POSTECH is a renowned university both nationally and globally. This summer, POSTECH took another significant step towards international engagement with the launch of its new program, Global POSTECH Summer (GPS). The program, organized by the Department of Convergence IT Engineering (CiTE), the Department of Engineering Education at the University of Florida (UF), and the POSTECH Language Center (POSLEC) offered the experience of CiTE’s unique convergence learning, as well as Korean culture experience, over a five-week period. Activities took place both on and off the POSTECH campus.
Twelve students from UF were enrolled in courses offered by CiTE that focused on communication and cultural understanding. The program aimed to enhance not only the students’ academic learning but also global communication skills, by immersing them in a different cultural environment and encouraging them to engage with Korea’s history and society.
The students did not confine their learning to the classroom; they took full advantage of their weekends to explore the peninsula. From Jeju Island to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the UF students, alongside their POSTECH TAs, experienced various cultural and historical aspects of the country, leading to deeper understanding of the foreign culture.
On July 25, the program ended with the Closing Award Ceremony held at CHANGeUP Ground, attended by over 70 participants. The event included a screening of GPS program highlights aired by MBC, followed by a collaborative puzzle game. The evening concluded with the students’ writing letters which were sealed in a time capsule, ready to be opened by participants in future GPS programs. The final award ceremony celebrated the achievements of the students and the success of the program.
While all the students shared the same program, their experiences were unique in their own ways. Chris, a UF student, reflected on his time in Jeju Island, saying, “It reminded me of the tropics of Florida, but it also had its own beauty because, unlike Florida, it had many mountains, so going on hikes was a little foreign to me… I got to see a lot of nature and it was beautiful.” Another student, Abhi, found joy in visiting famous landmarks from K-dramas, remarking, “My favorite part was visiting landmarks that I have heard about before. I am a huge fan of K-dramas, and I got to see different places where they filmed them… My friend and I even recreated a scene from one of the dramas together.”
The success of the first GPS program has laid a strong foundation for its continuation and expansion in the future. Many UF students expressed interest in the ongoing research at POSTECH and even in pursuing internships at the university’s labs. There is also anticipation for extending the program’s duration to a semester or even a full year, with hopes for mutual exchanges of POSTECH students to UF. The GPS program marks a significant step forward in POSTECH’s journey towards becoming a truly global institution, fostering a new generation of Postechians with a broader worldview and stronger international ties.
