On September 21, ISSS sent out a survey to international students currently taking online courses while abroad. It asked students to identify the main obstacles they are facing during the online semester and to mention specific courses that need improvement. Based on the results, which ISSS shared with other relevant KAIST administration and department offices before Chuseok, it is hoped that more courses will adapt to accommodate students stuck abroad.

Around 33% of international undergraduate and graduate degree-seeking students are currently not in Korea, which causes more hurdles to effective online learning. The results of the ISSS survey demonstrated the most prevalent problems: 47% of respondents had difficulties attending real-time classes due to the time difference between their home nation and Korea; 37% had trouble with internet connection; 13% had problems with Zoom; and 7% reported problems with KLMS. Other mentioned issues included difficulty carrying out group projects and concerns about power outages causing disconnections during classes and exams. Only 27% of respondents reported that they had no problems with their online classes.

In an interview with The KAIST Herald, ISSS Student Services Coordinator Minjae Lee confirmed that the results of the survey were shared with the Office of Academic Affairs, the Office of Student Affairs and Policy, the Student Life Team, and the KAIST COVID-19 Task Force (TF). The KAIST TF then compiled a list of the courses that had been mentioned as having problems and contacted the relevant heads of department. 

Although Lee remarked that “the final decision [about class type] lies with the professors,” he was hopeful that the survey results would help to resolve the issues students are facing by encouraging the provision of recorded lectures and accommodations for international students with connection problems.