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Tag: South Korea

Sogang Undergraduates in the Cleanroom

Posted on by Sogang University

Sogang University’s Semiconductor Specialization Program (ELITE) has introduced a new undergraduate course — “Semiconductor Device Fabrication” — offered jointly through the Departments of Electronic Engineering and System Semiconductor Engineering. The course moves well beyond process observation or equipment familiarization: each student individually designs, fabricates, and measures a silicon-based MOSFET device through a full CMOS process sequence carried out in a cleanroom.

The course enrolled 46 fourth-year undergraduates across 11 sections, supported by 6 faculty members and 11 teaching assistants. Of the participants, 40 are enrolled in the program’s Next-Generation Semiconductor major track or affiliated interdisciplinary track, making the course a direct extension of the ELITE curriculum’s broader goal of producing industry-ready semiconductor engineers.

Students progressed through the major unit processes of semiconductor manufacturing in sequence: photolithography, wafer cleaning, thermal oxidation, diffusion, thin-film deposition, and metal electrode formation. Following fabrication, they measured I-V and C-V characteristics of their completed devices and analyzed device parameters — building quantitative understanding of how process variables translate into electrical behavior.

The course was designed to develop three capabilities that conventional lecture-based instruction cannot easily provide: the ability to reason about the gap between design intent and actual process outcomes; a manufacturing-aware design perspective that accounts for process variability; and an individual device portfolio that students can present in industry recruitment contexts.

One participant, a fourth-year Electronic Engineering student, described the course as the most significant asset in her job search preparation, noting that her experience troubleshooting a process recipe gave her concrete, differentiated material to discuss in a recruitment interview at a major semiconductor company.

Professor Jinwook Burm, Director of the Semiconductor Specialization Program, stated that the course is intended to move students beyond process exposure toward genuine competency in semiconductor design, fabrication, and analysis — and that the program will continue expanding field-based educational opportunities as part of its commitment to developing the next generation of industry-ready engineers.

The ELITE program operates from March 2024 through February 2028 with support from the Ministry of Education and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), with a mandate to build practical semiconductor education infrastructure — including cleanroom facilities, design laboratories, industry-linked coursework, and global seminars — for Sogang undergraduates.

Inha Holds August Commencement Ceremony

Posted on by INHA University

▲Graduates take commemorative photos at the 2026 August Commencement Ceremony held on the 21st.

▲President Cho Myung-woo delivers a congratulatory speech at the 2026 August Commencement Ceremony held in the Grand Auditorium of the Main Building on the 21st.

Inha University held its 2026 August Commencement Ceremony at the Grand Auditorium of the Main Building on the 21st.

At the commencement ceremony held that day, 1,143 undergraduate students, 436 master’s students, and 102 doctoral students received their degrees.

President Cho Myung-woo, Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae, Jungseok Inha Foundation Managing Director Kim Yun-hwi, Inha Alumni Association President Kim Jong-woo, as well as the families and acquaintances of the graduates, attended the commencement ceremony.

Dr. Nam Joo-hyun of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Dr. Kwak Min-jung of the Department of Multicultural Education received the ‘President’s Award’ at the commencement ceremony. Kim Sang-hyun of the Department of Mechanical Engineering received the ‘President of the Alumni Association Award.’

Ha Joo-hye of the Department of Media and Communication, who represented the graduates, said, “Inha University is the place that was with me through all of my first beginnings and made me who I am today,” adding, “Although we are now leaving the university and moving into the larger society, I believe that we will be able to successfully overcome the new challenges we encounter in the future because of the experiences we gained through facing challenges and growing at Inha University.”

In his congratulatory speech, President Cho Myung-woo said, “Although you are leaving Inha University today, you will always be Inha people,” adding, “I hope that wherever you are, you will be able to say that the time you spent at Inha was truly a wonderful time and that you were proud to be an Inha person.”

▲The 2026 August Commencement Ceremony is being held in the Grand Auditorium of the Main Building on the 21st.

▲Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae delivers a congratulatory speech at the 2026 August Commencement Ceremony held in the Grand Auditorium of the Main Building on the 21st.

▲Kim Jong-woo, President of the Alumni Association, delivers a congratulatory speech at the 2026 August Commencement Ceremony held in the Grand Auditorium of the Main Building on the 21st.

Original Article

Inha Wins Top Consumer Sciences Paper Award

Posted on by INHA University

▲ Professors Harry Timmermans and Soora Rasouli, co-chairs of RARCS 2026, Professor Hyunju Lee, and Dr. Jihye Kim pose for a commemorative photo. (From left) Professor Hyunju Lee, Professor Harry Timmermans, Professor Soora Rasouli, and Dr. Jihye Kim.

Professor Hyunju Lee of the Department of Consumer Studies at Inha University and Dr. Jihye Kim of the Department of Consumer Studies received the Most Innovative Paper Award at the international conference “Recent Advances in Retailing and Consumer Sciences” (RARCS 2026), held in Berlin, Germany.

RARCS is an international academic conference in the fields of consumer and retailing research with a history of more than 30 years. More than 100 papers were presented at this year’s conference, and the Most Innovative Paper Award is given to only one paper among them. The award-winning paper also receives an opportunity to be submitted to the SSCI-indexed international journal “Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services.” The journal is regarded as one of the leading international academic journals in the field of retailing and consumer services.

Professor Hyunju Lee and Dr. Jihye Kim presented a study that categorized older consumers according to their approaches to solving digital problems and analyzed the determinants of life satisfaction for each type.

The study focused on the need to understand older consumers not as a homogeneous group, but as distinct consumer groups with different characteristics depending on how they solve problems in digital environments. In particular, by analyzing the effects of digital competence, digital self-efficacy, digital attitudes, and social capital on life satisfaction among each type, the study suggested that digital inclusion policies and support for older consumers need to be further differentiated.

The award is regarded as a recognition of the study’s originality and timeliness, as it examined the digital divide among older consumers from the perspectives of consumer welfare and life satisfaction and highlighted the need for differentiated consumer support based on different approaches to digital problem-solving.

Professor Hyunju Lee of the Department of Consumer Studies said, “At a time when the digital divide is expanding into an important issue that affects consumers’ quality of life and social inclusion, I am pleased that this study on older consumers has received meaningful international recognition. We will continue to closely examine consumers who may be marginalized during the digital transformation and conduct research that contributes to consumer welfare and digital inclusion.”

Original Article

Sogang Hosts AI Hackathon for High Schoolers

Posted on by Sogang University

On July 24 and 25, Sogang University hosted the 2026 AI Big Data Festival, bringing together 22 students and 3 teachers from Bokja Girls’ High School alongside 6 members of Professor Jon-Lark Kim’s research team from the Department of Mathematics. The event marked the seventh consecutive year of educational exchange between the two institutions — and the most ambitious iteration yet, shifting from lectures and demonstrations to a hands-on mini-hackathon format in which students designed and built their own AI services.

The evolution reflects a deliberate progression. In 2024, the program covered natural language processing and data normalization through structured lectures. In 2025, sessions expanded to include the history of AI, mathematical foundations, an AI agent called Sogangbot, and applications of genetic algorithms and coding theory. This year, that accumulated knowledge became the basis for student-led creation.

Professor Jon-Lark Kim opened the event with a lecture on the development of AI and the mathematical principles underlying machine learning and deep learning, pitched at a level accessible to high school students. He was followed by members of his research team, who led hands-on sessions on AI agents, the n8n workflow automation platform, Word2Vec and natural language processing, and coding theory. Graduate student mentors provided close guidance throughout, helping each team move from idea to working prototype.

Students learned to use n8n to connect multiple programs and AI services into a single automated workflow — then applied that skill to problems they identified from their own school lives. Completed projects included an agent that checks the school academic calendar and sends updates via KakaoTalk, a school regulations information service, and a tool that summarizes the scripts from the school’s daily “Meditation Moment” morning broadcast and extracts meaningful passages.

The exercise illustrated something beyond technical skill: that AI can function not merely as a question-and-answer tool but as a practical agent that connects information and services in response to real needs. Students continued working on their projects after returning to their accommodation, with one supervising teacher noting that the unfinished work would itself become a starting point for further exploration.

Student responses reflected both the technical engagement and the broader impression the program left. Several participants cited the hands-on n8n sessions and mentoring from graduate students as highlights, with one noting that seeing the research team at work had made her want to pursue graduate study herself.

Professor Kim’s team has indicated plans to expand the mini-hackathon format beyond Bokja Girls’ High School to other schools and communities in future years. The event was supported by Sogang’s BK21 program team in the Department of Mathematics and Sogang G-LAMP.

Sogang Opens AI Behavioral Science Program

Posted on by Sogang University

On July 27, Sogang University’s newly established Interdisciplinary Program in AI Behavioral Science marked its founding with a seminar titled “Understanding and Evaluating the Social Coexistence of Humans and Artificial Intelligence.” The program, launching in the fall 2026 semester through the Graduate School, held the event at Jeong Ha-sang Hall as an occasion to define its research agenda and bring together scholars from across disciplines.

The seminar was organized around a central premise: that understanding AI in society requires more than technical expertise. The program draws together faculty from psychology, media and communication, technology management, and educational measurement — fields that collectively address how humans perceive, interact with, and are affected by AI systems.

Kyootai Lee, Ph.D., Vice President for Research and professor at the Graduate School of Technology Management, delivered the keynote lecture under the title “AI, Human, and the Future: Creating a New Orient in Sogang,” framing the program’s ambitions within Sogang’s broader research direction.

The seminar proceeded in two sessions. The first covered psychology and media communication. A presentation on perceptual psychology examined the mechanisms by which humans and AI systems perceive their environments and each other. A second presentation addressed the communicative dynamics of human-AI interaction — specifically how conversational exchange shapes behavior.

The second session turned to technology management and educational science. One presentation introduced AI-assisted research methods in technology management, illustrating how AI is both a subject of study and a tool for conducting it. The closing presentation, by program director Professor Hyo Jeong Shin, addressed the methodological challenges of evaluating AI systems — particularly large language models — using frameworks developed for assessing human latent constructs and capabilities.

Professor Shin described AI Behavioral Science as a field oriented toward designing better societies, not merely understanding technology: “This program goes beyond AI itself to comprehensively examine the interaction and behavior between humans and AI — with the goal of using that understanding to build a better social environment.” She expressed hope that the program would grow into a globally recognized research institution contributing to a future in which humans and AI coexist on productive terms.

CNU Shares AI Education Locally and Globally

Posted on by Chonnam National University

Chonnam National University (CNU) is expanding its AI education capabilities across the region and onto the global stage. The university is sharing its expertise with regional universities, pre-service teachers, and local residents while broadening international exchange through practice-oriented programs for overseas students. CNU aims to make its AI education capacity a resource for both regional development and global collaboration.

On July 30, CNU established the AI Convergence Education Institute as a presidentially affiliated organization to lead this effort. It will create a coordinated system for AI talent development, educational-resource sharing, and community outreach, providing a foundation for extending CNU’s AI education expertise beyond the university.

The institute builds on CNU’s faculty AI refresh training program, HAI-STEP (Human-centered AI Smart Teaching Enforcement Program). Through the Regional University AI Education Academy, CNU shares practical knowledge in AI-based course design, learning-material development, and data analysis with regional universities. Online programs for pre-service teachers and the AI Citizen Academy for local residents further expand access to AI learning and help participants build practical skills for an AI-driven society.

CNU is also broadening the international reach of its AI education. Under the 2026 Korea-Japan Joint Higher Education Student Exchange Program – Short-Term Undergraduate Program, organized by the National Institute for International Education, CNU hosted 20 students from 11 Japanese universities, including Kansai University, Kyushu University, and Osaka Metropolitan University. The University of Osaka and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology participated for the first time this year, further strengthening CNU’s academic network in Japan.

During the program, participants explored AI and data science through the Open Source Hardware course and conducted research projects with graduate student mentors from CNU’s College of AI Convergence. Visits to Kia Autoland and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) also offered firsthand insight into AI applications in industrial and public-sector settings.

The program reflects CNU’s efforts to apply its AI education expertise in both regional and international contexts.

 

2026 SKKU ISS Concludes

Posted on by SKKU

SKKU’s International Affairs Division (Vice President of International Affairs, Professor Minhyo Cho) successfully concluded the 2026 International Summer Semester (ISS), which ran for four weeks from June 26 to July 24. Celebrating its 18th anniversary, this year’s program welcomed 1,021 students from 126 universities across 39 countries, representing a 26.4% increase from the previous year and reaffirming SKKU’s growing global presence. Among international participants (excluding SKKU students), the largest groups came from universities in the United States (116 students), the United Kingdom (100), and Australia (80).

The program offered 42 courses spanning business and economics, humanities and social sciences, AI and data science, Korean language, and Korean studies. Classes were taught by 17 visiting international professors and 10 SKKU faculty members. Through regular classes held Monday through Thursday and collaborative team projects, students strengthened both their academic expertise and cross-cultural communication skills.

Beyond the classroom, a wide range of cultural activities was offered on Fridays and weekday evenings. More than 500 students participated in each program, including visits to Gyeongbokgung Palace, cultural performances, Everland, Caribbean Bay, and the DMZ, providing opportunities to experience Korean history and culture firsthand. Students also enjoyed Korea’s vibrant sports culture through group outings to KBO League baseball and K League football games.

A new highlight this year was the introduction of small-group activities organized in collaboration with SKKU student clubs, covering football, taekwondo, tea ceremony, baseball, magic, photography, and more. These activities encouraged meaningful friendships between international participants and SKKU students. In addition, with the FIFA World Cup taking place during the program, students gathered to watch matches together and participated in special World Cup-themed events, creating friendships that transcended national boundaries.

Following its successful debut last year, the two-night, three-day Jeju Cultural Experience Program returned, giving participants the opportunity to explore Jeju Island’s unique culture and natural environment. The program once again received highly positive feedback from students.

The Laboratory-Based Research Internship Program also expanded this year, with 26 students participating, up from 15 in the previous year. Participants are engaged in full-time research projects, creating a valuable pathway to graduate study at SKKU while strengthening the foundation for future international research collaboration.

The closing ceremony featured student reflections, a farewell session with faculty members, and a highlight video capturing memorable moments from the summer. Awards were also presented for the Digital Content Contest and the World Cup Prediction Event. The celebration concluded with a special taekwondo performance by a professional demonstration team and a photo session with SKKU’s official mascots, Myeongnyuni and Yuljeoni, leaving participants with lasting memories.

Professor Minhyo Cho, Vice President of International Affairs, remarked, “ISS has evolved beyond a traditional summer school into SKKU’s distinctive international education model that seamlessly integrates learning, culture, and research. We hope this program has provided every participant with an unforgettable summer experience.”

SKKU AI Autonomous Driving Competition

Posted on by SKKU

Sungkyunkwan University successfully hosted the “4th Sungkyunkwan University AI Autonomous Driving Competition” at the Semiconductor Building lounge on the Natural Science Campus on Thursday, July 30. Held with the goal of nurturing core talent in the future mobility sector, the competition was divided into an AI Chip division and a Software (SW) division, with the entire event livestreamed on YouTube so that members of the university community and beyond could follow the competition in real time. In a particularly meaningful development, students from Gyeonggi Automobile Science High School took part as a special team, creating a stage where high school and university students competed and exchanged ideas in autonomous driving technology.

Participating students designed and implemented their own AI-based autonomous driving systems on small electric vehicles roughly one-fifth the size of an actual car, equipped with cameras, LiDAR, and ultrasonic sensors. The competition consisted of a “driving race,” in which teams completed a designated track in the shortest time possible, and a “mission race,” in which teams carried out a range of assigned tasks. Ahead of the competition, students strengthened their practical response capabilities by learning autonomous driving technology through preliminary training and mentoring programs.

A total of 51 teams (228 participants) — 24 teams in the AI Chip division and 27 teams in the SW division — competed fiercely in the preliminary round, with 15 teams from each division, 30 teams (128 participants) in total, advancing to the final round. On the day of the competition, in addition to the finalists and organizing staff, around 50 attendees including President Jibeom Yoo, industry experts, and professors were on hand to encourage the students and provide guidance on technology and career paths.

After a fierce competition, the Grand Prize (SKKU President’s Award) went to Team “Eunjeya Hyundai Gaja” in the SW division and Team “425” in the AI Chip division. Team “Eunjeya Hyundai Gaja” was composed of Kim Sookyung, Kang Mincheol, Moon Seonbin, and Jeong Eunje from the School of Mechanical Engineering, and Kim Myeonggyun from the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Team “425” was composed of Kwon Kihyeok from the Department of Mathematics, Kim Taegeon from the Department of Data Science convergence major, Kim Yuchan from the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Park Hyeonseo from the School of Mechanical Engineering, and Kim Hoyong from the Department of Business Administration.

The competition served as a hands-on educational platform where students developed autonomous driving systems spanning both hardware and software on their own and verified their performance on an actual driving track. The combination of mentoring by participating professors and industry experts, the participation of the special high school team, and the live YouTube broadcast was recognized as an effort in which the university, high schools, and industry came together to broaden the base for nurturing future mobility talent.

Jae Wook Jeon, Director of the Future Mobility Bootcamp Project Group, stated, “I applaud the students who persevered through countless trial and error while preparing for this competition,” adding, “I hope the valuable experience they gained here becomes a solid stepping stone toward taking on even bigger challenges.”

President Jibeom Yoo said, “Autonomous driving technology for future mobility is a field that represents the convergence of cutting-edge technologies such as AI, software, and semiconductors, and it serves as a core driving force for realizing a safer, more convenient future society.” He added, “I wholeheartedly support the participating students as they grow into the key talent who will innovate Korea’s future mobility industry.”

Meanwhile, the competition was hosted by SKKU’s Future Mobility Bootcamp Project Group (Director: Professor Jae Wook Jeon), which was selected for the Ministry of Education’s “Advanced Industry Talent Bootcamp Project (Future Mobility Sector),” and sponsored by Hyundai Mobis.

Inha Runs 5th Air Quality Student Program

Posted on by INHA University

▲ Students participating in the 5th Summer Undergraduate Research Program visit the Environmental Satellite Center at the National Institute of Environmental Research.

The Metropolitan Air Quality Research and Management Center under Inha University’s Industry–Academic Cooperation Foundation recently successfully concluded its 5th Summer Undergraduate Research Program.

The program was designed for undergraduate students majoring in environmental sciences and other science and engineering disciplines at universities in the Seoul metropolitan area. It aimed to introduce the latest trends and practical applications in research and development (R&D) related to fine particulate matter and air quality while fostering future environmental professionals.

The curriculum covered a broad range of topics in air quality, including the health impacts of fine dust, the relationship between weather and particulate matter, air quality management policies in the Seoul metropolitan area, the current status of air pollutant management, aerosol fundamentals, the principles and applications of fine dust measurement equipment, an introduction to air pollution control facilities, ESG and career exploration in the environmental sector, air pollutant control technologies, and the measurement and emission assessment of road re-suspended dust.

The program also included field visits to the Environmental Satellite Center at the National Institute of Environmental Research and the Cheongna Facility of the Incheon Environmental Corporation. During the visits, students observed air quality research sites and environmental facility operations firsthand, allowing them to connect classroom learning with real-world practices.

The program featured lectures by university professors as well as experts from government agencies, research institutes, and industry. The speakers covered a wide range of topics, including air quality policies, fine dust measurement and analysis technologies, air pollution control technologies, and practical applications in industrial settings.

Through the lectures and field visits, participants gained a deeper understanding of research and career opportunities in the air quality field. Certificates of completion were awarded to 19 students who successfully completed the program.

In the post-program satisfaction survey, one participant commented, “Although I had always been interested in air quality, I was unsure about the career opportunities available. Listening to lectures from professionals in the field helped me better understand both the academic concepts and potential career paths. This program gave me the opportunity to seriously consider pursuing a career in air quality.”

Jeon Gi-jun, Director of the Metropolitan Air Quality Research and Management Center, said, “I hope this program has helped students gain a broader understanding of research and policy in the field of air quality. We will continue to expand and improve our educational programs to cultivate the next generation of environmental professionals.”

Original Article

Inha Wraps Semiconductor Cleanroom Training

Posted on by INHA University

▲ Students participating in the semiconductor process and equipment training are conducting hands-on process training in the cleanroom of the 3D Nano Convergence Device Research Center.

Inha University recently announced that its Next-Generation Semiconductor Consortium successfully completed the “2026 Semiconductor Process and Equipment Training Program.”

The practical training was provided to students who achieved outstanding results in the final evaluation of the previously conducted basic and advanced semiconductor process theory courses. Twelve students from Inha University, Myongji University, and Kongju National University, all members of the consortium, participated in the program, gaining hands-on experience in a cleanroom while applying the knowledge learned in theory to strengthen their practical skills.

Wearing cleanroom suits, the students entered the cleanroom and directly carried out key semiconductor fabrication processes, including photolithography, sputtering, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and etching. They also conducted thin-film measurement and process data analysis, improving their overall understanding of semiconductor manufacturing processes.

On the final day, each team presented its training results, reviewing how the concepts learned during the theoretical courses were applied in actual semiconductor fabrication processes.

The training program is meaningful because it strengthened the step-by-step learning system that connects theoretical education with practical training. The Next-Generation Semiconductor Consortium selected the highest-performing students from the theory courses for the practical program, increasing learning motivation while systematically enhancing their semiconductor process competencies.

Pyeon Seok-jun, Director of the Engineering Education Innovation Center and Head of the Next-Generation Semiconductor Consortium, said, “This practical training is an important opportunity for students to experience semiconductor processes firsthand and deepen their understanding of the industry. Reflecting the strong response from students and the needs of the industry, we will continue working to expand both the scale of the training program and opportunities for participation.”

Original Article