"We will create an 'AI Native Campus' that fundamentally transforms education, research, and administration centered around artificial intelligence (AI)."
Bae Chung-sik was inaugurated as the 18th president of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on the 10th at the university's main auditorium in Daejeon. Having begun his term on July 1, Bae outlined his vision in his inaugural address, presenting 'continuity and innovation' as the core philosophy for university operations and detailing plans to innovate education, research, and administration through AI.
Bae aims to elevate KAIST to a 'globally leading university with strong fundamentals' by its 60th anniversary in 2031. To achieve this, he will implement five key development strategies: Beyond AI, Beyond Laboratory, Beyond Barriers, Beyond Carbon, and Beyond KAIST.
The first step will be to overhaul education to align with the AI era. Bae defined AI as a general technology and tool of civilization, emphasizing the need to cultivate talent with both foundational knowledge and AI capabilities.
He plans to assign AI utilization levels to all courses, categorizing the curriculum into three stages: basic education without AI, AI-led education, and courses that involve designing AI. Existing curricula will be organically redesigned, and teaching methods will be adapted to incorporate AI in instruction, learning, and assessment.
Bae stated, "The beginning of AX educational innovation is not just the transmission of knowledge but the design of learning that utilizes AI. We must create an environment where every professor's expertise can be combined with AI."
Research in physical AI will also be strengthened. Bae intends to expand research applying AI principles to industries such as robotics, autonomous driving, and manufacturing, thereby enhancing industrial competitiveness and added value. Research in future strategic technologies, including quantum and climate-energy, will also be expanded.
In the research sector, he plans to establish an 'AI Autonomous Lab' to support long-term basic science research while expanding large-scale research planning and deep-tech-focused national strategic technology research. He aims to increase partnerships with industry, including attracting satellite research labs and collaborative research centers, such as those with NVIDIA. An AI Autonomous Lab will also be established to integrate AI into joint research and development processes with companies.
Entrepreneurship education will be expanded as well. Specialized entrepreneurship training will be introduced for new students, and a model focused on education and practical training involving alumni and industry experts will be developed. The goal is to enhance KAIST's existing entrepreneurship education system to become a leading global institution in entrepreneurship.
In administration, a digital one-stop system utilizing AI will be established to streamline administrative procedures, enhancing the focus of students and faculty on education and research. Employees leading AI innovations will receive special incentives, and barriers between departments and disciplines will be lowered to promote interdisciplinary research and education.
Bae also aims to strengthen global competitiveness by expanding participation in dual degree programs for outstanding international students and involving overseas scholars in thesis evaluations. He plans to form a global advisory board and promote international joint research and the attraction of global deep-tech companies.
Bae concluded, "While maintaining continuity with our vision of being a leading university in global value creation and upholding the core values of creativity, challenge, and consideration, we will innovate towards the new goal of being a 'globally leading university with strong fundamentals.'"
He added, "We have many dreams, and by 2031, our 60th anniversary, we will realize these dreams. I will serve as a supportive leader who listens widely and acts decisively."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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