Dongguk University Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical...

Dongguk University Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science appointed for a research service development project for the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2020Interview with Shin Han-seung, Director of Dongguk University Biomedical Convergence Research InstituteDongguk University Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science has been appointed for the third research service development project for the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in 2020. The MFDS has recruited research institutes to manage service research and development projects in four areas: safety management of food; safety management of medicines; safety management of medical devices; and safety assessment methodology. Dongguk University Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science will receive 4.6 billion Korean won from the Ministry and is planning to conduct research on safety management of food and others for the next three years. We met Professor Shin Han-seung, the director of the Biomedical Convergence Research Institute and chairman of the Korea International Life Science Association (ILSI Korea).▲ Professor Shin Han-seung, Director of Dongguk University Biomedical Convergence Research InstituteQ. Dongguk University Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science (Dongguk University Biomedi) has been appointed for a research service development project for the MFDS in 2020. Could you tell us about the project?A. Dongguk University Biomedi won two large-scale research projects worth 4.6 billion from the MFDS in the first 6 months of 2020. We will investigate the contamination levels of hazardous pollutants for each food, supported by a fund of 2.8 billion won for 2 years, and we will establish test methods for hazardous pollutants in food, supported by a fund of 1.8 billion won for 3 years. Through these projects, we plan to secure data on the contamination levels for each food, to identify exposure levels of harmful pollutants in HMR products in response to changes in food consumption trends, and to develop measures to manage the public exposure to these substances. We expect that this research will allow us to periodically reevaluate standards of hazardous pollutants in consideration of changes in both the climate and in our eating habits. In addition, we will establish testing methods for a preemptive response to harmful pollutants in foods, such as heavy metals and new fungal toxins, and conduct pollutant surveys and risk assessments for hazardous pollutant investigation.Q. These are large-scale projects in which 4.6 billion won as government subsidies is invested for 3 years from the MFDS. How do you think the money will help the research team specifically to conduct the research?A. The project is an extensive survey of pollution levels conducted at a national level, reflecting the trend of the times and environmental food consumption trend. We will use high quality research equipment provided by Dongguk University Biomedi. The purpose of these projects is to strengthen safety management and enhance public safety through an evaluation of total human body levels of hazardous pollutants, including seven heavy metals, 29 dioxins, seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), eight fungal toxins, four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD), and by re-evaluating the appropriate exposure standards. To achieve this research goal, researchers in various fields will participate in this study at the biomedical campus of Dongguk University, funded by large-scale government research grants for 3 years. Based on the results from this research, we expect that various bio-convergence studies necessary for the prevention of chronic diseases and the promotion of health will be enabled by accurate evaluation of human exposure to hazardous substances and by obtaining basic research data necessary for updating relevant laws and regulations.Q. Recently, the eating habits of the Korean people have changed, given the increase in single-person households, with an emerging preference for convenience food. How do you expect this research will help our food culture?A. With the recent increase in single-person households, alongside the Covid-19 pandemic, these effects are not limited to the food consumption patterns of consumers in Korea, but are also widespread abroad. This research reflects the changing trends of food consumption at home and abroad, and is expected to contribute to the preparation of national policies for healthier eating habits by evaluating human exposure to harmful pollutants in popular food, such as convenience foods, of which consumption has increased rapidly, and by securing basic research data for the safety management of hazardous materials.Q. As interest in food increases, concerns about harmful pollutants in food have also increased. There seems to be a need for a different response other than the Food Sanitation Law. Is there a goal in this study in relation to this?A. Given the recent developments in the industry, the need for national management has emerged owing to the continuous emergence of new harmful substances, such as environmentally-derived pollutants and unintentional side-product pollutants generated during the food manufacturing process. Consequently, serious social issues and conflicts have occurred, and huge management costs are being generated. One of the main objectives of this research is to perform pollution surveys and risk assessments by establishing test methods to assess the preemptive response to harmful pollutants in food and to investigate the actual condition of harmful pollutants, to prepare basic data to help establish food safety management policies, such as setting and reviewing laws and standards for hazardous pollutants in food, and to suggest relevant policies.* The current food sanitation law suggests standards for food additives, but newly identified hazardous substances that are not included in the law require separate standards.Q. If there is anything you would like to say to people of Dongguk University, please do so.A. In 2019, Dongguk University Biomedical Convergence Research Institute established a new convergence research strategy as a new venture of the Institute to drive the specialization of the Biomedical Campus (BMC). In order to promote the convergence of research reflecting the latest trends in the fields of biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy, and oriental medicine, the center was reorganized into six sub-centers.From now on, the institute will perform large-scale convergence research projects for biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy, and oriental medicine; recruit excellent global research personnel; invest in advanced research equipment; commercialize our technology; and support R&D education for students at the Biomedi campus. Through these, we plan to accelerate the specialization of biotechnology.By winning these projects, Dongguk University’s Biomedi is now able to focus more on research and development in biotechnology, one of our university’s specialized fields. Convergence research in various fields will achieve research goals and contribute further to specialization. At present, given the increased interest in health and food safety, we hope that the research conducted by our university research team will help provide a new foundation for food safety management.Web reporter Park Hyun-jung (Department of Law)

MOU Signed for Research Exchange and Cooperation between Dongguk...

MOU Signed for Research Exchange and Cooperation between Dongguk University and Korea Road Traffic Authority Promoting Joint Venture in Response to Environmental Changes in Future Road Traffic Dongguk University (President Yoon Sung-yi) and Korea Road Traffic Authority (Chairman Yoon Jong-ki) signed an MOU for research exchange and cooperation at the Lotus Hall of Dongguk University on Wednesday, July 8th, 2020.Under this agreement, Dongguk University and Korea Road Traffic Authority plan to enhance their research capabilities and competitiveness by actively exchanging research data, and pursue multidisciplinary efforts, such as developing new technologies and improving systems in the transportation sector in this era of the fourth industrial revolution.In particular, the two agencies will actively promote joint research and development, academic events, and the exchange of research personnel to respond to changes in the future transportation environment, such as the development of new technologies, and the development and improvement of legislation in the autonomous vehicle and transportation “big data” sectors.Dongguk University is expected to cultivate excellence and talent needed for the society of the future, and Korea Road Traffic Authority is expected to accelerate infrastructure development and system improvement to prepare for the advent of autonomous driving environment through industrial and academic cooperation.At the ceremony, President Yoon of Dongguk University said, “This joint venture will be a good opportunity to secure new technology in the transportation sector in the era of the fourth industrial revolution through research and exchange cooperation with Korea Road Traffic Authority. It is expected to be of great help in the development of D.N.A (Big Data, Network, AI), which is a strategic specialization field at Dongguk University related to future technology developed for the fourth industrial revolution.”

Twenty Dongguk University Alumni Elected into the 21st National ...

Twenty Dongguk University Alumni Elected into the 21st National AssemblySeven undergraduate alumni and thirteen graduate school alumni win their seatsTwenty Dongguk University alumni were elected as members of the 21st National Assembly in the country’s legislative elections which were held on April 15, 2020. A grand total of 56 alumni and faculty members were registered as candidates for this election. Notably, alumnus Hong Young-pyo won his fourth consecutive term for the constituency Bupyeong B, Incheon, and alumnus Chun Jae-soo was reelected for Buk–Gangseo A, Busan. Seven of the elected alumni are graduates of Dongguk University’s undergraduate schools while the other thirteen completed are products of the graduate schools. The party affiliations of the elected individuals are as follows: nine for the Democratic Party, eight for the United Future Party, two for the Future Korea Party, and one for the Platform Party. Among them, seventeen were elected from district constituencies and two were elected from proportional representations.

Convergence Software Institute of Dongguk University Selected fo...

Convergence Software Institute of Dongguk University Selected for University ICT Research Center Support ProjectInterview with Professor Kim Ji-hui, Department of Artificial IntelligenceDongguk University has been selected for the project supported by the University ICT Research Center (ITRC). The ITRC support project, hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and implemented by the Institute for Information & communication Technology Planning & evaluation, is one of the representative projects in the field of information and communication technology (ICT). The aim of the project is to cultivate capable, creative, and convergent-thinking experts in the ICT field. These individuals are competent in problem-solving and R&D through their performance of demand-based industry–academic cooperation tasks. There are various branches like artificial intelligence (AI), digital content, quantum chain, and blockchain; accordingly, Dongguk University was selected for the branch of AI through the project Developing “High Performance Knowledge System” and Training Human Resources. By being selected for this project, the university will obtain a total of 6 billion won for the next eight years; subsequently, the amount will be dispersed at 400 million won for the first year and then 800 million won for every year afterward.Professor Kim Ji-hui of the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the Convergence Software Institute, Dongguk University will be in charge of the ITRC support project. Professor Kim received her doctoral degree in the field of AI from the University of Southern California in the United States. She has held various posts including Senior Vice President at the KT Institute of Future Technology and Vice President of the AI Lab at Samsung Electronics.Q. What is a “High Performance Knowledge System?”Simply put, it is a learning intelligence system with enhanced performance. Among the various areas of artificial intelligence, this system is relevant to the field of learning intelligence. In addition to deep learning and machine learning, there is also learning from inference.* There are many challenges to knowledge inference. While there have been numerous studies on solving static and simple problems, there is a lack of research on techniques for analyzing or modeling dynamic and complex situations. Furthermore, various researches are needed to apply AI in everyday life. In this regard, the study to implement the two aforementioned matters is the High Performance Knowledge System.* AI inference: This refers to AI that has the intellectual capacity to comprehensively assess diverse circumstances to predict upcoming situations. Rather than computing simple programmatic results, it is capable of logical analysis and reasoning by using raw materials.Q. What do you hope to achieve through this support project?Since I am also heading our university’s AI graduate program, the theme of the project is set on the field of “care.” The aim is to build an AI in the care field that can facilitate people’s lives and enhance their quality of life. For example, an AI that can detect anomalies in the daily patterns of an elder who has fallen or one that can provide health care like reminding people to workout at specific times. The direction that the project pursues is to ensure that these technologies can be applied appropriately in real life.Q. What are some of the difficulties you have faced during your research?Since the field of AI in itself is a difficult problem and is receiving much attention from society, we need the support of many others. We require the cooperation of numerous people because it is more than about technological issues, and comprehensively includes aspects of health, psychology, and culture. Various fields will be further involved as the research proceeds, making cooperation the most important yet the most difficult task.Q. What are your plans for training new talent?One of the focuses of the ITRC support project is to train new graduate school talents, and therefore, we are planning to cultivate new talent at our AI graduate program alongside it. The goal is to foster experts who not only have outstanding AI technology and research abilities, but also who are able to accurately perceive problems necessary in real life and solve problems demanded by either corporations or the government. In addition, since this project stresses creative activities, we aim to train individuals who can think about given problems, as well as their surrounding environment and various social issues in order to creatively come up with their own problems.Q. Do you have any last words for our readers?In addition to the students of Dongguk University, all employees and faculty members already grasp the importance of AI, which can only take its complete form when not only technology but also diverse fields of study like social, cultural, Buddhism, and art come together. As previously mentioned, the field of care also needs the cooperation of others in various fields. Therefore, I kindly ask for cooperation from others in order to create a win–win situation that can further enrich the education and research of Dongguk University.The current selection for the ITRC support project is meaningful in that it serves as a steppingstone to vitalize Dongguk University’s specialized area named DNA (Big Data Network AI). With the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the university looks forward to fostering specialized and talented individuals who will lead during this era by harmonizing AI and Buddhism.

HP Korea & Dongguk University, Working “Hand-in-Hand” to Foster ...

HP Korea & Dongguk University, Working “Hand-in-Hand” to Foster Printing Business Managers▲ HP Korea and Dongguk University entered a business agreement to develop the printing market at Lotus Hall, Dongguk University on May 28. Professor Kim Seung-yong, Director of Planning & Budget, Dongguk University (left), and Kim Byung-soo, Managing Director, Indigo, HP Korea (right)On May 28, HP Korea signed a business agreement with Dongguk University for training printing business managers and the advancement of the digital printing market.Dongguk University will offer a major program associated with Graphic Communication Science at the School of Business Administration from the fall semester starting in September 2020.HP Korea will support digital printing education and practical training in the associated program that will be offered at Dongguk University. HP Korea and Dongguk University will work hand-in-hand to educate students on the latest digital printing technologies and solutions to foster professionals in the domestic printing industry and further develop the regional industry.HP Korea will actively support digital printing education and practical training in line with Dongguk University’s move to train printing business executives and managers.Dongguk University’s curriculum will include a variety of information, such as digital printing product development using HP Indigo (a digital printing solution of HP), the latest trends in digital printing technology, and business opportunities through digital printing. This is to increase the understanding of the printing industry and lead the growth of the industry.HP will select outstanding students and provide them with internship opportunities at HP as well as overseas training prospects. In addition, practical training opportunities will be offered in various digital printing areas in association with partner companies.Based on their mutual cooperation, HP Korea and Dongguk University are also set to develop university printing platform startups.It is expected that the printing orders in the university will be handled by printing through HP Indigo, thereby supporting the popular use of high-quality printing materials in the university, satisfying printing demands on campus at a reasonable cost, and providing business experience opportunities to future printing business managers. Kim Byung-soo, Managing Director of the Indigo Division, HP Korea said, “This agreement is a result of the efforts made to contribute to the progress of the domestic printing industry, fostering of printing business professionals, and growth of the regional industry based on the know-how of HP, which has led the global digital printing industry. Based on the cooperation agreement with Dongguk University, we will continuously seek the role of HP can play in strengthening the competitiveness of the South Korean digital printing industry.”

Multiple Large-Scale Government Grants Awarded

Multiple Large-Scale Government Grants Awarded Five Projects and 20.5 Billion Won (Approximately 17 Million USD) Awarded in the Past Month Multiple projects at Dongguk University (led by President Yoon Sung-Yee) have recently been selected for large-scale government grants.The Academy of Cultural Studies, led by Professor Seo In-Bum, has recently been selected for the Humanities Korea Plus project by the National Research Foundation of Korea and awarded a grant worth 8 billion won (approximately 6.5 million USD) over a seven-year period. Good news regarding grants for other projects includes ▲the second phase of the Beyond Research Innovation & Development for Good Enterprises Plus (BRIDGE+) project (the Ministry of Education), ▲ICT Grants Program for University Research Centers (the Ministry of Science and ICT/Institute for Information & Communication Technology Planning & Evaluation), ▲Business Development Funding for Sport Services (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), and ▲2020 Research Development Funding by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.The BRIDGE+ project aims to achieve the commercialization of intellectual assets, technology transfer, and capacity reinforcement of specialized organizations. Funding includes 3.9 billion won (roughly, 3.2 million USD) over a three-year period. The project is expected to strengthen the university’s capacity to collaborate with industries and businesses.Professor Kim Ji-Hee at the Institute of Future Confluence Education received an award from the ICT Grants Program for University Research Centers, which is designed to promote the development of high-performance knowledge systems and human capital. Accordingly, the university is receiving 4.4 billion won (approximately 3.6 million USD) in government funding over a six-year period, which will surely invigorate the university’s specialized fields (D.N.A).Professor Jung Jin-Wook in the Department of Sports and Cultures initiated the grant application for the Business Development Funding for Sport Services project by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Korea Sports Promotion Foundation). Funding of 2 billion won (1.6 million USD) over three years will be used to develop technology for therapeutic exercise that brings health benefits to children with developmental disorders.Finally, acquired by Professor Shin Han-Seung, the president of the Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science, 2020 Research Development Funding by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is a three-year grant of 1.8 billion won (approximately 1.5 million USD). The aim of the project is to secure testing methods that guide preemptive responses to hazardous pollutants in food (e.g., heavy metals, novel fungal toxins, natural toxins, highly hazardous chemicals, etc.), investigate pollutants using the Survey of Hazardous Pollutants, and implement risk assessments.Dongguk University has secured research funding of approximately 20.5 billion won (roughly, 17 million USD) in a short timeframe through multiple large-scale government grants. Such resources will significantly enhance the university’s capacity for both research and talent development. 사진설명: Professor Seo In-Bum Professor Kim Ji-Hee Professor Jung Jin-Wook Professor Shin Han-Seung

A Nepalese Graduate Student’s Research on Bacteria

A Nepalese Graduate Student’s Research on BacteriaOur student, Chhetri Geeta (enrolled in the Combined Master’s and Ph.D. program, Department of Life Science), won a Graduate Academic Award (First-Ranked Outstanding Research Award) at the 114th anniversary ceremony of the university on May 8, 2019. She surprised her colleagues with the news that five of her research papers on bacteria had been published in Science Citation Index (SCI) journals. We met and talked about her research activities and life as a graduate student. ▲ Meeting with Chhetri Geeta in her LabQ. You studied and wrote about bacteria extracted from gardens, rice paddies, and oceans. What motivates you to study bacteria?I think that we, as human beings, do not know enough about bacteria yet. It may well be that bacteria, not dinosaurs or humans, have dominated the earth. We continue to find new, mysterious bacteria around us and study their ecology. Bacteria, such as penicillin and other antibiotics, can bring significant benefits to human life. I want my research to be part of achieving this goal. I find new bacteria in the ground and plants in the surrounding area, name them, study their ecology, and let the world know about them. Each of the new strains is unique, so I conduct my research with a sense of pride, as it provides information necessary for future studies and lays the foundation for microbiological research. Q. What is the most memorable paper you have written so far?That would be “Pontibacter oryzae sp. nov., a carotenoid-producing species isolated from a rice paddy field.” When experimenting with bacteria, some of them give expected results, whereas others do not. I do feel pressure when dealing with such bacteria that are challenging to study. Any graduate student waiting in the lab, hoping to get expected results, should relate. Thus, I am grateful that I repeatedly got the same, expected outcomes with the bacterium named Pontibacter oryzae in over 10 experiments. I found quite a few unique characteristics of this bacterium and received the Best Post Award and Best Presentation Award at the General Meeting of the Microbiological Society of Korea. As the bacterium made these awards possible, this research is the most memorable one.Q. You published five papers in academic journals in 2019. Do you have any tips?My graduate life passed quickly. I was a teaching assistant and taking classes each semester, so my to-dos always piled up like a mountain. Thus, I made a detailed timetable with a certain amount of time regularly dedicated to my research; I was committed to this schedule. I think this was the key to publishing multiple papers. In fact, it took me a while to write my first paper, but I picked up speed with my second and subsequent papers because of my past experience. It was also beneficial to read lots of existing papers. Q. In what way was Dongguk University most helpful in your research? When students publish a paper in an SCI journal, the university gives them a grant for each one as an acknowledgment. The school grants 1 million won per article, which is more than what my friends’ schools give. This made my friends envy me. I think this certainly encouraged me to publish many papers.Q. What would be your advice for students who want to go to graduate school?First, when you enter graduate school, it is more important to know “what fits you,’” rather than “what you want to do.” In fact, you never know what to expect in the lab, so it will take time to get used to the environment until you enjoy conducting research and gain some confidence. What you want to do will change more than a dozen times as you acquire more laboratory experiences. Second, it is critical to know whether your advisor is a good match for you. With a mentor you can trust and respect, you are more likely to stay focused during your research. Similarly, maintaining a good relationship with your lab colleagues typically leads to better research outcomes and papers. It is absolutely true that two heads are better than one. I would like to take this time to thank Professor Seo Tae-Keun, senior student Kim Ji-Yeon, and my colleagues, Kim In-Hyup, Kim Hyung-Dong, and Kang Min-Jeong. Finally, a piece of advice to international students: it is a lot easier to adjust if you know the Korean language well. I hope you put great effort into practicing your Korean.▲ The Graduate Academic Award Ceremony It is our hope to see more researchers like her. At the end of the interview, she said she wants to continue her research in the US or Australia after completing the Combined Master’s and Ph.D. program. After I wished her success in achieving her goals and going out into the world as a proud Dongguk alumnus, we ended our short but memorable interview. Web Reporter : Hwang Hae-Soo

Nurturing Future Leaders in Cutting-edge Intelligent Information...

Nurturing Future Leaders in Cutting-edge Intelligent Information Technology Dongguk University to open AI graduate school by Fall semesterConvergent education and research on medicine, arts, social sciences, and engineering in the works“The similarity between Buddhism and AI is that both improve the quality of life”“The Fourth Industrial Revolution will be an era led by cutting-edge intelligent information technology, and technology-based intelligent information is the core competency needed to guide it. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Department will carry out education and research on health and medicine, cultural contents, security and administration, and engineering with the goal of nurturing talent grounded in intelligent information competency to lead and achieve innovation across society.”Dongguk University (President: Yoon Sung-yee) has chosen to specialize in data, networks, and AI, and will open a department of AI studies in its Graduate School. The department aims to offer master’s and doctoral programs from the Fall semester of the 2020 academic year. “The AI department’s objective is to nurture AI experts who can meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and future industries in the field,” said Prof. Kim Jee-hee, explaining that the department will “evolve into a professional educational institution that fosters highly-qualified talents and builds a leading model of industry-academia cooperation through convergence with various academic fields like health and medicine, arts and culture, social sciences, and engineering.”The AI department will offer specialties in intelligent health and medicine, intelligent arts and culture, intelligent security and administration, and intelligent engineering. Recently, the health and medical sector has witnessed improvements in the precision and effectiveness of prediction, diagnosis, and prognosis analysis through the application of information technology. The intelligent health and medicine specialty involves conducting research on the convergence of AI with health, senior care, and medical services and engineering, focusing on intelligent information-based life care that helps maintain health in daily life.There are also active efforts under way in the field of humanities and social sciences to solve various problems through the application of AI. The intelligent arts and culture specialty entails the study of the convergence of AI with languages, Buddhism, film, theater, arts, and other subjects in the humanities and social sciences, and also involves conducting research that can help strengthen the cultural contents industry. Diverse research is also being conducted by applying AI to digital governance, intelligent administration, and other fields of administration and law. The intelligent security and administration specialty involves conducting AI convergence research, as required in the fields of administration, law, and security.Prof. Kim Jee-heeThe intelligent engineering specialty focuses on studying the basic fields of technology such as deep learning, big data, Internet of Things (IoT), security, extended reality, robots, drones, and data science, and converging these with various fields like architecture, civil engineering, electronic engineering, electrical engineering, machinery, energy, bio-engineering, and chemical engineering. It pursues the convergence of AI with IoT-based smart industries.“The convergence of traditional academic disciplines with AI can stimulate strengths and compensate for weaknesses, thereby boosting the capacities of the students and the university,” Prof. Kim Jee-hee said, explaining that “the practice of Buddhist Zen is effective in calming the mind and reducing stress. There are ongoing discussions on convergence in various academic fields, including the combination of Buddhist practice with the medical sector through AI to create new disciplines.”Prof. Kim also said, “The similarity between Buddhism and AI is that both improve the quality of life,” adding that she “vow[s] to contribute to improving our society, relying on the convergence of Buddhism’s rich and varied content with various fields through AI.”Prof. Kim earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Seoul National University, and a doctoral degree at the University of Southern California in the United States. She has served as President of the Korean Computer Scientists and Engineers Association in America, head of KT’s Future Technology Research Lab, director of Samsung Electronics’ AI Lab, and a committee member of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning’s convergence technology development business division.

Publication of East Asian Buddhist Literature, Korea’s First Eng...

Publication of East Asian Buddhist Literature, Korea’s First English Journal Specializing in East Asian Buddhist Literature by the Institute for Buddhist Culture at Dongguk University Dongguk University’s (President Yoon Sung-yee) Department of East Asian Buddhist Literature Translation at the Institute for Buddhist Culture (Director Kim Jong-wook) recently published the first volume of East Asian Buddhist Literature (EABL). EABL is the only English journal in Korea that specializes in East Asian Buddhist Literature. Professor Kim Jong-wook at Dongguk University and Professor Ochiai Toshinori at the International College for Postgraduate Buddhist Studies in Japan are the joint chief editors of EABL, and specialists of Korean, American, Chinese, and Japanese Buddhist literatures form the editorial committee.The EABL discovers and critically interprets manuscripts and printed copies of Buddhist literature in East Asia, including those from Korea. Based on research findings, the journal connects with the original literature and explains it in English.EABL is the sister journal to Korea’s only English Buddhist Journal, International Journal of Buddhist Thought & Culture, issued by the Institute for Buddhist Culture. The publication of EABL is said to have accelerated the Institute’s pace for the internationalization of Korean Buddhism study.

Fostering “Harmonization-Type Talent” to Lead the 4th Industrial...

Fostering “Harmonization-Type Talent” to Lead the 4th Industrial Revolution Founded in 1906 by Buddhist pioneers with the purpose of “Protecting the Nation by means of Education” when the future of the nation seemed bleak under the Japanese colonial rule, Dongguk University began with the name Myeongjin School, and later continued its development under the names of the Advanced Buddhism School, Jungang Haklim, Central Buddhism College, and Hyehwa College. Despite being forced to close under Japanese imperialism, the University has enlightened the spirit of the times at every critical moment of Korean society. After national liberation, the University changed its name to Dongguk University in 1946 and was promoted from a college to university in 1953. Today, Dongguk University has more than 300,000 alumni in various fields, including religion, politics, economy, society, education, and culture. Currently, it has established sisterhood relationships with more than 300 universities in 51 countries worldwide, and is leading the Korean society as the nation's top prestigious private university with over 28,000 students across four campuses in Seoul, Goyang, Gyeongju, and Los Angeles.Accelerating the advent of the future campusSince 2019, Dongguk University has been preparing to introduce a full-duplex remote class system laying the groundwork for the 4th industrial revolution. In the wake of the spread of COVID-19, remote lectures were put into practice as of March. Remote lectures, run via advanced ICT technology, are drawing attention, as full-duplex classes enable data sharing, writing, video playback, interactive communication, and quizzes in real time. All teachers are fully prepared for the real-time remote lectures by shooting sample lectures and performing advance monitoring. Furthermore, stable operation of non-contact online lectures was possible without causing server overload due to an increase in the number of users. Exemplary preparedness has been displayed throughout the university community.Education innovation leading the 4th industrial revolutionAs a representative concept for the development plan of the Energize Dongguk Project, which was announced by the university president, Yoon Sung-yee, upon his inauguration, “Fostering Harmonization-Type Talent to Lead the 4th Industrial Revolution” has been selected. A new department dedicated to the project was also established under the name “Education and Innovation Division.” First, the major-convergence system was introduced from the first semester of this year to remove barriers between departments and majors. Under the convergence of majors, a department (major) and another department (major) form a new major program. This newly developed major convergence can be taken by students of any department (major). This year, public talent and machine intelligence convergence majors were established, and new major-convergence programs are expected to be created in the future.The university’s preparation for software education capabilities is also noteworthy. Dongguk University developed a basic curriculum of software education and strengthened software education for non-majors, such as humanities, social sciences, arts, physical education, and natural sciences. The university aims to provide software convergence education that goes beyond the conventional level of convergence between engineering disciplines and encompasses science and technology, engineering, manufacturing, and software from a humanities perspective. A curriculum that realizes student-centered convergence-based education through the integration of engineering, humanities, social science, and arts via software is currently in operation. The number of students completing the convergence software major increased significantly from 212 in 2018 to 313 in 2019. Regular semesters are also operated flexibly. Dongguk University introduced the Intensive Course Program to enable instructors to select and operate various lengths of curriculum, such as 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 10 weeks, without the constraint of the existing standard number of class days.Analysis based on data facilitates more accurate and reasonable decision making in the University. Last year, Dongguk University established an Institutional Research (IR) team to systematically collect, collate, and analyze all university data, provide them to members of the University, and support university policy decisions.“Turning Aspirations into Reality,” creating a university culture centered on youth startupsTo date, Dongguk University strived to create an entrepreneurship-oriented university culture. More systematic support of entrepreneurship was made possible by combining various aspects of entrepreneurship, such as startup support, incubation, and education functions, which had been managed under multiple organizations, into Startup-One, an integrated management organization for entrepreneurship on campus. A number of student startups are being fostered by introducing an entrepreneurship-friendly undergraduate administrative system, such as allowing leaves of absence for startup ventures and a credit-substitution system for entrepreneurship. The University is building a strong foundation as a regional hub university by supporting up to 100 million won in marketing and commercialization costs for young entrepreneurs in the preliminary and early-stage startups. Last year, the University received the 2019 Presidential Award for Venture Startup Promotions.300,000-strong alumni networkBefitting a university with a 114-year history, alumni serve as the University’s strongest supporters. Dongguk University alumni actively participate in the donation of development funds for the University and juniors every year. In particular, at the Sponsored Night to Energize Dongguk event held in November of last year, the University presented a vision of developing and fostering departments to reach the top 10 in Korea and top 100 in the world, and the donation support amounted to 28 billion. Based on these donations, Dongguk University plans to add fresh fuels to cultivating global talent and reinforcing research competitiveness by inviting outstanding instructors and fostering world-class scholars, and to building a future campus by establishing a world-class education and research infrastructure.