Undisputed No. 1 Among Korean Universities... Recruiting Seven of the World's Top 1% Most Influential Researchers Sets UNIST Apart [University Transformation] ⑬

UNIST Finds Its Path for Survival as a 'Research-Oriented' University
Ranks First Among Korean Universities in the Leiden Ranking
Maintains Top Domestic Position for Eight Consecutive Years Since 2017
Strengthens Education with Outstanding Faculty and Researchers
Active Research as a Specialized University for Semiconductors

UNIST researchers are conducting experiments in the Semiconductor Nano Device Process Laboratory. UNIST

Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), which produced its first graduates in 2013, has quickly emerged as a rising powerhouse among science and engineering universities, earning high marks in global university rankings.

According to the Science and Technology Research Center at Leiden University in the Netherlands on September 30, UNIST ranked 150th in the '2024 Leiden Ranking.' It is ranked first among Korean universities. The Leiden Ranking is unique in that it evaluates only the quality of academic papers, using the citation rate of the top 10% of published papers as its metric. UNIST first claimed the top spot among Korean universities in 2017 and has maintained this position for eight consecutive years.

UNIST has also been ranked the top Korean university for two consecutive years in the Emerging Economies University Rankings published by the UK-based institution Times Higher Education (THE). This ranking targets universities worldwide that have been established for less than 50 years. As Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) surpassed the 50-year mark since its founding, UNIST has inherited its reputation. THE evaluates universities based on teaching environment, research performance, citation impact, international outlook, and industry-academia collaboration.

UNIST conducts all courses in English, a first among Korean universities. This approach is credited not only with improving students' abilities but also with expanding their competitive stage to the global arena.

The UNIST Nano Device Processing Laboratory spans 1,100 square meters. It is equipped with eight major semiconductor processing facilities necessary for experiments. UNIST

UNIST has also recruited outstanding professors and researchers. It has hired seven Highly Cited Researchers (HCR), who are among the top 1% most influential researchers worldwide. Professor Rodney Ruoff, who is also an HCR, leads the Carbon Materials Research Group at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS). The AI and Robotics-Based Synthesis Research Group is led by Professor Bartosz Grzybowski, who previously received the prestigious 2016 Feynman Prize in the field of nanotechnology. UNIST has selected artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, carbon neutrality, and biomedical sciences as its four strategic fields for future science and technology, and has established graduate schools for each area.

UNIST is also recognized as a specialized university for semiconductors. In 2021, it established a graduate school for semiconductor materials and components, and in 2023, it was selected for the 'Semiconductor Specialized Graduate School Support Project,' producing up to 65 master's and doctoral graduates annually. Last year, it secured 15 billion won in project funding for four years, providing strong research support even at the undergraduate level. Located in Ulsan, a hub of manufacturing, UNIST actively conducts research activities in collaboration with the local community.

A UNIST official stated, "We have established the Novatus Graduate School, a practice-oriented engineering graduate school, and are operating a master's program in industrial artificial intelligence. Through the 'AI Executive Program' for corporate executives, we are also committed to nurturing leader-level talent who can spearhead the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry by integrating core AI concepts with practical industry applications."