Starting this fall semester, KAIST offers a remote class system for students who serve in the military. Though the discussions between KAIST Undergraduate Association (UA) and KAIST about implementing this system have begun since 2017, it was never finalized. The Academic Registrars Team explained that “the remote class system during military service” will be carried out to minimize achievement gaps caused by academic break of the students conscripted to the army. The new system allows the  students taking a leave of absence for enlistment — including the army, navy, air force, compulsory police and social service personnel — to obtain up to three credits per semester and up to 12 credits during their service period through remote classes. The first eight courses to offer this program are “Finite Element Analysis of Structures” (ME535), “Digital System Control” (ME5562), “General Chemistry Lab I” (CH102), “Linear Algebra”(MAS212), “Electric Circuits” (EE304), “Microwave Engineering” (EE542), “Solid State Physics” (EE661), and “Financial Management” (MSB235). With the cooperation of the Ministry of National Defense, students only have to pay 50% of the tuition fee — 50,000 KRW per credit or AU — once the course registration is finalized. The registration period was from August 18 to August 31.

Although KAIST offers more classes for the military E-learning program compared to other universities, several critical problems surfaced after the program was introduced. Half of the courses offered are elective courses aimed for graduate students, even though most of the students serve in the military during their undergraduate studies, which may render the program ineffective for those who need it most. Along the same lines, issues have been raised about the enlisted students having a hard time taking the courses. For example, students who took MSB235 had to attend the real time Zoom session with their videos on. However, this was not possible for enlisted students, as they had to be at military drills throughout most of the day and could not turn on their camera due to military security reasons. After many raised concerns about this issue, KAIST quickly responded by changing the policy to having take-home quizzes and exams, uploading non-real time lecture videos to KLMS, and giving S/U grades.

Even though KAIST was quite late in introducing the military E-learning program compared to other universities, it is fortunate that KAIST finally implemented this program. Nonetheless, further supplementary measures will be required so that the academic break would not hinder the academic progress of the students.