Kyung Hee University President Kim Jin-sang: "The Contemporary Mission of Universities is to Communicate with the World"

First Press Conference Since February Inauguration
"Activation of Joint Research with Foreign Universities"
Focus on Talent Development and Financial Diversification

Kim Jin-sang, president of Kyung Hee University, who has been in office for three months, presented the vision of a "university communicating with the world."

On the morning of the 9th, President Kim held his first press conference since taking office at Kyung Hee University's Peace Hall and stated, "Since society is changing rapidly, we need to consider what the role of the university is," adding, "It is time to reexamine the university's mission in this era."

President Jin-Sang Kim of Kyung Hee University is answering questions at a press conference held at the Peace Hall on the 9th.
[Photo by Kyung Hee University]

President Kim particularly emphasized, "Universities, which have played the role of ivory towers, must move toward communicating with society, the nation, and further with the world." He added, "We have many foreign universities with which we have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), and we will strive to create more opportunities for communication and to lead the world by activating international joint research."

Regarding the role of a university president, Kim focused on ‘talent cultivation.’ He said, "The underlying philosophy of management is to leap forward as a university suited for the era of transition," and "We will produce world-class talents with excellent capabilities that match the speed of the times."

As a solution to the financial difficulties caused by the decline in the school-age population, he mentioned diversifying finances. President Kim explained, "Kyung Hee University has operated well with limited finances but has reached its limits," and added, "We will make efforts in various ways, such as attracting corporate investment to our excellent infrastructure, especially the R&D park space of about 100,000 pyeong at the International Campus."

President Jin-Sang Kim of Kyung Hee University is answering questions at a press conference held at the Peace Hall on the 9th.
[Photo by Kyung Hee University]

The ‘Undeclared Major System’ to be implemented from next year is also a concern for the university. This system allows students to enter without declaring a major in their first year and choose their major in their second year. Kyung Hee University has secured admission quotas of 165 students for the Seoul Campus and 241 students for the International Campus under this system.

President Kim said, "We are reviewing detailed matters so that students can fully engage in the process of exploring their majors," and "We are also considering extending the major exploration process in the mid to long term."

Regarding the marginalization of the humanities and social sciences departments, President Kim said, "They are essential education in any major," and pledged to protect related departments. He stated, "As an engineer, when thinking about what is new to create and propose, at the end of that thought process, the imagination of the humanities was always necessary," and added, "The humanities and social sciences are essential disciplines for convergent thinking."

President Kim is the first science and engineering graduate to become president of Kyung Hee University, beginning his four-year term on February 14. Born in 1962, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in electronic engineering from Kyung Hee University. After receiving his Ph.D. in digital circuit design from Colorado State University in 2000, he has served as a professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering at Kyung Hee University since 2001. He has been recognized for his academic capabilities by leading research in space system semiconductor design and has held major positions within the university, including director of admissions, director of student support, director of career support, dean of the graduate school, and director of the central library.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.