The 'Digitact! The Future of Animation ·Game·VFX Innovation Education-Industry-Academic Education using IFS (In school Field System) Conference’ was held on September 16 at the Sohyang Art Hall of the New Millennium Hall at DSU.

This event, with the aim of the continued globalization of DSU’s industry-academia education, was jointly co-hosted by the DSU College of Software Convergence, the Department of Film and Animation, and the Games Department.

Divided into (primarily) a conference section in the morning and an art presentation section in the afternoon, it was an international event held remotely in real-time, with DSU’s advanced technology required for online events being mobilized.

The keynote speech was given by Professor Steve Brown, who has been a professor for 20 years in the field of character animation at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), the world's best university in the field.

Founded by Walt Disney, a veritable mythical figure in the history of American animation, it has produced numerous animation-related educators and professionals active in domestic and international academia and industries.

Examples of such figures include Brad Bird, the director of the world-famous animations The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and The Incredibles 2; and John Lasseter, both the founder of world-renowned animation production company Pixar and behind such animations as Toy Story, Moana, and Frozen.

Meeting Professor Brown, the man responsible, was therefore a much look-forwarded opportunity for attendees to learn what innovations have been occurring in the field of animation education.

Other much-welcomed attendees were Jenny Ryu, Managing Director of NCsoft, a global game company, who gave a lecture on the game development and production process in North America, giving DSU students pursuing various game majors the opportunity to learn about the industry's latest trends in practical game production; and Professor Sofronis Efstathiou of Bournemouth University in the UK, who gave a lecture on the future of UK animation, VFX, and game education.

Other features of the conference included: the announcement of future animation and VFX content works to be derived through future innovation education; the holding and judging of game contests; and the release of a total of four animations and VFX videos.

Overall, the conference provided a much sought-after opportunity to show the possibilities of video creation through advanced technology.

A Summary of President Jang's Greetings Today, I am very pleased to welcome you all to the 'Digitact! The Future of Animation·Game·VFX Innovation Education-Industry Academic Education using IFS (In school Field System) Conference’ jointly co-hosted by the DSU College of Software Convergence, the Department of Film and Animation, and the Games Department.

Untect-based innovative educational models presented through today's event are the first to be provided in the field of digital contents, and I am confident that they will become a new educational model for industry-academia cooperation that shows that a full-scale, globalized education is possible even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As everyone knows, since the start of the outbreak, online classes have been continuing at each university, and the absence of on-site training can be difficult.

Nevertheless, in order to overcome this crisis, the Department of Film and Animation and the Games Department at DSU are leading innovative education by providing a very unique campus space called the ‘In School Field System.’

In particular, our students have already completed various types of educational programs for seven weeks through a program called 'Super Week 7' which started in mid-July.

This afternoon, I am very excited that a selection of the many excellent works that you have so diligently made through it will be screened here.

I am also especially delighted to invite renowned domestic and foreign experts from such giants as CalArts, a renowned college in the field of video animation, and NCsoft, one of world’s biggest companies in the global game market, to create an ecosystem of future content and innovative future plans.

I look forward to the productive discussions to be held throughout this event as we raise the issues related to how innovation education can be introduced and applied to tertiary institutions.

The Division of Digital Contents is a representative, highly specialized division of our university. It has the highest national competitiveness rate among undergraduates, as accredited by outside sources.

This year, the Division outlined its specialization 2.0 plans, declaring internally and externally that it will continue to strive to provide a very high level of specialization and world-class education.

Our university as a whole likewise promises to continue to provide support for the Division of Digital Contents.

Once again, congratulations to all involved on the holding of today's event, and thank you to the professors, faculty, and students who have so graciously joined us.