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CNU: Where Industry Meets Global Ambition

Posted on March 9, 2026March 9, 2026 by Chonnam National University

In an era where career-readiness defines the value of higher education, Chonnam National University (CNU) is strengthening its role as a gateway for the next generation of innovators. By placing industry-academia collaboration at the central of its mission, CNU is not just granting degrees—it is engineering seamless pathways into the world’s most advanced technological sectors. In a recent interview with The Korea Times, CNU outlined its vision to cultivate “industry-ready” professionals through partnerships with global tech leaders across its specialized industrial ecosystem.

Harmonizing High-Tech Innovation and Industrial Excellence CNU’s competitive advantage is defined by its close work with strategic high-tech clusters in four key growth areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Semiconductor, future mobility, advanced energy storage system, and aerospace. A cornerstone of this approach is the partnership with Amkor Technology, a global leader in semiconductor packaging, including a joint research center providing an “industry-identical” environment. This “lab-to-fab” model equips international talent with hands-on skills in facilities that reflect real corporate setting, creating a direct pathway into Korea’s innovation-driven sectors. Beyond the classroom, CNU builds its regional strengths to attract top-tier global researchers to its specialized graduate programs. This strategy creates a powerful virtuous cycle: world-class industrial collaborations attract top talent, whose research results further strengthen the university’s research output and global visibility. By connecting academic theory with industrial demand, CNU aims to stay aligned with fast-moving global technological trends.

A Foundation of Holistic Student Support and Wellbeing To ensure that students can fully focus on learning and career preparation, CNU has fortified its support infrastructure. The elevation of its international division to a full-scale Office of International Affairs marks a shift toward a “life-cycle” assistance. This robust support system handles the complexities of visa processing, stable housing, and student well-being. By removing the logistical and cultural barriers of studying abroad, the university creates an environment where global talent can truly thrive.

Vision 3040: Ascending to the global Top University These transformative initiatives are the engine behind CNU’s ascent on the world stage. As an initial milestone in its globalization journey, CNU has established an immediate strategic objective to enter the Top 300 of the QS World University Rankings.

President Lee Keun-bae emphasized that this leap will be driven by aggressive globalization. By cultivating an environment where academic excellence and industrial application coexist, CNU is not merely adapting to the future—it is defining it. As the university expands its international reach, it cements its place as a vital hub for innovation for those who seek to lead the industries of tomorrow.

MOU Signed for AI Security Training

Posted on March 9, 2026March 9, 2026 by INHA University

Inha University recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IGLOO Corporation, an AI-based security solutions company, to cultivate specialized talent in AI-based security and enhance industry–academia cooperation.

Under this agreement, Inha University and IGLOO Corporation will collaborate on ▲ developing customized curricula and educational content to nurture outstanding AI talent ▲ jointly identifying and conducting industry–academia R&D projects in the field of AI-based security ▲ strengthening students’ practical competencies through company-linked internship programs ▲ discovering outstanding talent in AI-based security and supporting their employment pathways.

Inha University expects this MOU to serve as a meaningful opportunity to foster specialized professionals through educational and research collaboration in the AI-based security field, while further reinforcing the foundation for industry-linked education and research cooperation.

Kim Eun-jung, Vice President of IGLOO Corporation, stated, “As AI technologies continue to advance, cultivating specialized talent in the security sector is becoming increasingly important. Through this agreement, we will establish a comprehensive talent development system that integrates academia, practice, and research, and continue to support the discovery and growth of professionals who will lead the AI-based security industry.”

Baek Sung-hyun, Vice President for Academic Affairs, said, “We will build a cooperative model in which industry, education, and research are organically connected in the field of AI-based security. Through close industry–academia collaboration, we will actively support our students in developing into AI security professionals equipped with strong, field-oriented practical capabilities.”

▲ Officials from the University and IGLOO Corporation pose for a commemorative photo at the MOU signing ceremony for fostering AI-based security talent and strengthening industry–academia cooperation.

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The Redemption of a Ritual in University

Posted on March 9, 2026March 9, 2026 by SKKU

The Redemption of a Ritual: How Gen Z Revived a 600-Year-Old Ceremony in Seoul

Beneath the ancient, sprawling gingko trees of Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), the air doesn’t hum with the usual bass of a modern freshman party. Instead, it echoes with the rustle of blue silk robes and the formal, rhythmic greetings of a 14th-century royal court.

This is Shinbangrye: a scholar’s welcoming ritual rooted in the Joseon Dynasty. For SKKU, which was founded in 1398 as the peninsula’s highest seat of learning, this is not a dusty history lesson. It is a high-stakes, gamified “redemption” of a tradition that once turned dark.

The Dark Legacy of the “Myeonsinrye”

For centuries, the entrance into Sungkyunkwan—Korea’s highest national institution of learning—came with a price. Known as Myeonsinrye (an initiation to “exempt the newcomer from being a stranger”), the ritual was originally intended to build community. However, over the years, it evolved into a feared tool of dominance.

By the middle of the Joseon era, the tradition had grown toxic. Senior scholars often forced newcomers to perform humiliating tasks or provide expensive banquets, a practice so severe that Korean kings once issued royal decrees to ban it. It was a 15th-century version of the “hazing” crisis that plagues modern Western campuses today.

The Gen Z “Debug”: From Hazing to Quests

In the spring of 2026, the students of SKKU—led by the student organization Cheongrang—decided that history was too valuable to cancel, but too flawed to ignore. Their solution? A total “reboot” of the ritual through the lens of modern empathy and storytelling.

The “2026 Shinbangrye” replaced the vertical power dynamics of the past with a horizontal, collaborative mission:

The “Snack” Diplomacy: Historically, the So-Shinbangrye involved forced tributes. Today, it has been reimagined as a friendly exchange of snacks and tea between seniors and juniors, turning a problematic financial burden into a gesture of camaraderie.
The Story-Mission: The feared initiation is now a massive, immersive role-playing game. Freshmen must work together to solve a “historical mystery” set in the era of King Sejong the Great, finding clues hidden around the UNESCO-adjacent shrine to rescue “wrongly imprisoned” scholars.

The Voice of the Tradition’s New Guardians

For the students of South Korea’s most historic campus, the event serves as a rare bridge between a high-tech future and a prestigious past. Han In-young, the student leader (Jang-ui) of Cheongrang who oversaw the event, emphasized the symbolic importance of this continuity.

“Built upon a long history and affection for the community, we expect this event to become a meaningful starting point for freshmen to experience the deep roots and spirit of Sungkyunkwan, and remain a precious memory that everyone can enjoy together as one.” Han said.

As the spring sun sets over the stone courtyards, it becomes clear that these students are reviving the past in ways never expected. In a world often fractured by rapid digital change, SKKU’s Gen Z are proving that we can remain connected to our ancestors through a glimpse of current thinking and modern motivation. They are not merely reciting history; they are debugging it—showing that the keys to solving the repeating issues of our present, such as social isolation or the search for belonging, can often be found hidden in the wisdom of the past. By looking back with empathy, they haven’t just saved a tradition; they’ve discovered a timeless solution for moving forward.

Inha Univ. Team Earns IEEE IV 2026 Recognition

Posted on March 4, 2026March 4, 2026 by INHA University

▲Schematic diagram illustrating the overall processing flow in which two input data sources—machine learning models and computer vision—are fused through a Bayesian filter.

Graduate students Lee Dong-min and Lee Seung-yong, master’s candidates in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Inha University, have received international recognition for their research on improving road surface condition classification performance for autonomous vehicles.

Through their paper titled “Multimodal Bayesian Filtering for Enhanced Road Surface Condition Classification in Intelligent Vehicles Safety Systems,” the researchers proposed a novel algorithm for road surface condition classification.

The core contribution of the study lies in significantly improving classification accuracy by fusing data-driven machine learning models with computer vision–based road surface classification results using a real-time Bayesian filtering approach.

This research has been accepted for publication at the IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV) 2026 International Conference, scheduled to be held this June in Detroit, USA. IEEE IV is one of the most prestigious international conferences in the fields of autonomous driving and intelligent vehicles, known for its rigorous review process and strong emphasis on academic originality and impact.

Professor Kiwoo Kim of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Inha University commented, “I hope this achievement serves as an opportunity for master’s students in mechanical engineering to gain confidence that they, too, can present research at leading conferences in the electrical and electronics engineering field, and that it will support their future career development.”

Meanwhile, this research was conducted with support from a national R&D project funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, titled “Development of an Embedded AI Controller for Road Surface Condition Recognition” (lead company: HL Mando), under the supervision of Professor Kiwoo Kim as principal investigator. Follow-up studies are planned.

Original Article

IPB Strengthens Research with KOICA-ICAB

Posted on March 3, 2026March 3, 2026 by GlobalConnectivity_IPB

IPB University, in collaboration with Seoul National University (SNU) supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), continues to advance the KOICA–ICAB Project: Capacity Building for the Center for Agriculture and Bioscience of IPB University in Indonesia.

This seven-year initiative (2022–2028), valued at USD11 million, aims to establish the National Instrumentation Center for Agriculture and Bioscience (NICAB) as a national shared research facility supporting innovation, advanced research, and sustainable development.

Since its launch in 2022, the project has focused on strengthening research facilities and infrastructures, as well as enhancing human resource capacity and fostering innovation in the green biosciences. Key activities include the construction of new laboratories, the modernization of existing facilities, and the provision of advanced academic and professional training programs. The project supports IPB University’s mission to become a leading center of excellence in bioscience and environmental management.

As of October 2025, several major milestones have been achieved. The architectural design for the NICAB building has been finalized, the Advanced Research Laboratory (ARLab) remodeling has been completed, and the Animal Cell Culture Laboratory was officially inaugurated during the second KOICA–ICAB Steering Committee Meeting in September 2025. In addition, eight training programs have been conducted, four IPB faculty members are currently pursuing Ph.D. degrees at SNU, and three faculty members from the National University of East Timor (UNTL) are undertaking graduate studies at IPB University, one of whom completed an M.Sc. last year.

The beneficiaries of the project include IPB faculty members, researchers, and students, as well as academic partners from Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), Timor-Leste. With active involvement from Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology; Ministry of Forestry; and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN); the KOICA–ICAB project also strengthens cooperation between academia, industry, and government.

Through the KOICA–ICAB Project, IPB University reinforces its role as a leading center of excellence in agriculture and bioscience, while further deepening cooperation between Indonesia and the Republic of Korea. By 2028, NICAB is expected to be fully operated as a national shared research facility.

and bioscience, while further deepening cooperation between Indonesia and the Republic of Korea. By 2028, NICAB is expected to be fully operated as a national shared research facility.

Inha 2026-1 Commencement Ceremony Held

Posted on March 3, 2026March 3, 2026 by INHA University

▲ President Cho Myung-woo delivers a congratulatory address at the February 2026 Commencement Ceremony held on the 20th in the Main Auditorium of the University’s main building.

Inha University held its February 2026 Commencement Ceremony on the 20th in the Main Auditorium of the University’s main building.

A total of 3,601 students received degrees at the ceremony, including 2,551 undergraduates, 910 master’s students, and 140 doctoral candidates.

The ceremony was attended by President Cho Myung-woo, Kim Yoon-hwi, Executive Director of the Board of Trustees of Jeongsuk Inha School Foundation, Kim Jong-woo, President of the Inha University Alumni Association, as well as graduates’ families and friends.

Dr. Seo Dong-woo from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Dr. Maung Nyunt from the Smart Governance Policy program received the President’s Award. Lee Jung-hyun, a student from the Department of Social Welfare, received the Alumni Association President’s Award.

Lee Si-eun, a representative graduate from the Department of International Trade, said, “At Inha, I learned how to take on challenges and endure failure, and above all, I learned to believe in myself. I will strive to make the name ‘Inha’ a source of pride by following in the footsteps of the many alumni who are shining in their respective fields.”

Kim Yoon-hwi, Executive Director of the Board of Trustees of Jeongsuk Inha School Foundation, remarked, “I hope you become confident Inha graduates who value direction over speed and choose values over mere achievements. I wholeheartedly support your bold first steps as you stand on the runway of a new chapter in life.”

In his congratulatory address, President Cho Myung-woo stated, “As you begin your flight into society, you may at times need to adjust your speed and reset your direction under ever-changing skies. However, the time you spent at Inha and the moments when you refused to give up will illuminate your path once again. No matter which sky you fly in or which path you choose, Inha will always be the place of your first takeoff and a warm airport you can return to whenever you need to pause and catch your breath.”

▲ The February 2026 Commencement Ceremony is being held in the Main Auditorium on the 20th.

▲ Kim Yoon-hwi, Executive Director of the Board of Trustees of Jeongsuk Inha School Foundation, delivers a congratulatory address at the ceremony.

▲ Kim Jong-woo, President of the Inha University Alumni Association, delivers a congratulatory address at the ceremony.

▲ Graduates pose for commemorative photos to celebrate their graduation.

Original Article

AI in Antibody Drug Development

Posted on March 3, 2026March 3, 2026 by Sogang University

Sogang University held its February brown-bag seminar under SAIX Peers (Sogang AIX Peers), focusing on the convergence of artificial intelligence and biotechnology in next-generation drug development. The session featured Professor Seong-Ryong Kim from the Department of Life Science and CEO of the university-affiliated venture PhytoMab, who delivered a lecture titled “Universality of Biomolecules and the Evolution of Antibody Therapeutics: AI Design and Plant Cell-Based Production.”

Professor Kim outlined key biological foundations underlying AI-driven drug discovery, explaining how amino acid sequences generate vast structural diversity through protein folding. He emphasized that this molecular complexity creates an expansive design space in which AI technologies can significantly accelerate therapeutic innovation.

The seminar highlighted two central themes. First, AI-assisted antibody design enables rapid generation and screening of candidate sequences, addressing one of the most time-intensive stages of pharmaceutical development. Recent advances in protein structure prediction, supported by large experimental datasets, have significantly improved computational accuracy and expanded the scope of AI-designed proteins. Second, Professor Kim introduced PhytoRice, a plant cell–based antibody production platform developed by his team. By applying glycoengineering technologies to rice cells, the platform offers a safer and more cost-effective alternative to conventional CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cell systems, which require expensive culture media and stringent viral safety controls.

As a case study, he presented “Hugreen,” a plant-derived antibody candidate corresponding to the breast cancer therapy trastuzumab, developed in collaboration with domestic and international research partners. While highlighting AI’s potential to reduce the cost and timeline of drug development, Professor Kim underscored that laboratory validation, purification, and clinical evaluation remain indispensable steps in translating computational designs into viable therapeutics.

The session prompted active interdisciplinary discussion on how AI can address key bottlenecks in pharmaceutical innovation, reinforcing Sogang’s commitment to advancing meaningful AI convergence across scientific disciplines.

Inha’s 3-Year Top 4 Employment Excellence

Posted on February 20, 2026February 20, 2026 by INHA University

According to the 2025 Higher Education Public Disclosure released through the Korean Higher Education Disclosure System (Academy Info), Inha University once again recorded a strong employment rate, ranking fourth nationwide among universities producing more than 3,000 graduates.

With an employment rate of 68.5%, Inha University placed fourth, following Sungkyunkwan University (71.3%), Korea University (69.9%), and Hanyang University (68.9%). By maintaining fourth place for three consecutive years, Inha university has established a consistent top-tier ranking in employment outcomes among major universities with over 3,000 graduates.

The result reflects the effectiveness of the university’s employment support system despite a contracting recruitment market and the growing trend of rolling and career-based hiring.

Inha University also performed well not only in employment quantity but also in employment quality. In the job retention rate—an indicator measuring whether graduates remain employed at the same workplace after a certain period—the university recorded 86.4%, an increase of 0.9 percentage points from last year’s 85.5%, maintaining a high level among universities with over 3,000 graduates.

The consistent quantitative and qualitative employment success of students is attributed to the university’s wide range of employment support programs, including job- and industry-tailored initiatives.

Inha university actively provides both direct and indirect employment support through the operation of the University Job Plus Center, Field Training Support Center, and IPP Dual Training Center, expanding practical training opportunities and offering employment counseling.

The University Job Plus Center offers one-on-one customized career strategy consultations, job information, and a variety of career and employment support programs. Key programs include the small-group, intensive employment consulting program “Inha First Class,” job-specific lectures by industry professionals, and Visiting Employment Study Groups.

Graduates who previously participated in these programs later return as mentors through initiatives such as Job Fairs and Online Mentoring, establishing a virtuous cycle of employment support. Through this network, alumni share real-world work experience and industry insights with current students, supporting their successful transition into the workforce.

Inha university also operates a standardized field internship semester system (Co-op) in collaboration with companies across diverse industries, enabling students to gain hands-on experience aligned with their majors and interests. This system allows students to earn academic credits while acquiring practical field experience. In the 2025 academic year, 1,085 students are participating in the program across 389 organizations, with participation steadily increasing each year.

The Industry-Professional Practice Program (IPP) provides systematic theoretical education and on-site training in partnership with companies, cultivating practice-oriented, customized talent. The program has received positive feedback from both students and companies due to its high rate of conversion to full-time employment. Based on these achievements, Inha University was selected this year as a pilot institution for the “IPP Specialized University” initiative. Moving forward, the university plans to secure greater operational autonomy, enhance program quality, and further strengthen cooperation with major and leading enterprises.

President Cho Myung-woo commented, “This result, achieved amid a challenging employment environment, is not a short-term outcome but the product of a comprehensive, full-cycle employment support system spanning from the first to the fourth year. We will continue to develop and operate diverse programs to support students’ career development and employment.”

▲ Students participating in training at the “Inha First Class” Employment Camp 2025.

Original Article

Sogang Launches Institute for Sustainable Management

Posted on February 20, 2026February 20, 2026 by Sogang University

Sogang University held the official inauguration ceremony of the Institute for Sustainable Management Innovation on 28th at the Matthew Hall campus venue, marking the beginning of its full-scale operations. Established under the Sogang Business School, the institute serves as a new research hub dedicated to generating and disseminating innovative knowledge in management.

A distinctive feature of the institute is its platform-based structure. Unlike traditional research institutes that focus primarily on academic output, this institute functions as an incubator supporting doctoral-level scholars who seek to create and expand innovative management knowledge. It is primarily led by graduates and current candidates of Sogang’s Executive Ph.D. (E-Ph.D.) in Management programme, the first practice-oriented doctoral programme of its kind introduced in Korea. The institute aims to foster collaboration among academically trained practitioners and research-oriented professionals.

The institute is organised into three divisions: Education, Research, and Advisory. The Education Division introduces several differentiated programmes. In collaboration with Southern Connecticut State University in the United States, which holds STEM accreditation, the institute offers a Post-Doctoral certification programme that provides joint certification from both Korean and U.S. institutions. In response to the increasing demand for gender diversity in corporate governance, the institute has also developed a specialised programme to prepare female independent (outside) directors. Participants may be recommended to corporate boards through an affiliated nomination committee. Furthermore, the “Sogang Venture Academy” provides lifecycle-based coaching for venture entrepreneurs, supporting business development from early-stage start-up to IPO preparation. This model is designed on the premise that the E-Ph.D. network includes key actors across the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Research Division supports doctoral-level researchers through various mechanisms, including research professorships and the establishment of dedicated research centres depending on project scale. Current thematic areas include AI-driven manufacturing innovation, sustainability diagnostic tools for platform enterprises, and AI-based healthcare and elderly-care business development. These projects seek to address emerging societal challenges through sustainable and innovation-oriented business solutions.

The Advisory Division offers management consulting and potential investment opportunities for domestic firms, drawing upon high-performing scholars within the E-Ph.D. programme. The institute plans to expand its advisory scope in collaboration with the forthcoming Sogang–Pangyo Digital Innovation Campus, thereby enhancing its societal contribution.

Coinciding with its launch, the institute also released Sogang University’s sustainability report. Notably, the report was produced through a student-led process, with undergraduate students independently conducting data collection, interviews, report writing, and design. ESG specialists have noted that the student-driven approach strengthens the authenticity and distinctiveness of the report, marking a meaningful development in university sustainability reporting practices. The full Korean version of the report is available online. (Read the Full Report)

KU Research Team Enables Power Generation Regardless of Time or Weather with Transparent Solar Window Technology

Posted on February 6, 2026February 6, 2026 by QS Editorial

A research team led by Professor Jun Yong-seok from the Department of Integrative Energy Engineering and the Graduate School of Energy and Environment (Green School) at KU (President Kim Dong-One), in collaboration with research teams from Korea Aerospace University and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), has developed a transparent solar window technology that can generate power 24 hours a day using sunlight during the day and indoor lighting at night.

The research results were published online on November 21 and published in print on December 17 in Joule (IF=35.4), a world-renowned international academic journal in the energy field.

*Article title: Scalable hybrid solar window with high transparency, high efficiency, and superior color rendering

*DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2025.102216

*URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2025.102216 Existing transparent solar cells face a contradiction: increasing transparency leads to a decrease in power generation efficiency, while increasing efficiency reduces transparency. Moreover, thin-film solar cells distort the color of light during the absorption process, creating limitations for their application as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).