The campus town hall meeting dedicated to undergraduate interests was hosted on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 13. The most notable feature of the floor was that undergraduates freely engaged in conversations with POSTECH officials while enjoying a delicious meal.
Undergraduates shared their thoughts about POSTECH directly with President Seong Keun Kim. In addition, several questions were addressed by other attending representatives, including the Vice President of Planning, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Vice President of Admissions and Student Affairs, Vice President of Business Affairs, and Director of Student Affairs. For each question, the President first highlighted vital priorities to consider and then explained how POSTECH plans to ensure the best student experience in the years ahead.
Both the President and the Vice President of Planning emphasized the focus of resources on the new educational complex building — a new signature building of POSTECH designed to support advanced forms of learning for the late 21st-century Postechians. This new landmark will foster dynamic interaction, moving beyond the passive lecture-style classrooms of today. The complex will be located from the East Gate to the parking area next to the Tae-Joon Park Digital Library. It will include a cafeteria, cafes, and possibly clubhouses. Its built-up area will make access to the fundamental facilities more convenient for undergraduates.
Concerns about the fate of existing lecture classrooms were also addressed. Each department will primarily use these spaces for graduates. Most undergraduate activities will be centralized in the new complex. One concern students had related to the aging dormitory facilities. POSTECH officials shared their plan to expand the availability of single-occupancy rooms while incorporating shared living spaces to foster a sense of community and belonging.
Another key topic discussed was globalization. POSTECH officials emphasized the importance of experiencing diverse cultures and perspectives beyond Korea. Rather than focusing on memorizing textbook problems to score well on exams, students should aim to develop by gaining insights through exploration and research. The Pathfinder voucher is well-designed to support undergraduates who want to study abroad make the most of it. POSTECH is also working hard to forge collaborations with the University of California, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley startups, and Boston’s biomedical hubs to open new frontiers.
This town hall meeting was opened up to questions, fostering free speech and open conversation among Postechians. By addressing concerns and sharing visions for the future, Postechians now clearly understand what is happening at POSTECH and the direction in which POSTECH is headed.
