On February 11, KAIST held its commencement ceremony at the Lyu Keun-Chul Sports Complex. The ceremony was carried out for two hours, promply starting at two in the afternoon.

The graduating Class of 2011 was composed of 771 Bachelor's, 1,111 Master's, and 507 Ph.D. recipients. After the degrees were given to the graduates, the valedictorian speech and president's congratulatory speech promptly followed.

KAIST additionally awarded honorary doctorate degrees to five well-known public figures who contributed to the development of science and technology. The awardees are Shirley Ann Jackson, the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Young Shin Jang, the president of Aekyung, Dr. Young Gil Kim, the president of Handong Global University, Ms. Ewon Oh, and President Chun Sik Cho. Shirley Ann Jackson received an honorary doctorate degree in science and technology, while the other four received doctorates in business administration.

Shirley Ann Jackson is an American physicist who was appointed Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by President Clinton. She also served as a member of President Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. With her achievements as a physicist and in various government posts, Jackson is respected as an influential figure in science and technology. Young Shin Jang, the president of Aekyung Co., LTD., is the first female CEO in Korea. Jang’s capable management transformed a small soap company into a conglomerate giant that has more than 20 interrelated enterprises. She has worked as vice-president in the Federation of Korea Industries and in the Korea International Trade Association.

Ms. Ewon Oh donated a scholarship fund worth ten billion won to KAIST last year. With her donation, KAIST founded the Ewon Assistant Professor System, which motivated many young and competent assistant professors to make considerable progress in their research for the development of science and technology. Also, President Chun Sik Cho displayed a sense of noblesse oblige by donating his fortune to KAIST to support scientists who would ultimately contribute to the wealth of the nation. His donation was spent on the establishment of the Cho Chun Sik Graduate School for Green Transportation, which educates technical professionals in the field of green transportation industry.

Dr. Young Gil Kim was appointed as a KAIST professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in 1979. In 1995, he became the president of Handong Global University with a goal of preparing global leaders through total education, combining moral and academic training. Although these awardees were nominated after careful deliberation based on their achievements and contributions in advancing society, there still remain controversies over the qualifications of some of the awardees.