Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

  [SUNY Korea Graduates on Various Career Journeys #1- Sang Hoon Kwak]  Founded in 1944 in Manhattan, Fashion Institute of Technology is one of the first-rate fashion schools world-wide. Since 2017, SUNY Korea FIT has provided the exact same signature curricula of the world-class FIT programs, leading to the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. Featuring state-of-the art facilities, SUNY Korea FIT prepares students to become not only designers with their own creative vision, but professionals prepared to take their places in all sorts of industries.   Are you curious to find out what SUNY Korea FIT graduates are up to after graduation? Below is the story of Sang Hoon Kwak, a FBM graduate who is currently working as a fashion merchandiser for tren:be.    Could you briefly introduce yourself? Hello! My name is Sang Hoon Kwak. In 2017, I majored in FBM and graduated early in December 2020. Currently, I work as a Fashion Merchandiser for tren:be, a global online luxury platform company. What is your current job responsibility? Tell me about your career path after graduation. As an online merchandiser, I am responsible for selecting specific products or brands and conducting a special exhibition, planning and managing monthly events on the tren:be website. Most importantly these days, I’m taking part in one of the biggest parts of the company, the ‘Summer Sale’ event. In addition, I am responsible for everyday fashion trend analysis, even sometimes B2B sales and design planning. Maybe it will be easier to say merchandisers do all kinds of things related to the business. Unfortunately, I had to graduate in Korea due to COVID-19.  Unlike my friends, I always wanted to experience and work in Korea; therefore, this pandemic was my opportunity to prepare for certificates for a longer period than others in Korea before graduation. In particular, I used the time wisely to prepare things that are essential for Korean companies such as studying for MOS certificates and the OPIC test in advance. Turning the crisis into opportunity and moving faster than others seems to have helped me adapt to society and move forward even in the pandemic era. What is the most memorable experience/achievement you had as an undergraduate student at SUNY Korea FIT? The most memorable achievement that I had was the first SUNY Korea FIT fashion show with our fashion show club, called ‘+82 Threads’. In ‘+82 Threads’, I was a secretary who mostly supported the president of the club and inspired him sometimes. Since I used to DJ music, I had a chance to direct the entire music of the fashion show. It was such a special memory to all of the FIT students who participated, since we could plan the show by ourselves at the first SUNY Korea FIT fashion show. How do you think the SUNY Korea FIT program shaped you as the person you are right now? First of all, the SUNY Korea FIT program helps students to find their dreams as fashion experts and also develop practical knowledge and skills through detailed courses related to fashion, with great professors who are in the real fashion industry. However, more importantly, through the program you can learn "how to manage time by yourself." From the first year, I learned how to manage voluntary learning patterns and daily life efficiently through programs that require dorm life, and I received a lot of help when I studied in New York after two years. In addition, I think the SUNY Korea FIT program helped me a lot not only to study abroad but also to become an office worker who lives a planned and diligent life in the future. Do you have any tips for FIT students who are looking for job opportunities? I think many graduates and job seekers are having a harder time than anyone else due to COVID-19. However, as I have been through these times as well and overcame them, I could find the one conclusion that I can tell you today. Please be patient about getting a job. Your time will come eventually. If you are too impatient, nothing will be done and only anxiety will grow. I felt most desperately while preparing for employment that each person has the right "time." Maybe it's today for him, while it's tomorrow for the other guy, and finally next will be you. So if we work hard in everything we're given, the chance will come to you by itself. And you'll have to know how to catch it without hesitation. Sometimes when opportunities come, there are too many people who hesitate and miss them, but this is a really important opportunity in your life or maybe this could be your last chance of your life. Do not give up easily; if you give up by making excuses, then your reputation will also fall. Try your best at every moment. Lastly, I believe that having one of your unique ideas or a skill set is really helpful to appeal to the company or the employer. Therefore, if you have time before graduation, start now to prepare for certification or foreign languages and so on. That will change your career. I truly believe that the time you spend studying for yourself before graduation will not betray you in the future. I will always support you! Hope to see you one day in the fashion industry. Thank You. Stay safe!

  Cogitater Sigauke, a CS student at SUNY Korea who came from Zimbabwe recently accepted a full-time job offer from Google. After studying at SUNY Korea for 3 years, he is currently spending his final year at the New York campus of Stony Brook University, and preparing to graduate in May. Cogitater said, "[applying] to SUNY Korea was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life. If I were to go back again, I would make the same decision."    [SUNY Korea, as a stepping stone for his career] Why did you choose to attend SUNY Korea? When I was a high school student in Zimbabwe, I wanted to study abroad at an American University. One day at the Education USA Centre in Harare, I picked up a small SUNY Korea booklet and found out about this great American University in Korea. I liked the fact that I would get an American education while having a Korean experience. The fact that I would also spend a year studying in New York was a big motivation for me to apply. The other reason that motivated me to apply was the availability of scholarships. Then, I became a member of Education USA, which helped me in the application process. After making up my mind, I applied in Spring 2017 but didn't make it. I then reapplied for the fall semester of 2017 and by God’s grace I made it in. This was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life. If I were to go back again, I would make the same decision. What are some valuable achievements during university? The educational experience was the best. Obviously, it is tough, but in the right way. I was trained really well to become a software engineer in the real world. I was equipped with the knowledge to make it as an engineer. What is the most memorable experience at SUNY Korea? I will pick two for this one. First, I will never forget eating Korean food with chopsticks in the cafeteria. I became a chopstick master. The other one was the four-kilometer race, in which I came in fourth. The 4K race was organized by SUNY Korea to support the Seung-Il Hope Foundation by raising money to build the first Korean specialty hospital for ALS patients. It was a memorable experience.   [Cogitater’s journey to a career at Google]  I heard that you got a full-time job at Google and will be starting next fall. Congratulations! What was your motivation for applying to Google? Google is a leading technology company, and hence the dream workplace of every software engineer. As someone who’s starting a career in this field, I needed to work for a company that really opens doors for me. I believe that Google is that company. There are a lot of opportunities to grow and explore. You also get to work on big projects that have an impact on a lot of people. We can go on and on. How has SUNY Korea prepared you for a career at Google? That’s a difficult question because I didn’t even know anything before joining SUNY Korea. It would be difficult to say everything I learned in four years. So just to mention a few things, I really got help from a career class I took because that’s when I learned to write my first meaningful resume. I also got a lot of motivation from my professors who work in some top tech companies. One of them invited his friends who work for big companies to talk to us in class and help us prepare for the job search ahead. I really thank my professors who believed in me and always told me it was possible to get these types of jobs. Google has a reputation for asking difficult interview questions. How did you prepare for the job interview? I really don’t give myself the glory on this one. That was a difficult time indeed, but God was really on my side on this one. I was advised by my friends to use Leetcode to practice coding questions. I also had a Google recruiter helping me along the way, she gave me a lot of questions to practice. I would say the best thing is to talk to the recruiter, do as much Leetcode as you can, and pray that God will help you through. What will your job responsibility be at Google? I’ll be working in the Google Cloud. I’ll be a cloud technical resident for the first year, which means I will be rotated and trained in several roles and get a fixed role at the end of the first year. I plan to just work as a software engineer in Google Cloud from my second year.   [A glimpse of his future and a message for other students] Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself as a Software Engineering Manager in Google, a successful entrepreneur, a husband, and a dad. Do you have a message for SUNY Korea students? I just want to tell them to know that all things are possible. They can achieve anything they set their hearts on. But they have to start thinking about getting jobs early because it gives you time to prepare. I personally waited until my final year to start preparing and it was tough. I suggest people start preparing in their junior year.   Editor: Judy Lim (SUNY Korea ER / woohyun.lim@sunykorea.ac.kr)  

  The two brothers Norak Rin and Ratanak Rin came to SUNY Korea all the way from Cambodia for the opportunity of receiving American education in Korea.   Can you briefly introduce yourself? Norak: Hello, my name is Norak Rin. I am an international student from Cambodia. I am currently a master’s student doing a BE & MS accelerated program at SUNY Korea with a major in Mechanical Engineering. I am going to graduate this December 2020. Ratanak: My name is Ratanak Rin. I come from Phnom Penh city, Cambodia and I graduated from Bak Touk high school in Phnom Penh city as well. Currently, I am a freshman at SUNY Korea, studying Computer Science. I came to SUNY Korea during the Spring 2020 semester, so this is my second semester as a freshman. What made you come to Korea? / What made you decide to study at SUNY Korea? Norak: Studying abroad for tertiary education was always my ambition during my time at high school. My reason to study abroad is not only about the education that I want to pursue, but also the living experiences and responsibilities that would come along my way to make me mature in a better way. When I heard about SUNY Korea, it was difficult to ignore the potentials and opportunities that this university could offer. In addition to obtaining an American education, coming to this University would also allow me to experience my life in two different countries (Korea and the US). SUNY Korea was still comparatively a small and new campus. However, this condition would just make the university even more attentive to the quality and well-being of the students. I could not think of any other reason to not come to this University and I am glad I made that decision. Ratanak: I decided to study at SUNY Korea because it is the first American university in Korea which consists of selected degree programs of Stony Brook University as well as the degree granted from Stony Brook University. More importantly, SUNY Korea provides a unique opportunity for every student to study in both Korea and in New York; therefore, I can experience studying at two different and fascinating places of the world during my university life as an undergrad. Is there any reason why you recommended SUNY Korea to your brother? What do you like about SUNY Korea? Norak: I did recommend SUNY Korea to my brother. There are two main reasons for that recommendation. The first one is my witnessing of the quality and decent conditions of the university. The location, the campus community, and, especially, the quality of the education are all within my expectation. I would love to have my brother receiving these experiences and quality of education as I do. The second reason is the reputation of the Computer Science program of Stony Brook University. As my brother just finished his high school education and has been interested in studying Computer Science, this would be a perfect opportunity for him as well.  Ratanak: What I really like about SUNY Korea is that the school community is very friendly, especially the Computer Science department. Every professor and student here seems really helpful; we help each other to overcome any obstacle that we have faced during our academic life here. There’s even a tutoring program provided by the university for free to help students with difficulties in their studies. Of course, I also like the school environment here: as most of us come from different parts of the world, we share each of our cultures with each other, so that we can learn new things about each other. What are some good things about going to the same university with your brother? Are there any difficulties? Norak: There are many good things. First, it is good to be with one of your family members when you are far away from home. Whether it is about taking care of one another or having a discussion/consultation or even just hanging out, it is always good to do it with someone who is really close to you, especially for my brother in this case, as this is his first time being away from our parents. Another good thing is about how I can share my experiences studying here with him. Although we are doing different majors, I still can guide and explain to him clearly about how everything works in this University and in this country, be it about the course work or even how to get around in the city. So far, I have not encountered any difficulties at all. Ratanak: Going to the same university as my brother is like having a compass in the middle of the thick forest, which means that I will be able to know which direction I should go to and where I should not go. He tries his best to guide me toward my goals, yet that does not mean he allows me to rely on him all the time. Most of the time I need to get out of my own comfort zone and make decisions on my own. Do you live with your brother? If so, what are some good things about living with your brother?  Norak: We both live on campus. I live in dormitory B while he lives in dormitory A. Nevertheless, we spend time cooking together almost every evening. Sometimes, we also go to eat out together. As I mentioned earlier, it is good to be with a member of your family and, in this case, it makes my parents happier and less concerned about my brother’s well-being as I am still here and can guide/take care of him during his first year. Ratanak: We both live on campus, but in different buildings; in fact, I live in dormitory A, whereas my brother lives in dormitory B. However, I think that could be considered as living together since we spend almost all the time cooking food together and going out together. As I mentioned before, living with him is like having a guide. During my first semester here, since it was my first time studying abroad, everything seemed so new to me. He taught me how to cook, how to go to the bank, and guided me around the campus. It was indeed a great moment to experience at least once in a lifetime if possible. Hahaha… Do you two help each other when you study? How do you help each other?  Norak: We would offer as much help as we can to each other. I give him tips on some of the courses that he is taking that I had taken. For the courses that I did not take, I give him advice on where to go for help as well as resources that he can check.  Ratanak: Since we study different majors, we do not spend much time together when studying. I study on my own and he works on his own as well. However, he did help me consider which course I should take during each semester What do you like to do in your free time? Norak: I spend my free time watching videos related to technology and history. I am also quite interested in science, basically, the study of the universe. I normally listen to podcasts related to that topic before I sleep. I also do sports frequently. Almost every weekend, I go to play soccer or, at least, once a week, I play ping pong with friends. I also enjoy hanging out with my lab mates from time to time. Ratanak: During the weekend I spend 2 to 3 hours playing soccer with other students here. I also spend so much time chatting with my family and friends back in my country. Recently, I have taken up table tennis as my new hobby and play it with my brother and his friends. Is there any special incident in class or general life in SUNY Korea that you remember? Norak: There were several times during my undergraduate study that I and my group members had to stay until late at night to finish our course projects. At one point we were stuck, and there was nothing left for us to do but to order food and eat together before we reattempted to finish the work. It was quite exhausting but, at the same time, very memorable to me. I also remember one time when all international students cooked their national cuisine(s) together to serve the university’s president, some professors, the staff, as well as the students ourselves. I participated in that event and I remember it clearly because that was my very first time that I learned to cook, and it was edible. There were also some other experiences that are still in my fond memory such as the ski trip organized by the Korean Culture Institute, my participation as an orientation leader during the New Students Welcoming Week of Spring 2017, my first time being a residential assistant in Spring 2019, and many more.    Ratanak: I think it was when I first discovered that I got accepted for the work study at IGC Library. I did not think I would get accepted to work as a work study student there. I was so excited about that because I got to know and work with new people at the library.   What are your future goals or dream? Norak: My intermediate goal is to earn my master’s degree and go on to pursue a PhD-level education right away. My long-term goal is to be a researcher/inventor. I have always highly valued the people who contribute to science and technology and use the technologies inventing something new and convenient for other people as well as solving the world problems. I am determined to produce the same worthwhile contribution and I hope it will happen. Ratanak: After graduating from the university, I would like to continue my academic journey pursuing a graduate degree, maybe in the United States if possible. In the further future, I would like to become a software engineer at one of the giant tech companies like Microsoft, Google, or Amazon. It is not an easy thing to do but I will try my best to make it happen. Are there any difficulties in living here? Do you like the weather in Korea?  Norak: Living in Korea does not give me any serious difficulty. Apart from the language barrier and being away from my parents and the people back home, I find my life here pretty good. I enjoy living in the school where I can focus on what I need to do. I made many good friends and we get along quite well. The tranquil and modern atmosphere in Songdo in general gives me a pleasant feeling and I know I am going to miss my life in this city later when I leave Korea. For the weather in Korea, it is just different from the weather in Cambodia. From December to February, the cold weather was rough for me at first. However, as time passed, I adjusted myself pretty well and it is okay for me now. Ratanak: Actually, I do not find the weather in Korea difficult to endure. In fact, I really enjoy the weather here in Korea, especially during Spring and Fall. However, I found it difficult to communicate outside the school campus, as I do not speak Korean but I have started learning Korean now and I hope I will be able to communicate with the local people fluently and travel to every part of Korea, of course after the Coronavirus pandemic. What do you miss about Cambodia? Is there any place you visit or anything you like to do when you miss Cambodia?  Norak: I miss the food in Cambodia. Of course, I also miss my family, relatives, and friends back home, especially during my first year. I video call them every weekend to see how they are doing. I also went back and stayed in Cambodia during some of the summer/winter vacations.    Ratanak: Mostly, I miss my family and friends in Cambodia, especially my mom. I also miss how we used to spend our time together in my country. When I miss them, I call them and spend time chatting with them, asking how they are doing, something like that. How would you like to introduce SUNY Korea to your friends and family in Cambodia?  Norak: SUNY Korea is a place I have called home for these 4 years. It has given me an education, responsibilities, and a variety of meaningful experiences. SUNY Korea is a decent place which helped me grow, and I am grateful for that. I would recommend SUNY Korea to people I know back home to come and experience this great University. In fact, I even recommended it to my brother. Ratanak: I would say SUNY Korea is a great place for any student who has deep passion for learning, would like to get out of their comfort zone and come overseas. I would recommend all Cambodian students who always wanted to study abroad like what I am doing right now to work as hard as possible during their high school years and apply to SUNY Korea after graduating high school. Here at SUNY Korea, we are History Makers.   To watch the interview, CLICK HERE

  Everyone who works out these days knows about Mularwear. Not only is this brand popular for sportswear, but also for daily outfits as well. Let's meet a FIT (FBM major, Class of 2020) alumni, Yeeun Kim, who is working in the Mularwear Brand Strategy Team in charge of digital campaign managing, striving to strengthen brand awareness and positioning. Listen to the story from her starting as an intern to her becoming a brand marketer.    Please introduce yourself briefly.   Hi, I’m Yeeun Kim. I graduated this year with a Fashion Business Management degree at FIT SUNY Korea. What is your current role and responsibility in Mularwear? Mulawear is Korea’s first yoga wear brand, offering premium activewear, and is expanding to menswear and the athleisure market. Mularwear’s work culture is very flexible and casual. They have implemented a 4-day work schedule to encourage work-life balance and high work efficiency for their employees. There is always upbeat music playing in the office to boost their fun culture. I heard you started working as an intern. How did you prepare for the internship and did you have any difficulties preparing for it? I think the hardest part for me was doing an interview with the FIT professors. I didn’t have a lot of interview experiences, so I looked up some tips online beforehand. On the flip side, because the interviewers were familiar faces to me, I could be more confident and was less afraid to make mistakes. Unfortunately, COVID-19 had just started when I was assigned to a company. Many companies were working at home, so my internship schedule kept being delayed. In the end, the company couldn’t take me, so I was assigned to Mulawear. I had researched into the previous company and their job, so I was a little flustered due to the sudden change. However, there were other students who have already started working at Mulawear, so I was able to ask for advice. Being with other students gave me a sense of support and made the internship process much easier. Please explain about the FIT Internship Course (IC297)? IC297 is a course that provides internship opportunities as well as class lectures regarding career preparation. Through these lectures, we work on resumes, interviews, professionalism, and communication skills. We also share bits and pieces of our own internship experiences to gain insight on different career options. Additionally, individuals get to actually intern at matched companies 2-3 days a week. To sum it up, IC297 prepares you for real life after graduation. What is your current role and responsibility in Mularwear? Currently, I am part of the Brand Strategy team, and our goal is to strengthen brand awareness and positioning. Within the team, my main responsibilities include social media activities and digital campaign management. I also work with brand exposure and sponsorship as well. As a team, we strategize long-term marketing activities and campaigns and work with PR. When was the most proud moment in your career? My proudest moment in the company was when I was able to report positive results of the first project I managed. The project may not seem prominent to others, but it was the very first project that I managed ­­alone, and it felt good to see the physical results of my efforts.  What were your strengths because you were an FIT student? (Class, faculty, program, etc.) Because our professors are still actively working in the fashion industry, we can get a lot of practical and helpful advice and knowledge aside from lectures and theories. They are always open to talking to students, so it’s easy to talk to them and ask for their opinions when it comes to studying or career. We also have guest speakers and field trips, which allows us to observe and learn about wider boundaries of the industry. Now that I am actually working, I realized that the foundation and knowledge that I picked up at school come in extremely handy in work situations. For example, our course on Excel has helped to handle real life data with ease. With the knowledge, I didn’t fall behind in professional conversations. Apart from merchandising and design, not a lot of people have fashion backgrounds, even in fashion companies. Having a fashion-specific background has let me bring in a new perspective to the team.  What did you get the help from the SUNY Korea CDC?  First of all, since my internship opportunity was given by CDC, CDC has played a prominent role in starting my career after graduation. Since I lived abroad most of my life, I didn’t know much about Korea’s fashion industry and the options that were available to me. Thanks to CDC, I was given deeper insights and broader knowledge about possible careers in Korea. Through CDC, you can get your resumes reviewed and improved and that is definitely much more helpful and practical than relying on online resources. Furthermore, CDC followed-up during my internship days to make sure everything was going smoothly. Their active support goes beyond practical things, and I was able to feel secure and supported throughout the whole journey.  What is your current role and responsibility in Mularwear? Currently, I am part of the Brand Strategy team, and our goal is to strengthen brand awareness and positioning. Within the team, my main responsibilities include social media activities and digital campaign management. I also work with brand exposure and sponsorship as well. As a team, we strategize long-term marketing activities and campaigns and work with PR. Do you have any advice for your friends preparing for internships? My best tip would be to make the most out of school’s resources. The professors and CDC are great resources that are difficult to have access to outside of school. It is important to work hard and have a great attitude. Doing so, school will offer you with great opportunities. Then, it is our responsibility to make the most out of it. Even as an intern, your role may seem small at first, but the only way to make it bigger is hard work and great attitude.

  Johng-Ihl Lee, a professor of Department of Technology and Society and a Dean of Department of Planning and External Relations at SUNY Korea, serves as the director of KDI (International Business Administration) at SUNY Korea. He is one of the top experts in Korea who is proficient in both theory and practice of international cooperation and policy development. In 2020, he was appointed as the 29th president of the Korean Society for Innovation Management and Economics (KOSIME). We recently spoke with Professor Johng-Ihl Lee, who will contribute to Korea’s technological and economic future.   What do you think about being inaugurated as the President of KOSIME in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution and AI? The biggest change that the 4th Industrial Revolution will fuel is the growing ambiguity between information providers and consumers. With the end of the period when countries and large corporations monopolized information, and the public, who was a unilateral information consumer, became more accessible, the situation in which better information was created faster than the existing suppliers began to become full-scale. The recent COVID-19 outbreak demonstrates that this trend is being strengthened and materialized. Facebook information or user-created programs are updated faster than government announcements. The situation would have been worse than now if the nation had monopolized and closed the information unilaterally, such as when cholera spread 50-60 years ago. The information related to the confirmed cases of COVID-19 was transparently shared with all the people, and the people also actively participated in keeping social distance, so the clues to the solution were caught. In other words, it is an era when problem solving depends on the sharing of information, not a handful of information. As the core technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution such as IOT, AI, biotechnology, and robotics emerge, the methods of collecting opinions, solving problems, and creating values in all fields will structurally change and materialize. The most urgent thing to do as president of the KOSIME in this period is to help enhance the competitiveness of science and technology, which has been the driving force for growth of our economy as well as our companies and universities in the midst of structural changes. In the period of structural transformation that has not been experienced as it is, we will do our best to promote the sharing of expertise and related information by collecting members' ideas in building a platform that prepares for the future by utilizing the strengths of the society rather than specific research projects. What is the KOSIME doing? What role does it play in Korea? The KOSIME 1) develops new theories and knowledge through interdisciplinary research on technological innovation to promote academic development, 2) presents effective management measures for technological innovation activities in industrial sites, 3) contributes to the establishment of national science and technology policy and technology development strategy. Wehave also been doing our best with the goal of new social reform led by science and technology. From the year when KOSIME was founded in 1992, this goal remains in effect. We are making academic contributions through the Korean journal “Technology Innovation Research” published four times a year and the English journal AJTI (Asian Journal of Technology and Innovation) published three times a year. In addition, whenever various policy issues arise, diverse seminars and workshops are held to present political measures and help companies improve their technological strategy and management. The purpose and role of the KOSIME is to lead science and technology-driven social reform by contributing to the establishment of science and technology policies and strategies for technological innovation. These strategies and policies are designed for enterprises and the aim is to foster development of convergence academics related to the real economy and technological innovation. How are members of the KOSIME selected? There are no special restrictions on becoming a member. Major members are professors, college students, researchers in science and technology-related research institutes, and those who work in related fields of business and government. There are currently 960 active members, 1,335 student members, and 160 lifetime members. In particular, as the size of our economy has grown and globalized, the participation of private companies and researchers has increased in recent years from the center of universities. What does it mean to be the 29th President of the KOSIME? For the past 30 years, our institute has been striving to cooperate with companies, universities, and research institutes to promote science and technology innovation activities and strengthen national competitiveness. At the beginning of the institute, the focus was on developing strategies and policies for obtaining core technologies, building a national innovation system in the 2000s, and converging technologies after 2010. Based on these experiences and achievements, I think it is time to focus on developing methodologies and policies to lead new technologies and related systems that will lead the global economy. As a group of experts majoring in business administration and economics, we want to strengthen the academic foundation and respond sensitively to the flow of the real economy. To this end, we will work closely with various domestic and foreign science and technology actors. In other words, I think it is my duty to serve as the president and representative of the society where I study to find a global-level strategy and policy suitable for the new science and technology paradigm. What is your goal to achieve as president of the KOSIME during your term? The KOSIME is a network of experts built on an academic basis. The president of the institute is not a politician, nor an entertainer. I think that my role is to establish a healthy foundation and a channel of communication for the national economy through constant communication across the social and cultural sectors. For example, if our nation needs a brick house, it is my job to bring one solid brick. When experts in each field, such as design, trenching, plastering, and electrical equipment, show their expertise, the academic house is built strong. As you see in Samsung Electronics, BTS, and Parasites, Korea's manufacturing, music, and film industries have gained a global reputation and formed the so-called Korean Wave, but it is regrettable that there is no Korean Wave in the academic field yet. In this regard, my biggest goal as the president is “Internationalization of the KOISME,” which has been long discussed within the institute. Of course, I can't build a world-wide big house alone. However, I want to buy some good bricks for the house. In particular, the introduction and regularization of international academic conferences such as the introduction of English sessions, Korea-China-Japan academic conferences, and Korea-Vietnam joint academic conferences are the primary objectives. It is possible only in cooperation with the members of the institute and various actors in science and technology innovation. In the past, what kind of work did you do as a director of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT)? What was your history leading up to becoming Dean of Strategic Planning Team and professor at SUNY Korea? The KIAT is the government's comprehensive technology support agency in charge of policy planning, technology commercialization, and international technology cooperation. In September 2012, I was in charge of policy research and international cooperation for over 15 years before being appointed professor at SUNY Korea. It is highly rewarding to contribute to Korea's membership in EUREKA (European International Joint Research Program) while developing and promoting new areas of technological cooperation between countries, such as international joint research. SUNY Korea was opened in Incheon, my hometown, and I joined without hesitation. The vision of the president to educate students from all over the world as a global leader and my dreams were in perfect harmony. You are also making effort to promote research activities and technology management academics at SUNY Korea. Are there any plans for the KOSIME to carry out direct or indirect projects with SUNY Korea in the future? Similar to SUNY Korea’s Department of Technology and Society (DTS), which is a convergence department that combines technological innovation, business, and economics systems, domestic universities also run undergraduate and graduate courses for DTS. In order to find the difference, most domestic universities focus on technology management (MOT) considering public needs, whereas SUNY Korea DTS focuses on technology-social interaction, so its scope is more comprehensive. If the specific experiences related to technological management promoted by the KOSIME and the global research capabilities of SUNY Korea are combined, it can contribute to convergence education, and there will be many research opportunities. For example, it is necessary to research and educate international development cooperation such as ODA (Official Development Assistance) promoted by Korea in terms of science and technology. SUNY Korea is already conducting international development cooperation projects with the Korean government and the World Bank (WB) for Asian and African countries such as Vietnam and Ghana. Do you have any message for junior researchers at SUNY Korea and DTS students? Technological innovation must be done in conjunction with social interaction for good results. In addition, the technological innovation activities that the nation monopolized on in the past have now expanded to the global level. In this regard, our students, who study English in accordance with the American curriculum, have already met one important prerequisite. In the meantime, our students have been presenting their papers by attending the KOSIME Summer Academic Conference held in Jeju every June from 2015 onward. The research content is excellent, but I am always proud of our students who present in English in a stylish and confident manner in front of other participants. I am looking forward to continuous research presentation by many professors and students this year. Click here to visit KOSIME Homepage

  Vice President Min-Koo Han of the research department is taking responsibility for the research department of SUNY Korea. Since 2015, he has been strengthening the foundation for the growth of research activities in SUNY Korea. 2018 February, Vice President Han was appointed as the ninth President of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST). We had an interview with Vice President Min-Koo Han who has been leading the SUNY Korea’s research department for 4 years, and who is going to guide the Korean Science and Technology, KSAT.    Congratulations on the appointment of the ninth president of KAST. What does KAST do? Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) is called ‘National Academy’ in the United States. There are several fields of Science (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Natural Science, Engineering, Medical Science) and a few fields of Humanities and Social Science. It is called ‘The Royal Society’ in the United Kingdom. ‘Royal’ doesn’t mean the royal family but the nation. KAST in Korean implies the meaning of academy. KAST specifically focuses on the fields of natural science, engineering, medical science, and agricultural science. The total number of KAST members is under 500 in Korea and about 2,500 in the U.S. For the members at the age of 70, they are called ‘honorary member’ in the U.S. and ‘lifelong learner’ in Korea. For the new members to enter the community, the regular members retire at the age of 70, exceptionally the president can last until 73. KAST is, in other words, a group of scholars. As the number of members is very few, it’s a small meeting for professors and researchers who are very well-known and had gone through many studies in the field of natural science, engineering, medical science, and agricultural science. KAST is quite new to people. What is the main role of KAST in Korea? KAST gathers many experts and researchers of each field, and therefore, the government discusses science policies in Korea with us. Furthermore, KAST introduces Korean science technology to the nations abroad by inviting experts from foreign countries and Nobel prize winners to make international interchange. KAST also holds international events to strengthen the national science research department and gives special lectures to high school and college students with many experienced KAST members so that students can build their dreams. What does it mean to become the ninth President of KAST in Korea?  KAST is where the best experts gather. I believe the true owner of KAST is the members, not myself. In order to discover ideas of these world’s greatest scholars, servant leadership is essential. Most of the members study deep into their subjects. I think we should introduce their valuable ideas to the public and serve our society.  How are the members of KAST selected? Each of the fields has its own committee. For example, natural science is divided into physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, and members are selected among these. In the inauguration ceremony, you mentioned that Korea is getting very close to winning the Nobel prize.  I think Korea is just about to win the Nobel prize within the next decade. Nobel prize is achieved mostly by the international agreement, not by the individuals, so informing Korea’s current research status internationally is important. Thus, it is a really tough task. Not only for the Nobel prize, but many international events should be organized to raise the level status of Korean science technology. For instance, regarding the recent climate and weather problems, it is important to find the issues directly related to the real world, whether there is any academically remarkable solution, or what is the social responsibilities of technologists. Therefore, many outstanding people in the field of science technology are invited to international conferences to solve these problems. Korea should consider more about making more investments for Korea’s top science technologists to make the basic studies. Nowadays, the number of students majoring in engineering decreases while the numbers and qualities of engineering students should increase. Experts in the fields worry about what we should do in the current condition. What is your future plan and goal as the ninth President of KAST? My Goal is to gather opinions from a large number of science technologists, suggest necessary policies to the government, and provide more various channels of voluntary services. Also, I want to help the Korean scientists to become more well-known by making more interactions with many internationally experienced scientists. Although Korean science technology has a slightly short history compared to America or Europe, we have been presenting numerous research papers. However, we don’t have corresponding chances to take significant roles internationally. I expect the KAST can be the bridge for the Korean scientists to be respected in international stages. It is important to push ahead for the interactions with experts in abroad, but I consider the recommendation of the policies for the Korean government and volunteer works are far more important. You studied electrical engineering in the past. Please tell us more about your research in that field.  I studied the display engineering like the OLED, LCD, that is shown on TV monitors. Among the various minors of electronic engineering, I studied for the semiconductors and display. The core elements of the display in detail. You only went through the whole life as a researcher, do you have any interest in any different fields?  There were only a few Korean industries in the 1970s. So, most people tended to study abroad. I graduated the Seoul National University and received a Ph.D. at the Johns Hopkins University. In order to build experience, I worked as an electrical engineering professor in SUNY Buffalo for 5 years, and finally carried on my career as a professor of the engineering college in Seoul National University for about 30 years. How did you come to SUNY Korea after working in the Seoul National University for 30 years? In 2013, I retired from the Seoul National University and contemporary worked as a professor in Kyeong Hee University. Then I was asked for the favor of President ChoonHo Kim to take the ‘Director of Research’ position at SUNY Korea. From 2015, You have been in the SUNY Korea for 4 years, what can be the most remarkable difference? The number of faculty increased extremely as well as students and staffs. And the scale and quality of research projects showed the most distinction. What should be done to promote the research activities at SUNY Korea? It seems you have a big picture. Research cannot be done in a blink. It needs a long time like a tree to be fully bloomed. As time passes, more graduate students and more experienced professors will help with the projects and it will be followed by outstanding results. SUNY Korea has developed in a short period, but it is still waiting to be more developed. The bigger pool of talent must be created. Just as figure-skating develops as having more colleagues, science field also needs many colleagues to compete with one another to help to grow. Computer Science is the core of the 4th industrial revolution, therefore it will grow more than we expect. Maybe more important than electrical engineering. Computer science is significantly showing up their importance. I have greater expectations since we have experienced professors and provost, Dr. Arthur Lee, for instance, teaching at SUNY Korea.  What do you want to say to the junior researchers and students? I want to remind them of how the world keeps changing. For the next 5 years, we have to keep up on our studies in order to follow and predict the future. Faculties should always think about their positions in the future and what they would like to do. Korean Constitution Day (Je-Hun Jul) is a day commemorating the establishment of National constitution. The name 한민구 stands for the national constitution day. We expect him to stretch out his Savant Leadership for the development of Korean science and technology, and to build up the foundation of SUNY Korea research field.

  “I know that right at the moment, things at school could be seen as a waste of time or not the best way to spend your time, but I can guarantee that it will become a very big asset in the future.” Seung Yeon Lee, who graduated in 2017 Fall with a major in Technological Systems Management, always loved to learn and study. Right after graduation, she began a new journey as a graduate student at Seoul National University continuing her study in the field of Technology Management, Economy, and Policy. Seung Yeon said she would like to proceed with her studies into the Ph.D. program after completing her Master’s. And her ultimate goal is to become a professor or researcher. She also added that if she gets a chance, she would like to come back to SUNY Korea and teach as an alumna.    Hi, my name is Seung Yeon Lee, and I graduated in 2017 Fall. I majored in Technological Systems Management with a specialization in ICT.  What do you do now? I’m currently enrolling in Seoul National University’s master’s program called ‘Technology Management, Economy, and Policy Program.’  It’s a very similar subject to Technological Systems Management, but we more specialized in the economics and policy area, along with the management of technology. How did SUNY Korea help you? SUNY Korea helped me in three ways. Number one is the lecture. Number two is all the programs, career programs. And number three are professors that helped me through.  As I said before, classes are what kind of drove me to find my real interest area and find what I was really passionate about. While more career programs are really led me to finding what I actually have to do in order to achieve my dream.  And professors became very good mentors in looking at my interest areas and suggesting new ideas for research.  They also listened very attentively to all my concerns and my questions. That was a very big part of SUNY Korea that kind of lead me to find my passion.  Comments for other students First of all, you need to make sure that you are taking full advantage of the school because that’s sort of how I created my passion and I decided on what path I should take in the future. I know that right at the moment, it can be seen as a waste of time or not the best way to spend your time, but I can guarantee that it will become a very big asset in the future. So, if there’s anyone who is a little bit afraid of the fact that you are from a very small or new community, don’t be afraid and try to show what you have achieved in that community because that’s what matters. What is your future plan? I’m planning on successfully completing my master’s program and proceeding into Ph.D. as well. I ultimately want to become a researcher or professor in this field and continue studying and researching the topics that are relevant to the world. SUNY Korea is… I wrote ‘SUNY Korea is a platform to build your potential on’ because to me SUNY Korea is where I could experiment with my abilities, my talents, and my potential and create what is really me. So, SUNY Korea is ‘SUNY Korea is a platform to build your potential on’   To watch the interview, CLICK HERE

  “The problems confronting the humankind are so complex and sometimes scary… and we, as young graduates, don’t know how to start or what to do about it. My goal is to keep taking positive actions and some steps in the direction I believe to be right and to not give in to the negativity.” Vasundhara Dehiya graduated from SUNY Korea with a master’s degree in Computer Science.After the graduation, she started working at a startup company called ‘Who’s Good’ as a data analyst. Vasundhara said her goal is to contribute to the betterment of society and that she wants to always take steps towards in making positive actions.  Vasundhara, who is always taking a foot step forward to make this world a better place, became the fourth interviewee for SUNY Korea’s Alumni interview series, History Makers.    I’m Vasundhara Dehiya, and I’m from India. I am a Seawolf and a History Maker, and I graduated from SUNY Korea with my master’s in Computer Science. Before that, I did my bachelor’s in Electronics Engineering from New Delhi, India.  How did you find out about SUNY Korea? I met SUNY Korea’s Ambassadors when they were visiting India, and they introduced me to SUNY Korea. I was lucky enough to find really amazing professors in the CS department. I met an extremely talented group of professors who were even more passionate about research than me. I learned from them, I learned with them, and I credit them for my success now.  What do you do now?  I work as a data analyst at a startup company called ‘Who’s Good.’ We provide ESG based corporate risk analysis using AI (Artificial Intelligence). Our goal is to support sustainable business practices to improve our world. My role is to develop the algorithms and AI tools to achieve this goal. What is your future goal?  My future and also current goal is to always contribute to make the world a better place. If you think about today’s world, the problems facing humankind are so complex and sometimes even scary. And we, as young graduates don’t really know how to start or what to do about it. So, my goal is to keep taking positive actions and some steps in this direction and to not give in to the negativity.  How did SUNY Korea help you to be who you are now?  SUNY Korea provided me an ideal balance between mentorship and freedom. Mentors I met at SUNY Korea enabled me to find my passion in life and led me to identify my true self both personally and professionally.  Suggestions for students My only suggestion would be that you should dare to believe in your dream. You may fail, it may seem hard at times, but someday it will all come together. So, you shouldn’t be afraid. SUNY Korea is … SUNY Korea, to me, is [Freedom]. Freedom from self-doubt, freedom to believe, freedom to not give up and keep persevering. So, SUNY Korea is [freedom].    To watch the interview, CLICK HERE

  "Four years ago, I came to Korea without knowing anyone, as a stranger. But through those years, I met so many great friends whom I share precious memories… they became my family." Sanju Rukshan, Class of 2017, graduated from the Technological Systems Management program at SUNY Korea. Sanju said he would have never experienced the things he had if he didn't come to SUNY Korea. After the graduation, Sanju started working at an IT company as an engineer, and he built an excellent reputation for being hard-working, responsible and considerate.  Sanju, who valued cultural experiences, music, nature, friends, and family, became the third interviewee for SUNY Korea's Alumni series, History Makers.    My name is Sanju Rukshan, I come from Sri Lanka, and I'm a proud graduate of SUNY Korea.  What do you do now?  Currently, I work at a software development company called "Monitoring 6", as a software engineer. We offer a wide spectrum of services, from embedded systems, IoT devices to Cloud monitoring systems. And we are a sister company of SUDO Premium Engineering.  How did SUNY Korea help you with the work you do now?   Yes. SUNY Korea helped me a lot in what I am doing right now. Especially, it helped me to find my passion. For example, for the Year-End project at SUNY Korea, I selected to develop a Vertical Garden in Lead-Lab. Through that, I started going more into the IoT technology, and I got to know and become familiar with the software development side of it.  SUNY Korea taught me how to be a fighter, to work hard at something, to be patient, and also to be persistent. What would have happened if you didn't come to SUNY Korea?   I would have never had such a global experience in doing various kinds of activities. I did volunteer activities, played basketball, and also got to know different languages as well… I became better at Korean and English.  Comments for university students who are preparing for a career   Make most out of it. Part of me thinks that I should have done more things during my university years. Now, because I'm a worker, I have to go to work every day. I cannot skip work. So, enjoy, as well as make many friends and participate in many activities, not only studies. Participating in different activities will give you an idea of how other things will work. And, be good at study. Putting on efforts are important as well.  SUNY Korea is…  One Word? Hmm… I wrote SUNY Korea is [family]. Because four years ago, I came to Korea without knowing anyone, as a stranger. But throughout these four years, I met so many friends, whom I shared so many precious moments, and they became brothers and sisters to me. And I met some professors whom I learned a lot from, and they also became my parents. I think SUNY Korea is like a big and high functioning community, which I always feel like I will belong.  So, SUNY Korea is [family].    To watch the interview, CLICK HERE

  “My name is MinJoon Kim; I’m one of the first graduates of SUNY Korea…  At SUNY Korea, I was able to learn how to embrace the differences through my friends from all over the world.” MinJoon Kim, Class of 2016, majoring in Technological Systems Management, is one of the first graduates of SUNY Korea. Right after graduation, he moved on to the next chapter of his life: career, marriage, and family. Now he works at Korean Air, representing SUNY Korea’s global mindset to the passengers from all over the world.  MinJoon said that a mentor that he met from SUNY Korea positively influenced him and helped him to plan out his future. He excitingly said that someday he also wants to become a mentor for someone else.  Living the life of a professional with global manners, MinJoon shared his story as the second interviewee for SUNY Korea’s Alumni series, History Makers.  My name is MinJoon Kim; I’m one of the first graduates of SUNY Korea.  One thing special about my university experience is that I met my wife at SUNY Korea.    Why did you choose SUNY Korea?  The reason why I chose this college is that it would be beneficial for me to study in Korea where family and friends are around me but take classes in English at the same time.  How was your university experience?  Overall, it was great and fantastic. I met great friends who came from other countries. By having daily casual conversations with my friends from all over the world, I was able to learn how to embrace the differences. What do you do now?  I work as a gate agent of Departure & Arrival team of Korean Air. I have to make sure that the flight departs at the right time and the passengers board on the right flight. I’m also studying visa and passport regulations of other nations to provide better quality service to Korean Air passengers.  How did SUNY Korea help?  When I was doing the job interview with Korean Air, they were looking for someone with a global manner, which I’ve learned from SUNY Korea. That’s how SUNY Korea helped me to work in this field.  What is your life goal?  One of the school counselors at SUNY Korea introduced me to a mentor. And through many talks I had with my mentor, he positively influenced me. So, someday I also want to become a mentor and influence other students. And of course, on top of that, I want to become a sweet husband and a father in a family.  SUNY Korea is…  I wrote SUNY Korea is a [paradise for dreamers.]  I believe, when you come to a university, you enter with a specific dream in your mind. Even if it’s not a dream, it’s okay. You still have something that you want to do in the university, right? SUNY Korea offers a lot of opportunities and chances. So, don’t be afraid, put yourself out there, and never settle for less. That’s why I wrote SUNY Korea is a [Paradise for dreamers]. 

  Charis Asante-Agyei, Class of 2017, majoring in Technological Systems Management, is a proud alumnus of SUNY Korea. He flew all the way from Ghana with his dream to give back to his people what he learned in Korea.  During his junior year, Charis and his friends from SUNY Korea went on the "African Mission 2016" to Burkina Faso. They planned and organized Science Camp with various fun activities for the children of Burkina Faso. During the camp, Charis said to the kids who were looking at him with such shining eyes:  "I have a lot of dreams. One of my dreams came true today, and my dream was to give you guys hope… I want you to know that you can do anything you want to do, and then my dream will come true. So, help me make my dream come true." With his dream of going back to his country and give value to the people, Charis began his graduate school at SUNY Korea after his graduation. Charis, who always puts his heart to his own country, became the first interviewee for SUNY Korea's Alumni series, History Makers.    My name is Charis Asante-Agyei. I'm from Ghana, and I am a graduate of SUNY Korea. Why did you choose to come to SUNY Korea? We got to know SUNY Korea through the Korean Embassy and KOTRA which is the trade association arm of the Korean Government. And my head master suggested that I apply.  How was your life in Korea in the beginning? It took just a little getting used to. Food, Transportation, communication… As soon as I got used to those things, it became really convenient, really comfortable, really enjoyable too.  What do you do now? I have an internship with a construction equipment manufacturing company, and I'm in the R&D department, which is research and development. So, we are working on new projects that they plan to roll out.  What's your favorite time of work? Lunch breaks, where, with my team members we go out, just take a walk, release some stress, and get to know each other better. How did your major help you? Research and Development has a lot to do with understanding humanities; so, economics, marketing, and also it has to do with the understanding technological side of things. And TSM (Technological Systems Management) is sort of a merger of the two. So, I had a unique advantage.  How did SUNY Korea affect your life?  In my team, I am the only foreigner; I'm the only international person… But because of my ability to interact with people, they also value that, so they actually want to have people with a global mindset, so to speak. So… And SUNY Korea is really, really instrumental in equipping students with that mindset. Did you achieve the goal you had before graduation?  I had about three, and this is one of them. So, in a way yes. After this internship, I'll be beginning graduate school, continuing in a sense. That's another plan. Long term, I want to go back to Ghana, where I'm from and give value to the people. In the past 40-50 years, Korea was beginning to pick up the pace, that is where I think Ghana is right now. So many of the things that Korea has put in place, we can also sort of copy and adjust to suit our own situation. So that's what I want to do. SUNY Korea is … SUNY Korea is a [bright light]. After coming to SUNY Korea, you begin to see things that you couldn't see before. You begin to see things about yourself that you didn't know before. And I used light, not just for direction, but also because it shows you what to do. A lot more than this… But I think this also captures a really huge component of SUNY Korea. So, SUNY Korea is a [bright light].   To watch the interview, CLICK HERE