand the ecosystem.

The 'Nexon MapleStory Worlds Academy' is a game-based UGC creator training program operated in partnership between RAPA and Nexon Korea. It supports students in building creative skills and practical experience by carrying out projects linked to the actual platform ecosystem.

RAPA plans to continue expanding its efforts to cultivate practical talent in the digital content sector through ongoing collaboration with the industry.