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Providing medical aid and sharing warmth in Cambodia

2021.10.13

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Dankook University spread warmth by delivering medical supplies to Cambodia, which suffers from a poor healthcare environment. With support from Korean pharmaceutical companies and DKU’s Youth Volunteer Group, consisting of ten students from the College of Medicine and Nursing and Professor Kyong-jin Cho (College of Medicine), the Cheonan volunteer corps delivered medical supplies and masks to the Cambodian relief group ‘Cambodia Battambang CSCP (Cooperation for saving of Cambodian People).’ Nutritional supplements, tear substitutes, eye drops, and two thousand masks were sent to Cambodia by ship together with a list of the medical supplies and a user manual prepared by the Youth Volunteer Group. The medical supplies were provided by 4 Korean pharmaceutical companies and are scheduled to arrive in Cambodia sometime in September. The supplies will be used by the relief group in treating local patients. The volunteer corps held video conferences with the local relief group to identify their needs and to understand the local situation beforehand in order to prepare appropriate medical supplies. Supplies remaining after the shipment will be sent to domestic institutions in need after discussions with the Cheonan Volunteer Center. “COVID-19 has made it difficult to engage in volunteer work in person, but it has also created more places that need our help,” said Yeong-chan Song (second year medical student), who took part in the volunteer program. “[We] sent a carefully prepared manual to make it easy to use the supplies, so I hope the supplies can be put to good use for local patients.” While social work cannot be conducted in the same way as before the pandemic, DKU is innovatively running various ‘untact’ volunteer programs instead of face-to-face overseas volunteer programs. These programs support activities for the underprivileged, provide assistance in rural areas, and improve upon previous efforts in regional environments. Although not in person, overseas volunteer efforts have continued in the form of providing education supplies and user manuals, which were made ready and sent to elementary schools in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia last year. Domestic, on-site volunteer work such as making kimchi and rice donations for those in need are also underway.

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Dankook women’s volleyball team becomes 2-time defending champions of the KUSF Women’s Volleyball U-League

2021.07.20

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Dankook University’s women’s volleyball team (coach Sang-ok Jeong) won the ‘2021 KUSF (Korea University Sport Federation) U-League competition.’ Dankook became the winning team for two consecutive years after taking the first winning trophy home at last year’s inaugural games. The KUSF U-League women’s volleyball competition was hosted by KUSF and held by the Korea University Volleyball Federation (KUVF) with home and away rounds between Dankook University, Mokpo Science University, Woosuk University, and Honam University. Prior to the final match at Dankook University’s sports stadium on June 5th, Dankook had already secured the winning position with a track record of 4 wins and 1 loss. Dankook’s team was under the weather and lost the last game to Woosuk University due to player injuries but still brought home victory with a final record of 4 wins and 2 losses and a winning score of 13 points. The runner up was Mokpo Science University with 4 wins, 2 losses, and a winning score of 12 points, followed by third place Woosuk University with 4 wins, 2 losses, and a winning score of 11 points. The award ceremony will be held in mid-September when the men’s university league ends. Dankook was in a tough position as the team’s starters suffered from injuries before the tournament began but performed well thanks to strong teamwork. Libero Jeong-won Shin (senior, Department of Recreation and Leisure Sports) led the team’s flawless defense while team captain and center position Sohyeon Lee (senior, Department of Recreation and Leisure Sports) joined Juyoung Cheon (freshman, Department of Recreation and Leisure Sports) in carrying out the offense strategy. With Danyoung Kim (junior, Department of Recreation and Leisure Sports) on the right, Jiwoo Choi (sophomore, Department of Recreation and Leisure Sports) on the left, and Sowon Shin (junior, Department of Recreation and Leisure Sports) in the middle, the players built what is known as one of the most powerful triangle formations in women’s college volleyball to score points through various combinations of play and showed off what it takes to be the defending champions. “I want to thank our players who always do their best, as well as the professors of the College of Sports Science who spare no effort in supporting the team,” said coach Jeong who led the team to its second consecutive victory, and added that “[we] will build on this win and work hard to create an even stronger team.” Meanwhile, the Dankook women’s volleyball team was also given outstanding team and player awards by the Korean Volleyball Association for the 2020 season. DKU was named “Outstanding Team” for winning multiple winner’s cups last year while coach Sang-ok Jeong was named “Outstanding Leader.” In addition, Danyoung Kim, who was ranked among the top 5 players in offense, blocking, receiving, and serves, took home the “Outstanding Player” award. The Dankook women’s volleyball team is in training to prepare for the Korean University Volleyball Goseong Tournament which opens on July 28th in Goseong, South Gyeongsang province.

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Netflix sitcom ‘So Not Worth It’ filmed on Jukjeon campus meets global audience

2021.07.20

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A new charming sitcom centered on the lives of multinational college students filmed on Dankook University’s Jukjeon campus has been unveiled to the world. The Netflix original series So Not Worth It, which was filmed on the Jukjeon campus last year, was released to viewers on June 18th. So Not Worth It is a sitcom series that highlights the love, friendship, and ‘sweet and sour’ college life of students living in an international dorm with a star-struck cast including actors Sewan Park and Hyun-seung Shin, K-Pop star Young-jae (GOT7), and model Hyun-min Han. The sitcom also attracted attention as famous names that once stirred up the sitcom syndrome in Korea took part in its production. Ik-joon Kwon (creator and producer), known for producing the famous Three Guys and Three Girls and Nonstop series, Jung-shik Kim (episode producer), who produced High Kick!, and Ji-hyun Baek, who was a writer for Soonpoong Clinic, New Nonstop, and Rude Miss Young-ae, joined the production crew. The poster shows Dankook’s Administration Building - Beomjeong Hall - in the background while the trailer shows various sites from the Jukjeon campus including the channel on the campus stairs, Peace Square, and the new student dormitory – Jinri-gwan. It will be fun for the DKU community to watch the sitcom, spotting familiar places from the campus. We also look forward to the program serving as an opportunity to introduce Dankook’s beautiful campus and facilities to viewers from around the world.

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DKU selected as host university for biohealth in ‘Innovation Sharing University for New Digital Technology Talent Training’ program

2021.06.22

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Dankook University has been selected as a host institution for the Ministry of Education’s ‘Innovation Sharing University for New Digital Technology Talent Training’ (hereinafter Innovation Sharing University) program. Along with Daejeon University, Dongeui University, Sangmyung University, Woosong University, Wonkwang Health Science University, and Hongik University, DKU will build a digital-based biohealth innovation sharing consortium, which will develop and deliver a converged curriculum to nurture key talent in the field of biohealth sciences - an emerging technology sector in the fourth industrial revolution era. As part of the program, Dankook will build and host a sharing platform to foster tomorrow’s biohealth talent, receiving over KRW 10 billion in government subsidies each year until 2026. Ninety faculty members and 101 departments from the 7 universities in the consortium will participate in the program. The aim of the program is to guide innovation in curriculums, open doors to new learning environments and education opportunities, leverage industry, academic, and research cooperation and align this with the local community to nurture talent tailored to the future bio-healthcare sector. Through curriculums combining future medicine, digital engineering, Big Data, and artificial intelligence, the program will shape so-called ‘S-type talent’ who embody the traits to communicate effectively (SUPER), be digitally competent (SMART), empathize with others (SOFT), self-examine (STRATEGIC), and exercise creative problem solving (STAR). To this end, curriculums converging the fields of engineering, healthcare, humanities, and social sciences will be developed to create three education programs: Design Healthcare, Device Healthcare, and Data Healthcare. For a flexible learning schedule, students can customize semesters and design their own academic calendars to choose when they wish to start courses. Additionally, YouTube videos, TED Talks, a youth startup academy, a teaching and learning feedback program, and refresher training will be developed and offered to students, frontline workers in the field, and the general public, regardless of their major. Dankook strove to be selected for the Innovation Sharing University program, signing an MOU with the six participating universities last April and also conducting a demand survey. Surveys and field studies were conducted with current students and faculty members of each university as well as relevant members of the corporate world to design the curriculum. Also, a close cooperative system was formed by building an inter-university council for the program. In particular, a working-level team was set up at DKU led by Dean Jangmook Kim of the College of Health and Welfare and professor Jong-tae Park (College of Dentistry) to focus efforts in preparing the program’s overall plan and report. “Not only will this program contribute to nurturing talent for the field of biohealth, one of the key industries of the future, but it will also serve as a catalyst in promoting the industry by addressing issues in the community and resolving healthcare disparities through cooperation between universities and local communities,” said Dankook University President Soo-bok Kim.

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Introducing Korea’s first personalized student support AI assistant, ‘Dan.i’

2021.06.22

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The DKU Innovation Institute for Future Education, directed by Sunghan Lim, introduced Korea’s first artificial intelligence-based education and research support system, ‘Dan.i.’ The service was launched after five years of applying AI technology to Dankook University’s education and research management since June 2017. Dan.i analyzes student inquiries by topic and provides corresponding answers about academic programs, co-curricular programs, recruitment information, research paper information, and extracurricular activities using artificial intelligence. For faculty members, it provides information on various areas including student guidance, research trends, and academic administration. In short, AI takes the place of education- and research-related services that were previously offered by the university’s administrative staff. To this end, the Innovation Institute for Future Education’s EduAI Center focused on collecting and analyzing the largest relevant data sets in Korea. Data analyzed include course registration histories (80 thousand people), employment status of graduates (50 thousand people), on/off-campus recruiting opportunities (10 thousand cases), course syllabi (100 thousand cases), and internal/external co-curricular activities (4 thousand cases). In addition, there are approximately 1.2 million datasets in Dan.i’s topic dictionary. Compared to simple chatbot (conversational interface) services offered by other Korean universities that are limited to simple inquiries on academic operations or convenience facilities, Dan.i offers comprehensive help on the largest range of services in Korea. With Dan.i chatbot services, users can ask about academic information - wherever, whenever. Dan.i analyzes the topic selected by students and gives customized recommendations on academic programs, co-curricular programs, recruiting information, research papers, and extracurricular activities. It also analyzes the course registration history and external activities of graduates who have succeeded in employment to share their knowhow. Other functions include virtual academic lounges, created automatically based on analysis of academic departments, and voice recognition Q&A features offered in connection with AI speakers and IPTVs (internet protocol televisions). Searching learning information is also supported by leveraging APIs (application programming interfaces), such as Exobrain or other glossaries.

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20 alumni pass the 2021 Certified Tax Accountant exam, placing Dankook 6th among Korean universities with the most successful applicants

2021.04.14

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DKU ranks 8th among Korean universities with the most successful applicants, having a total of 194 alumni pass the Certified Tax Accountant exam since 2009 Danhyeonjae, the prep class for certified business and economics exams, bears remarkable fruit thanks to its systematic approach Dankook University recorded the 6th most successful applicants among Korean universities in the 57th Certified Tax Accountant exam with 20 DKU alumni coming in above the final cut score. According to the list announced by the Human Resources Development Services of Korea on March 26th, Dankook University had 20 alumni pass the 2021 Certified Tax Accountant Exam along with Yonsei University, Seongkyunkwan University, and Konkuk University. Following 17 successful applicants last year (9th most among Korean universities), Dankook continued to show a competitive position in the tax accountant exam with the 6th most alumni passing the threshold in this year’s exam. In addition, Dankook was ranked 8th among Korean universities in terms of the most successful applicants from 2009 to 2020, recording a total 194 successful alumni according to the Human Resources Development Services of Korea. In addition, Dankook’s performance in business and economic exams has been impressive with 9 students passing the 2020 Certified Accountant exam and 24 passing the first round of the 56th Certified Public Accountant exam in 2021. This track record has placed Danhyeonjae, Dankook’s prep class for certified business and economics exams, in the spotlight. Dankook University currently offers such prep classes for students studying for Certified Public Accountant, Certified Tax Accountant, and AICPA (American Institute of CPA) exams. Students are selected for the classes at the beginning of each year through a series of tests and interviews and are supported with systematic management and an ideal atmosphere for studying as they prepare for exams. Various benefits are also offered, such as tuition discounts and scholarships for students who perform well in monthly mock exams. “Dankook students are making great achievements in various exams thanks to strong support and mentoring from the university combined with assistance from alumni currently serving as accountants and tax accountants,” says professor Sungjin Son (accounting professor at the Department of Business Administration) who supervises the Danhyeonjae prep class. Professor Son also added that “[we] look forward to students aspiring to become future public accountants and tax accountants to come and take the challenge.”

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81 Dankook alumni pass the teacher certification exam…recording ‘top scores in Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Chungbuk!’

2021.04.14

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Three DKU alumni recorded the highest score in the teacher certification exam; Byeong-jin Yoo (Dept. of Science Education) in Gyeonggi Province, Surin Kim (Dept. of Special Education) in Incheon, and Yunjeong Chang (Major in Art Education at the Graduate School of Education) in Chungbuk Eighty-one Dankook alumni successfully passed the 2021 teacher certification exam for elementary and secondary school teachers. There were also some remarkable accomplishments with alumni Byeong-jin Yoo of the Department of Science Education, Surin Kim of the Department of Special Education, and Yunjeong Chang of the Graduate School of Education registering the highest scores in Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, and Chungbuk, each respectively. The number of successful applicants by academic department for this year’s exam is △Dept. of Special Education (31) △Dept. of Mathematics Education (9) △Dept. of Science Education (8) △Dept. of Physical Education (7) △Dept. of Sino-Korean Education (5) △Dept. of Food Science & Nutrition (4) △Dept. of Counseling Psychology at the Graduate School of Education (3) △Dept. of Nursing (2) △Dept. of Physics (2) △Dept. of Art Education at the Graduate School of Education (2) △Dept. of Nutrition Education at the Graduate School of Education (2) △Dept. of Korean Language Education at the Graduate School of Education (1) △Dept. of Secondary Special Education at the Graduate School for Special Education (1) △Dept. of Special Early Childhood Education at the Graduate School for Special Education (1) △Dept. of History (1) △Dept. of Software Science (1) △Dept. of Chemistry (1). “Dedicated guidance extended by our professors along with students’ strong passion are what made such accomplishments possible,” said Byeong-jin Yoo (Dept. of Science Education, Class of 2021), who passed the exam with the highest score in Gyeonggi Province. He added that “[I] believe being attentive during classes paid off and was the foundation for successfully passing the exam.” By region, the number of successful applicants is △Seoul (13) △Gyeonggi (52) △Incheon (3) △Chungbuk (1) △Chungnam (6) △Gyeongbuk (1) △Gyeongnam (2) △Jeonbuk (1) △Jeonnam (1) △Jeju (1). Seventy-eight passed the exam for national and public schools while one student passed the exam for a private school. A total 371 Dankook alumni passed the teacher certification exam during the past 5 years with 72 passing in 2017, 80 in 2018, 59 in 2019, 79 in 2020, and 81 in 2021. This is the outcome of hard work by professors and students alike, as well as the university’s devotion to cultivate teachers with good character and capabilities shown in its various scholarship benefits, systematic education programs, and special lectures on demo lessons to prepare candidates for the certification exam.

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‘History at a glance’, DKU History Museum introduces ‘Online VR Exhibition’

2021.03.18

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Experience the university’s history through the DKU History Museum’s ‘VR Untact Exhibition’ Displaying over 46,000 pieces of the university’s history from university founder Beomjeong Chang Hyong’s office to the Dankook Capsule of Hope The DKU History Museum opened an ‘Online VR (Virtual Reality) Exhibition’ where you can see the university’s history of the past 74 years at a distance. The Dankook History and Culture Center’s DKU History Museum (Director Gyeong-sik Park) planned the online VR exhibition for all Dankookites, including new students, to experience the essence of the university’s history and feel proud to be a part of global Dankook. The online VR exhibition is especially popular among freshmen who have been unable to tour the campus due to COVID-19 restrictions as it gives them a closer look at the university’s history. [▶Go to the exhibition: https://vr2.dreamvrad.net/dku_museum] The DKU History Museum’s Online VR Exhibition is made up of a 15-minute educational video, not only for new students but also for all members of the Dankook family, based on a total 46,000 historical items (▲20,000 documents, ▲over 1,000 artifacts, and ▲25,000 visual sources). The VR exhibition attracts attention as it captures the history and spirit of the university and delivers it to new students through the Youngwoong semester’s [DK Roadmap] program. The online VR exhibition is composed of 56 sections under 15 chapters - ▲Bird’s Eye View of Campus ▲Dankook History Museum ▲Prelude to a Nationalist Private University ▲Dankook’s Symbols ▲Our Founders ▲From Founding to Becoming a Comprehensive University ▲Evolution of the Campuses ▲Journey of Challenge and Creativity ▲Dedication and Voice of Dankook ▲Archives ▲Dankook Sports ▲Truth and Service ▲1 University, 2 Campuses ▲ Capsule of Hope and ▲ Dynamic Dankook. The online exhibition uses VR technology to give an immersive and exciting experience of the DKU History Museum’s exhibition halls. They include: ▲Exhibition Hall 1 - Focused on the university’s history, including the founding statement, founder’s educational philosophy, and timelines. ▲Exhibition Hall 2 - Portraits of former university presidents and chairmen of the Board of Trustees, miniature models of the Seoul (Hannam-dong), Jukjeon, and Cheonan campuses, 3-wall projection mapping. ▲Exhibition Hall 3 - Under the theme ‘The Voice of Dankook,’ Dankook’s activities that took place around the world ranging from the democratic movement and university relief efforts in fields such as sports, medicine, and volunteer services based on the spirit of challenge and creativity and the guiding principles of truth and service.

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News of success continues as DKU students are admitted to law schools and pass the customs broker license exam

2021.03.18

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Dankook University students are in the spotlight for successfully passing the 2021 Law School Admissions exam (13 students) and Licensed Customs Brokers exam (4 students). 13 students accepted by law schools…systematic support extended to students by DKU’s ‘law school prep course’ proves effective Recent news that 13 DKU students and alumni were accepted by law schools proves Dankook’s excellent ‘law school prep course’ is a source of strong support for our students. It is recognition of the value of the systematic programs provided by the College of Law to students beginning from when they enter Dankook up to graduation. The academic system, which requires students majoring in law to exert all efforts on studies to graduate, and the close mentoring between professors and students contributed to the largest number of successful candidates this year. Currently, approximately 80 students are enrolled in the College of Law’s ‘law school prep course.’ The sophomore and junior students are studying hard to manage their grades and sharpen their foreign language skills and are focused on reading and engaging in discussions to prepare for the LEET (Legal Education Eligibility Test). In addition, study groups and mock interviews with professors are being held to prepare for admission interviews. “It is unfortunate that there is little participation in the law school prep course by non-majors (those majoring in departments other than law) compared to other universities,” says Professor Cheoljoon Chang (Department of Law) who went on to add that “[we] look forward to more non-law majors to also join the prep course to illustrate the value in the many opportunities available through its strong program and consulting.” The 13 students accepted to law schools are △Byeong-hyeon Song (Dept. of Law, Senior) △Yong Kwon (Dept. of Law, class of 2019) △Gyeong-rok Kim (Dept. of Law, Senior) △Beom-seok Kim (Dept. of Law, class of 2017) △Dong-in Cheong (Dept. of Law, Senior) △Yong-hoo Choi (Dept. of Law, Senior) △Byeong-cheol Ahn (Dept. of Law, Senior) △Seong-hyeon Yu (Dept. of Law, class of 2019) △Ji-hye Cheong (Dept. of Law, class of 2017) △Yeon-heui Cho (Dept. of Law, class of 2018) △Woo-yeong Cho (Dept. of Law, Senior) △Tae-won Kim (Communications Division, Senior), and △Da-yeong Lee (Business Administration, class of 2016). Four alumni from the College of Business & Economics among the less than 20% of people to pass the customs broker exam Four Dankook alumni were among the list of names announced by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea last December who successfully passed the licensing exam for customs brokers. The success rate this year was 19.86% with only 149 of the 750 candidates passing the final cut score. The four Dankook alumni are △Min-jeong Kim (Business Administration, class of 2020) △Seol-bin Yang (Business Administration, class of 2011) △Sebin Oh (Dept. of International Trade, class of 2015), and △Jun-hee Kang (Dept. of International Trade, class of 2016).

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Change of Command Ceremony for the Chairman of the Dankook Foundation

2021.01.09

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Outgoing 26th Chairman Choong-sik Chang and incoming 27th Chairman Hosung Chang “Faith and service are the pillars of my life,” says outgoing Chairman JoongJae Choong-sik Chang, while incoming Chairman Hosung Chang states “only truth and service will be the roads I follow.” On December 28th, the change of command ceremony was held at the Nanpa Concert Hall at Dankook University’s Jukjeon campus for the 26th and 27th Chairmans of the Dankook University Foundation. The event was kept simple and held in compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols. Guests included former Chairman of the Dankook Foundation, Choong-sik Chang, along with its new Chairman, Hosung Chang, DKU President Soo-bok Kim, Director Yoo-cheol Park and other board officials, as well as President Sang-bae Lee of the Dankook Alumni Association. The ceremony started with participants reminiscing about the past 60 years of Chairman Choong-sik Chang’s dedication and leadership that shaped Dankook. “Sacrifice·Dedication·Philanthropy … Dankook trusted Choong-sik Chang even throughout crises” "Education eventually comes down to loving other people and defending their dignity,” said former Dankook Foundation Chairman Choong-sik Chang as he looked back on his 60 years of love and devotion as a teacher. In his remarks, he shared how “[he] strived to save the university from crisis and difficulties when first being appointed as Head of Student Affairs at the young age of 30,” and added that “[he] was determined to make sure not a single student was sacrificed to political or judicial authorities and was dedicated to nurturing our students to support the nation.” “Founded following Korea’s liberation amid the agony of being ruled by surrounding powers and separation on the peninsula, our university has been at the forefront of democratic university operations, despite political pressure, thanks to a strong drive for education and strength of knowledge,” continued Choong-sik Chang who also asked “for the newly appointed Dankook Foundation Chairman Hosung Chang, DKU President Soo-bok Kim, professors and faculty members out in the education field, and our 230 thousand alumni and students to work together to seek new roads toward transforming the university in the name of tradition and innovation.” He also added that he would “like to spend the rest of [his] life focusing on a project to relive the spirit of Nelson Mandela, who was dedicated to practicing reconciliation and tolerance,” and asked for “young students on campus to learn and practice philanthropy for their lives to beautifully bloom, as well.” Incoming Chairman Hosung Chang to “place all efforts on securing stable resources for the Board to pursue future educational innovation” “Dankook University today is the result of 60 years of leadership by my predecessor Choong-sik Chang that displayed patience, modesty, sacrifice, and dedication,” said newly appointed Chairman Hosung Chang in his inauguration speech. He added, “I am aware of my calling and the responsibilities bestowed upon me and will take the road of truth and services along with DKU President Soo-bok Kim, professors and faculty members out in the education field, and the 230 thousand Dankook alumni and students.” The new chairman also promised to take the lead in making sure Dankook University can respond wisely to situations in the internal and external environment, such as by carrying out restructuring to address the decreasing school-age population as well as by preparing for the 4th industrial revolution and a post-COVID-19 era with educational innovation. In his remarks, he said that he will “do [his] utmost to increase profits from the various business sites and hospitals belonging to the foundation to support the basic education and research purposes of the university.” “I will do all that I can to preserve the tradition and values of Dankook that portray the spirit of our founders and will go further to realize the values to which my predecessor dedicated his entire life, which are humanism, love for the Korean people and hope for overcoming separation between South and North Korea.”

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Dankook takes Silver for ‘Most Creative Corporate Institution Video’ at the QS Creative Awards

2020.12.23

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Dankook University’s PR film (English version) won the silver award at the QS (Qaucquarelli Symonds) Creative Awards for the most creative corporate institution video. Quacquarelli Symonds is a UK-based institution that offers global rankings in various education-related fields. The QS Creative Awards are chosen each year at the QS-APPLE (QS-Asia Pacific Professional Leaders in Education) Forum held at major Asian universities. Awards are handed out in four categories — best print advertisement, best creative corporate institution video, best international student recruit brochure, and best international website — to promote the globalization of universities and effective communication between universities and students, as well as highlight the importance of building a strong university brand. Due to COVID-19, this year’s event was conducted online from November 25 to 27 on the QS website. After evaluating entries, based on four criteria of concept originality, strong narrative, impactful content, and quality of execution, the top 3 universities were named for the most creative corporate institution video. This year, Dankook was the only Korean university to be named among the finalists for the video category. Dankook University offers Korean, English, and Chinese translations for our PR films and university website in order to attract excellent foreign students and pursue globalization of the university, while building a strong brand. The film can be viewed on Dankook University’s official YouTube channel, ‘ddokdanbal.’ (똑단발)

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Dankook’s 73rd Anniversary Ceremony and Joint Memorial Service for DKU Founders

2020.11.20

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During the morning on Monday, November 2, 2020, a joint memorial service took place in the Convention Hall of the Dankook History Museum on the Jukjeon campus to commemorate 56 years since the passing of DKU founder Beomjeong Chang Hyong and 73 years since the passing of Hyedang Cho Huijae. The ceremony was held in compliance with COVID-19 social distancing guidelines and disinfecting procedures (e.g. taking temperatures and making sure all participants work masks). Over 100 people attended, including Chairman Choong-sik Chang of the Dankook University Foundation Board, DKU President Soo-bok Kim, university officials, and family members, in remembrance of Dankook’s founders and to relive the motto behind the founding of the university. “As the achievements of Mr. Beomjeong Chang Hyong and Mrs. Hyedang Cho Huijae offer great lessons to future generations and have virtuous influence, we ask for your blessings,” read Dr. Choong-sik Chang in his oration during the ceremony. After the memorial service, the 73rd anniversary ceremony for Dankook University was held at the Nanpa Music Hall. Due to the novel coronavirus, this year’s ceremony was held with less than 100 participants including only faculty members, special guests, and recipients of the Dankook University Anniversary Award. Participants looked back on the proud history of the university and shared their wishes for Dankook to march forward toward a brighter future. “Dankook University was born following Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule while Korea was caught between external powers and undergoing deep sorrow from division of the peninsula. However, the intelligence and strong willingness of our founders to educate are what drove Dankook to take the lead in running the school based on democratic principles,” said Dr. Choong-sik Chang. He also asked for “efforts from our professors, faculty members, 230,000 alumni, and students who are working hard to defend the frontline of education to unite in the name of tradition and innovation to support the university in leaping toward becoming a prestigious global educational institution.” DKU President Soo-bok Kim also made a speech expressing his “appreciation to all the members of the Dankook community who have been part of the university’s history with honor and glory for the past 73 years,” and also said that “[the university] will make further strives to build a student-centered advanced curriculum and smart education infrastructure to nurture talent to take the lead in the fourth industrial revolution and post-coronavirus world.” “[We] will do all that we can to prepare for an IT-based, student-oriented education system that includes implementing stronger infrastructure for remote learning, expanding open online platforms, and increasing online diploma programs as part of the university’s mid-to-long-term development plan, ‘Dynamic Dankook 2027,” added President Kim. “As Dankook celebrates its 73rd anniversary, I look forward to my alma mater building an innovative learning environment guided by its founding spirit of national salvation, self-reliance, and independence, which will enable it to take another leap toward becoming a prestigious institution in fostering creative talent fit for the fourth industrial revolution,” said Sang-bae Lee, president of the DKU Alumni Association. He went on to say that “I will also do my utmost to serve as a bridge between Dankook and our alumni to bring together the potential of the 230,000 Dankookites.” A dedication ceremony also took place with the university’s affiliate organizations and researchers. Professor Moon-sik Kim, head of the Institute of Oriental Studies, presented the largest volume of the ‘Idu Korean dictionary (1 volume)’ in Korea, and Director Hyeon-su Kim of the Toegye Central Library donated a copy of ’70 years of the Dankook University Library (2 volumes)’ that covers the history of the library. In addition, faculty members who have been with the university for 10, 20, or 30 continuous years were recognized at the anniversary ceremony along with professors and administrators who contributed to the advancement of the university.

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Unveiling ceremony held for the Dankook History Museum Donor Wall

2020.11.20

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Alongside Dankook’s Anniversary Ceremony on November 2nd, a ceremony was held in the lobby of the Dankook History Museum on the Jukjeon campus to unveil the Dankook History Museum Donor Wall. Names of all the donors were engraved on a nameplate and placed in the lobby for students to remember the noble cause for which so many people made donations to make the history museum a reality. More than one hundred guests attended the ceremony, including Chairman Choong-sik Chang of the Dankook University Foundation, DKU President Soo-bok Kim, Director Hosung Chang, President Sang-bae Lee of the DKU Alumni Association, DKU Former President Seung-kuk Kim, President Sun-uk Kim of the DKU Faculty Council, Chair Gwang-min Jin of the DKU Labor Union, and university faculty members. “The campaign to collect donations for building the Dankook History Museum started in 2016, ahead of the university’s 70th anniversary based on a consensus for the need to have such an institution,” said professor Seung-wan Roh, head of the Office of External Affairs. He noted that “construction was completed thanks to the valuable contributions from over 1,300 professors, staff, alumni, and students, including Chairman Choong-sik Chang, Director Hosung Chang, DKU President Soo-bok Kim, and President Sang-bae Lee of the DKU Alumni Association.” Professor Roh went on to express his gratitude by adding that “[we] prepared this unveiling ceremony so the next generation of students can remember the noble cause for which so many people extended their hearts and kind generosity.” The Dankook History Museum opened on November 1st of last year and offers a holistic view on the past 73 years of the university. Standing six stories tall (total floor area of 5,432㎡), the museum consists of a wide range of facilities, including the University History Museum, convention hall, MOU office, museum collection storage, administrative offices, meeting rooms, a café, and parking lot.

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“Smart Dankook” embarks on education innovation including implementation of a cloud-based learning management system

2020.09.02

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Dankook University is stepping up its efforts for ‘untact’ (no contact) education innovation and is setting up a cloud-based LMS. It has set out on a journey to implement a new education infrastructure for effective online learning that has been expedited due to COVID-19. Leading the ‘future-like’ untact education innovation for universities Building 30 recording classrooms for efficient online classes in the fall semester Learning lessons that solely offering face-to-face classes is no longer viable in university education, Dankook University is renewing our campus with digital-based automatic recording classrooms and Active Learning Classrooms (ALC). Automatic recording classrooms are equipped with video recording and editing facilities so professors can convert their lectures directly into online contents. Around 30 classrooms were built during the summer, with a second phase of expansion plans coming up. Active Learning Classrooms look like something you would find in a university from the future and have been in the Korean media spotlight as a leading step in pursuing educational innovation. The person behind this accomplishment is none other than Dr. Jung-chul Park of Dankook’s School of Dentistry who is well known as Korea’s first Google Innovator. Last January, Park attracted attention when he streamed a periodontal surgery live on YouTube for second-year medical school students to observe. Park, who has challenged the perception of conventional medical education based on apprenticeships, serves as an innovator in education, breaking down long-standing barriers in college education by designing creative learning environments. “The ALC classrooms have 80 Chromebooks installed with trapezoid shaped desks, fitting for teamwork assignments and offering a creative learning environment,” explains Park who added that “using a smartphone camera to show students actual surgical procedures is much more effective than learning how to stitch through textbooks or apprenticeships.” Dankook University is spearheading efforts to develop various forms of learning and to build a college model based on smart learning in order to nurture the next-generation talent needed by the fourth industrial revolution. 1.15 billion KRW invested in implementing cloud-based LMS…40TB cloud server put in place Dankook University offers over five thousand courses each year. Last year, less than 2% of these courses were held online. However, now efforts to expand online courses and build the necessary infrastructure are actively being carried out, not only to respond to COVID-19 but also to prepare for the post-pandemic era. Accordingly, DKU’s Innovation Institute for Future Education is in its final stages of implementing a ‘cloud-based learning management system (LMS),’ a project for which 1.15 billion KRW was assigned this year. While it was overwhelming to open even 100 online courses just 6 months ago, now we have put in place a system that can provide all DKU courses online. Twelve web servers and a 40-terabyte cloud server have been secured to set up the cloud system needed for LMS operations. Key features include: △services for various OS systems and multiple devices (mobile, tablet, etc.), △attendance system for online learning, △alignment with plagiarism prevention system, △compatibility with Google Classroom, △exclusive mobile app and alert features, △team project support, and △free discussions and real-time chats. The cloud-based LMS is scheduled to open on August 24th at http://nlms.dankook.ac.kr . Four levels of combined online and offline classes to be offered in the fall semester, “Be sure to check class formats for each course using the Schedule Assistant prior to registering” Dankook University announced its plans for the fall 2020 semester based on outlines that include both online and offline classes. Classes will be carried out in four levels: △ Online classes 1 (all online), △Online classes 2 (combination of prerecorded videos and real-time remote lectures), △Blended classes (biweekly rotation of online and offline classes), and △In-person classes (all offline). Course formats were determined based on lecture size and characteristics and were announced through the Schedule Assistant ahead of course registrations. This allows professors and students to prepare for the upcoming semester according to their course formats. Lab, practice, studio, and design courses with fewer than 40 students enrolled will be conducted face-to-face while practicing safety procedures thoroughly. However, when the government raises social distancing measures due to further spread of COVID-19, blended classes and in-person classes will also switch to online mode. Taking into account the unique circumstances triggered by COVID-19, midterms, finals, and other student evaluations will be conducted in phases depending on the severity and degree of prevention and control measures (social distancing levels 1~3). Tests will be carried out as follows: △Level 1 (both offline/online tests), △Level 2 (courses with more than 30 enrolled students - all online tests), and △Level 3 (all online tests). Other evaluations will be differentiated as △Level 1~2 (relative grading with increased A grade section) and △Level 3 (absolute grading). From mobile student ID cards to unlimited mail (Gmail) and Google Drive services, DKU goes digital Dankook’s IT Planning (IT4U) Center will start offering Google mail (Gmail) services including access to Google Classroom, unlimited email accounts, and Google Drive to all Dankook members starting August 18. This will give professors and students alike a flexible online learning environment for blending online and offline classes. This service is being provided as part of the Smart Campus program that kicked off earlier in April. The Smart Campus program aims at building a smart internet learning environment focused on students to foster talent needed for the fourth industrial revolution. Specific services include: △mobile student ID cards (NFC mobile student ID, QR Code-based mobile student ID), △library entry/exit control system (seat assignment system, book borrowing/return system, etc.), △dormitory entry/exit control system, △integrated security system for on-campus buildings, △electronic attendance system, △tuition payment system using virtual accounts, △Google mail services, and △mobile app renewal and system alignment. In addition, the center is also expanding areas with Wi-Fi connection to allow lectures to be accessed from anywhere on campus as long as you have a tablet PC or mobile device.

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[Interview] NEWSIS interview with DKU President Soo-bok Kim,

2020.09.02

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NEWSIS sat down with Dankook University President Soo-bok Kim for a 1-year anniversary interview, this time under the theme, “The Post-Corona Digital Renaissance”. The interview was part of NEWSIS coverage on Kim’s blueprint for a ‘digital renaissance in university education during the post-coronavirus era.’ It shed light on Kim’s proactive leadership based on communication and affection toward the university and his efforts to design a creative learning environment as universities stand at a crossroads of change triggered by the fourth industrial revolution. The following is the full article. [NEWSIS August 13, 2020 / Reporters Jun-gu Lee, Jong-taek Kim, Jeong-hun Shin] Last semester, Dankook University President Soo-bok Kim was given a task no one has had to handle before; moving over 5,000 of the university’s courses online due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. “The challenges faced by universities due to COVID-19 are about practicing preventive and safety measures in the face of this severely contagious disease, as well as protecting our students’ right to learn,” stressed Kim who shared plans to “build the perfect remote learning infrastructure that includes a 40-terabyte cloud server and e-learning systems.” Kim, a graduate of Dankook University’s Department of Korean Language and Literature, became the first DKU alumnus to be appointed university president in its 73-year history. As he reaches the end of his first year in office, Kim is determined to make Dankook a pioneer of the ‘Digital Renaissance’ as online classes, which started amid worries, have now become the norm in colleges and as the field of education moves toward online learning all around the post-corona world. "I believe moving quickly, instead of staying in one place, and being open - interacting with other tribes - are what made it possible for Genghis Khan to conquer the world. Now, colleges will also move beyond classroom walls toward a new way of online education where students can roam freely across fields of knowledge like digital nomads,” said Kim. He added that “[we] will develop ways to learn without being restricted by physical space and build various education programs which will be leveraged to promote credit exchange programs and joint projects with other universities abroad.” Dankook University’s Emergency Committee is already studying potential issues surrounding online classes such as reduced student concentration and fairness in evaluations. As demonstrated in such preemptive responses, DKU has proven to have a strong commitment to become the most competitive university in higher education in the post-pandemic world. Learning from the COVID-19 experience that ‘face-to-face’ teaching and learning is no longer effective in college education, Kim shared his vision to turn lectures given by professors directly into online contents by implementing digital-based active learning classrooms (ALC) and installing recording and editing facilities in 30 of the university’s multimedia classrooms in order to take the lead in the fourth industrial revolution. He also spoke of Dr. Jung-chul Park of the School of Dentistry who is widely known as the first Google Innovator in Korea. Kim explained how Dr. Park is tearing down the existing walls in college education and innovating in the field by taking advantage of technology to promote creative learning. A case in point would be a periodontal surgery performed by Dr. Park that was streamed live on YouTube. When asked about how college education is on the brink of a crisis, he talked about Dankook’s preparations to set up a smart and internet-based learning environment demanded by the current industrial revolution as the world enters fiercer competition. He mentioned practical training demanded by society, student-centered curriculum, and smart learning conditions as the three key innovations needed in Dankook’s strategy for survival and further growth. Kim foresaw the expansion of online learning early on when first being appointed as university president. Last October, he made a visit to Arizona State University (ASU) which has one of the most innovative college models in the U.S. It was a benchmark trip to see first-hand how ASU changed trends in U.S. higher education by introducing its innovative online learning model ‘EdPlus.’ Upon returning, the university’s heart and soul were put into developing DanAI, Dankook’s academic counseling chatbot, based on what was learned during the visit to offer advanced services such as acting as an advisor to students for everything from academics to employment. “[We] have set goals to create an IT-based, student-centric education system as part of the education innovation strategy implemented to prepare for the fourth industrial revolution and the post-pandemic era, focusing on the how and what aspects of classes,” said Kim. He also stressed that “instead of relying only on lecture videos and lesson plans, [the university] will actively adopt flipped learning where knowledge is recreated through group discussions and outcomes are cross evaluated among classmates.” Kim also spoke of a modular curriculum that is underway to allow students to build their own curriculums and study in line with their interests and career paths rather than being confined by academic borders set up when committing to a single major. Dankook University’s exclusive ‘Young-Woong free semester (Young熊 Story)’ will offer various student support services for career planning, studying majors, general counseling, and potential career opportunities as part of the flexible study program. For example, a student interested in self-driving vehicles can take a mechanics course from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a course on electrical equipment offered by the School of Electronics and Electrical Engineering to shape a personalized portfolio. Such endeavors led to Dankook’s achievement of being selected as a university leader for K-MOOC, the Korean massive open online course project. Dankook ranks fourth for developing the most online contents for K-MOOC among Korean universities and announced its plans to actively utilize it for general education of undergraduate students. In addition, Dankook was named a participant for the second phase of the Leaders in Industry-University Cooperation (LINC+) project, being funded as much as 13.5 billion KRW over a period of three years. DKU has already been acknowledged for its excellence in entrepreneurship education as it was named to represent universities in the Seoul metropolitan area as one of only two universities among the 55 LINC+ members nationwide to serve as a ‘Startup Training Hub Center,’ not to mention being selected as a leading startup university for six consecutive years. "As Dankook, a university founded by a Korean independence activist, commemorates its 73rd anniversary, I feel it is the mission of the current generation to spark a Digital Renaissance. Dankook was the first four-year private university to be established following Korea’s independence from Japanese colonial rule, so we feel a sense of responsibility to live up to our experience. When society calls, we will answer. And as part of our hard-working efforts to respond to society’s demands, we will aim to revive humanism by making education smart and digital. I will also do my part so Dankook University can create meaningful value in opening a new chapter for college education in the post-corona era highlighted as the ‘Digital Renaissance,” said Kim as he ended the interview. DKU President Soo-bok Kim entered Dankook University’s Department of Korean Language and Literature in 1974 and has been a poet since making his literary debut in 1975. He was appointed Professor of Korean Literature at DKU in 1985 and has served in posts such as the Provost, Dean of the College of Arts, and Vice President of DKU Cheonan Campus. He has written 15 books which include books of poetry and essays on poetry, a theory on cultural contents, as well as the first Korean critical biography of Yun Dong-ju.

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