There were lots of things that happened in Korea this year. Media laws, a developmental proposal plan for the four rivers, moving the central government to Sejong city…. KMU has also been busy with many plans for KMU1010 aiming to improve its ranking in 10 in 10 years as well as further work developing the quality of the university’s external structures and internal workings. The Kookmin Review had time to think about the merits and weak points of what should be changed and what things should be improved so that KMU can launch into more better way in the term paper.

To be Best in 10 Years

KMU developed many plans this year to improve the quality of the university under the slogan HIGHER & BROADER. One of these is the plan called KMU1010 which will begin in earnest from next year. Part of this plan was derived from considering chronic student problems. The bus route from Gwanghwamun station was extended last September to save students time and bus fares. KMU also bought an apartment block near Gireum station which can house 45 female students in order to help alleviate the dormitory accommodation problem. Student welfare facilities were hugely improved by repairing toilets, laying artificial grass on the sports field and extending the canteen in Bugak Hall.

The other reform is procuring global talent and pursuing internationalization to keep pace with the ‘global generation.’ This program supports foreign professors, lectures in English, RTES (Realtime Two-way Education System) and more exchange students. RTES is a system where students can listen to lectures from overseas universities or participate in science seminars with overseas scholars online. We also established an exchange agreement with 140 overseas universities including Kuwait University. “Through these exchanges, KMU will become more globalized and students can extend their knowledge,” said Hriday Narayan, the lecturer who visited universities in India in October this year. Kookminians can have a chance to go abroad as exchange students not only in America or England but also in the Middle East. As a result of KMU’s proactivity the number of foreign students in our university has increased remarkably. In the first semester last year, there were 99 undergraduate students and 75 graduate students. This term however, these numbers have increased to 220 and 142. The number has doubed in just over one year. Having more students from other countries means Korean students can learn about other cultures and in turn, students from overseas can learn about Korean life.

Year-End Review, Thinking Yourself

We can recall both bad and good occurrences during the year. KORA was the 10th in the overall rankings at the Formula SAE. Ten Kookminians passed the exam to become licensed tax accountants and 12 became CPAs (Certified Public Accountant). Not only students, but also professors served and enhanced the university’s status. Prof. Kim Cheon (Dept. of Science & Forestry) was awarded for Outstanding Contribution Prize from CNCRS (China National Committee on Remote Sensing) and AARS (Asian Assocoation on Remote Sensing). It is pity, however, that we didn’t get a good grade in the JoongAng Daily College GPA in 2009 even though we bore great fruit. Yim Yang Jae, the associate manager of the Strategic Planning Team said that we were weak in financial and educational areas. The number of English lectures, foreign students, and foreign professors in the area of internationalization was also low. To overcome this, including other departments, the part of internationalization is being expanded. He added that, with these efforts, KMU can get a good result in the university GPA next year.

On the other hand, KMU held a festival called SoRan. Students had high expectations for the festival but were disappointed. “I was let down by sudden cancelations, delayed programs, and decadent bar management. Other events at the school did not go well and students’ participation was low,” said a Kookminian.

Students are the engine driving KMU to advance. If they try to do something for school, it will advance more through their endeavor. Though some students and professors improved the school reputation from receiving awards, it is not enough. Think about what you did for your school this year. Your education could serve a double purpose: you can enlighten yourself but at the same time you can contribute to your university.

THE KOOKMIN REVIEW No.214