On May 1, KAIST held a meeting with the parents of its undergraduate students at the KAIST campus. About 400 parents were invited and were presented the opportunity to share the university’s operation philosophy, vision, and information with President Sung-Mo “Steve” Kang, the new president nominated this year. They then exchanged opinions regarding education, research, and other aspects of university life and of their children. The school plans to refer to and reflect on their opinions in future university operation and management.

The meeting continued for three and a half hours, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Auditorium (E16). After declaring the opening, the dean of Office of Student Support introduced the university executives, including President Kang, the auditor, the provost, the vice president of External Affairs, the vice president of Research, the dean of Office of Academic Affairs, and many other high-level executives, and emphasized the significance of the meeting and the importance of communication between the school and the parents. This was followed by the welcoming address by President Kang. The provost provided information about the current operating system and management state of KAIST to the parents to let them understand more clearly about the university that their children attend. Two discussion sessions with the parents were organized and an hour for a buffet lunch was provided on the lawn behind the Auditorium.

After the meeting with the parents, KAIST then held “President Sung-Mo Kang’s Visiting Doughnut Times” from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the lawn next to the Creative Learning Building (E11). Distributing doughnuts and chatting with the students, President Kang had the opportunity to directly listen to the voices of the students.

Since most of the high-ranking university executives attended the meeting and were willing to take the opinions of the parents into account, KAIST expects this meeting to be the instigator of true communication between the school administration and its comprising members and parents.