At the 2020 Summer Faculty and Staff Training Seminar held on August 19, DSU President Jekuk Chang said that he would go ahead with 12 specific plans for implementing DSU’s innovations into reality, transforming the university to the extent that, ultimately, “there would no university quite like it in Korea.”

President Chang further emphasized, “In the post COVID-19 era, DSU will spearhead this drive through the innovation of our education system, our educational contents, and of our globalized education.”

Held online through Zoom to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the first implementation plan to be mentioned at the training seminar was the introduction of ‘Blending Learning’ starting from the second semester. This concept, which combines online and offline learning, is based on the realization that innovative learning transcends time and space.

In addition, President Chang said that DSU would: build an online and offline learning space where classes, experiments, and practice would be possible at any time and place; develop tangible online lecture contents using AR/VR technology; implement virtual reality classes; and provide AI, maker, and design education for all students.

Suggestions for ways to dramatically increase students’ global competencies were also given, such as the provision of an intact experience education that connects to overseas sites, and inviting prestigious world-class scholars to utilize their renowned skills, knowledge, and lecture contents.

In particular, a global field experience project will be implemented through the Capstone Design program in 10 overseas cities, including Los Angeles and San Antonio in the US, Shanghai and Wuhan in China, Tokyo and Fukuoka in Japan, Oulu in Finland, Vilnius in Lithuania, Hanoi in Vietnam, and Surabaya in Indonesia.

Next, President Chang outlined some of the many achievements made during the last semester by those attending the training seminar, and mentioned that the amount of government support received for the various projects exceeded 20 billion won.

These achievements included: being selected as an accredited university for internationalization of education; the establishment of six K-Move overseas employment training programs; receiving an ‘A’ ranking for two consecutive years in performance evaluation of the IPP-type work-learning joint training center; the launch of the 2020 start-up package support project; the establishment and operation of the 2020 Make Space Business Admin and Support Organization; the establishment and operation of a laboratory-targeting startup leading university business support organization; the receiving of an excellent evaluation in the third year of operation the LINC+ program; the Broadcasting and Media Studies Department receiving the ‘2019 Industry Perspective University Highest Evaluation in Media Field’; the production of winning entries in the world’s top-three advertising festivals, including the New York Festivals Advertising Awards; the production of six winning entries at Red Dot Design Award; and the College of Design being selected for the fourth stage of BK21 ‘Service Design-Based Social Innovation Education Research Team’ project.

Following that, President Chang said “I will lead the innovation of DSU, and encourage all members of our university to join forces to make another leap forward during this pandemic to continue to provide the best education to students.”

He then presented awards for outstanding online lectures in the first semester of 2020 to Professors Jae Jeom-suk, Jeong Ji-wook, Jo Sang-hyeon, Kim She-hyeon, Im Hyo-taek, Jo Eun-jeong, Gang Sae-won, and Lee Hyo-gyeong.

Finally, a retirement ceremony was held for Professor Shin Cheol of the Department of Tourism, Professor Lee Won-beom of the Department of Japanese Language, Professor Kim Won-gi of the Division of Leisure and Sports Science, Professor Park Hae-ran of the Division of Business Administration, and Professor Lee Yong-gwan of the Im Kwon Taek College of Film & Performing Arts.

Hello, and let me extend my warm greetings to everybody. I believe this time is a meaningful and unique beginning that will be our first step to face a new, changing world.

We call difficulties a crisis. But a crisis can be both a challenge and an opportunity.

As you struggle to get out of your difficulties and survive, miracles can also happen in crisis.

It is my belief that the crisis we are facing right now is, in a way, a gift from God to us.

I believe that God has given us a rare time and opportunity to contemplate what our lives were like previously and to start something new.

In this era of constant technological innovation, more and more effort is required from us all. We must put away familiar, old thoughts and habits and instill new dreams and hopes in our students.

I think this is our mission, to be calm in these difficult times.

Like the forsythia flower with strong vitality that blooms first in bad conditions before the ice melts, we hope that DSU will be a university alive with spirit and vitality.

We have always energized and encouraged each other in the midst of the conflicts and crises of the outside world.

It is the tradition and strength of our university to not forget the hard work of the Dongseo families who sacrifice and serve, and to strive to unite even more when times are difficult.

We must value this tradition and use it as a guide to face a changing world.

I am sure that your hard work will open a brighter tomorrow for DSU.