Students Design and Execute Their Own Courses
Recognized Self-Directed Academic System
Gyeongsang National University announced on the 31st that it held the ‘2023 Fall Semester Pioneering Semester Program Performance Presentation’ at the GNU Convention Center Multipurpose Hall on the Gajwa Campus.
The Fall Semester Pioneering Semester Program allows students to design their own courses and carry out self-directed activities instead of attending regular classes for one semester, earning credits as liberal arts or major credits. It is an academic system first introduced by a national university in the second semester of 2019.
In addition, faculty advisors closely guide students in carrying out their courses, and the university provides activity support funds to help students successfully complete their courses.
Group photo of Gyeongsang National University 2023 2nd Semester Pioneer Semester Achievement Presentation.
At the performance presentation, 23 teams consisting of 58 students presented their semester-long projects through posters and deliverables in the presence of students, faculty advisors, and staff. There was also a time set aside to share excellent cases and offer congratulations and encouragement through evaluation and judging.
The results of the evaluation of this semester’s deliverables were as follows: the Grand Prize in the Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities category went to the ‘AlSamReading Team’ from the Department of Computer Science (automating online shopping mall orders for visually impaired people), and the Grand Prize in the Engineering category was awarded to the ‘Narsha Team’ from the Department of Aerospace and Software Engineering (design and manufacture of a scaled-down warg ship). Winners received a scholarship of 650,000 KRW for outstanding projects.
Jang Dong-ho, team leader of the ‘AlSamReading Team’ which won the Grand Prize, said, “It was a great opportunity to learn content that cannot be taught in regular classes in a self-directed way and also earn major credits.”
Kwon Woo-young, team leader of the ‘Narsha Team’ which won the Grand Prize in the Engineering category, said, “It was an opportunity to grow through trial and error in a process-oriented manner while carrying out a project we designed ourselves.”
Kim Dong-jin, Chair of the Operating Committee, said, “We are expanding the Pioneering Semester Program every year to operate an innovative academic system pursued by a glocal university,” adding, “It is becoming a representative academic innovation system at Gyeongsang National University where students can gain diverse experiences that cannot be obtained in regular department classes by carrying out projects.”
Meanwhile, the Pioneering Semester Program recruits participating students every semester, and in the first semester of 2024, 22 teams consisting of 50 students will take on new and creative projects.
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