- 건국대학교

	KU to Open Konkuk Institute of Technology in Spring 2017
	관리자		2197		2016.12.30

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The Konkuk Institute of Technology (KIT) opened in Spring 2017 with funding from the government’s Program for Industrial Needs-Matched Education, also known as the PRIME project. The following eight departments at the institute aims to prepare its students to become leaders in areas with significant growth potential in the 21st century.
Department of Energy Engineering
According to a report published by the Korea Institute of Advancement of Technology in early 2016, demand for experts in information and communication technology as well as new energy will increase by 2020. At KIT’s Department of Energy Engineering, the curriculum is designed to educate students in converting, storing, and managing energy to develop sustainable energy technologies. Professor Doo Kyung Mun says that by shifting the focus of education from products to technologies, students will be able to adapt to the rapid changes in the industry. 
The curriculum entails four tracks—electric power conversion, solar power conversion, energy storage, and energy demand management—and is designed to engage students in both theory and practice. First and second year students will take core courses in basic science, and also gain practical experience in cutting-edge technologies and applied engineering during the summer and winter. Students who receive their bachelor’s degree will be able to participate in internships after graduation with organizations that have signed MOUs with KIT, which will in turn lead to full-time employment. Meanwhile, students joining the 4+1 BS/MS program will be able to take graduate level courses and conduct independent research during their undergraduate program. Selected students at the department are expected to receive a scholarship to and be mentored by CEOs, CTOs, and other high-level executives in the private sector.
Department of Smart Vehicle Engineering
Students at the Department of Smart Vehicle Engineering will learn how to improve the convenience and safety of driverless cars and drones by adding sensors and control systems. “Smart vehicle engineering has been recognized as a core technology for the 4th industrial revolution,” said Professor Sangho Kim. “We predict that the market will grow accordingly.”
Faculty members at the department specialize in aerospace, automobiles, electronics, and computer science, and the two tracks on unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles are available with each track having four modules focusing on mechanics, sensory system, intelligence, and operation. According to Professor Kim, graduates of the department are expected to become aerospace engineers, robotics engineers, electronic controls engineers, and computer science engineers, among others and find employment at a wide range of organizations, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Agency for Defense Development, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, as well as both Korean and global companies.
Department of Smart ICT Engineering
The Department of Smart ICT Engineering integrates aspects of software, hardware, humanities, and cultural studies. With support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the department was established in 2013 and offered a master’s program initially. Based on its success, the curriculum of the new undergraduate program will combine courses from media, computer science, electronics engineering, and digital culture departments, and include subjects that were traditionally excluded from university education.
“The service sector in the future will be centered around wearable computing and devices,” said Professor HyungSeok Kim. “Areas that combine software, hardware, and culture, such as Internet of Things, virtual reality, and augmented reality, will be of interest.”
“We expect students to increase their learning capacity as well as problem-solving skills,” he said. “Learning capacity is the ability to find solutions through electronics engineering and computer science and by problem-solving skills I mean developing processes, meeting certain requirements, and providing applications based on existing information.”
Department of Cosmetics Engineering
Today, many Korean companies in the pharmaceutical, food, and logistics business has entered into the cosmetics industry, and the government has announced plans for Korea to become one of the top 7 countries in the world by 2020 with the expectation to create approximately 20,000 jobs by then. “The cosmetics industry integrates bioengineering nowadays, and is also becoming an important pillar of the healthcare industry by treating skin diseases,” said Professor Sungkwan An. “The field of cosmetics engineering is emerging to adapt to the rapid changes in the industry and contribute to its development.”
Cosmetics engineering is a new field involving developing, concocting and shaping cosmetic products as well as quality control and marketing. In 2001, Konkuk University had established a cosmetic science department within the Graduate School of Engineering and there has been more than 600 graduates from the master’s and doctorate programs. Given the multidisciplinary nature of the field, the department at KIT introduced five tracks—material development, quality control, manufacturing, evaluation, and dermatology—and students are to take a group of courses known as modules accordingly. Collaboration with the industry is at the core of the curriculum, setting the department apart from its peers. Each student will be assigned a professor who will serve as a mentor, and during their third and fourth year students will be closely supported in terms of their career development.
Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology
Students at the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, which was originally established as the animal bioengineering department 58 years ago, will study how to repair or replace damaged organs using stem cells and also focus on the aging process. Modeled after the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University, the department at KIT will be the first of its kind for an undergraduate program in Korea.
After gaining a strong foundation in life sciences, students will choose between two tracks. The first track focuses on stem-cell engineering, such as treatments, biomedicine, and anti-aging products. The other track specializes in regenerative biology, and involves genetic treatment and personalized medicine.
Professor Jeong Tae Do expects that genetic treatment and personalized medicine will become widespread in the near future. “The market for stem cell and regenerative biology is growing at an annual rate of 24 percent,” said the professor. “Between 2020 and 2030, bioengineering and regenerative medicine may reach its peak, and the department will produce graduates who will be able to lead the field.”
Department of Systems Biotechnology
In 2006, Konkuk University established a biotechnology major within the Graduate School. The program expanded to include an undergraduate program the following year. Konkuk’s drive to specialize in biotechnology has led to the Department of Systems Biotechnology as well as the Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology at KIT. Systems biotechnology involves application of the main factors in biological phenomena as well as development of bioprocesses. Professor Yong-sic Hwang cited the turtle ships used by Commander Yi Sun-sin against the Japanese navy during the Joseon Dynasty in his explanation. “In order to understand the victory, we must understand the structure and material used by the Japanese ships as well as their military strategies in addition to the hardware-side of the turtle ships.”
The curriculum at the Department of Systems Biotechnology comprises three areas: chemistry to learn molecular principles of biological phenomena, biology to understand the logic behind such phenomena, and applied biotechnology. Professor Hwang also emphasized extracurricular activities at the department, such as the research program, career development program, and global program. “Students at the department will have the opportunity to participate in research and gain work experience in the field,” he said. “The advances and rapid developments in biotechnology will continue to be reflected in the curriculum.”
Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology
The Department of Integrative Bioscience and Biotechnology takes a comprehensive approach to basic life sciences, biotechnology, biochemistry, and nanotechnology to understand biological phenomena. “Similar to other areas of science and engineering, the importance of collaboration across medicine, chemistry, biology, and IT in research and development of new technologies is increasing, and the private sector also prefers multidisciplinary employees,” said Professor Joong-Hoon Ahn. “Students can no longer become experts in one area; those studying biology must understand chemistry and so do students of physics.”
The goal is to educate and train multidisciplinary students with a strong academic foundation and practical experience who can become experts in research and development and the curriculum is designed accordingly. For example, second-year students are required to join their professor’s research labs and fourth-year students will be carrying out projects in connection with the private sector for future employment. The department is particularly well known for its faculty members; among eight of them, they share three awards for outstanding researchers and also three awards for best teachers given by Konkuk University each year.
Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering
Industries related to biomedicine, developing personalized medical technologies in particular, are being recognized as a source of economic growth in major developed countries. A report by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute shows that the domestic market for biomarkers increased from ₩60 billion in 2008 to ₩450 billion in 2011. In the United States, genetic analysis and diagnosis has grown 11% annual from 2002 to 2012, and is expected to reach $760 billion by 2020.
According to Professor Jaebum Kim, biomedicine is “a new academic discipline that applies concepts related to biology and engineering for public health and better quality of life.” By integrating new developments in IT, nanotechnology, and biotechnology, biomedicine creates new technologies to diagnose, treat, and prevent various diseases. It also involves designing the process to produce drugs and medical supplies in large scale. 
The department has close partnerships with globally competitive research centers and is inviting world renown authorities in the field for joint research and guest lectures. “With the Konkuk University Medical Center and its infrastructure, the department is strategically positioned to provide optimal education in the field,” said Professor Kim.

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