Activities

With AVP Yong-Taek Im as the new ASPIRE chairman for the 2011-2012 term, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) organized the 2011 ASPIRE Forum at KAIST under the theme, “Sustainability for the Globe: Energy and Environmental Issues,” from July 6th – 8th. The 2011 ASPIRE Forum was organized through a series of presentations and discussions: the 2011 ASPIRE Symposium, Vice Presidents and Senior Staff Meeting　(with a Special Session with the IDEA League), and Student Workshops. The member universities exchanged ideas about activities and methods of implementation under the framework of the ASPIRE League. Ultimately, the consortium will plan and develop joint activities among the five member universities, in order to form a hub for innovation in Asia through the advancement of science and technology and the development of human resources, to thereby contribute to the realization of a sustainable world.

Venue: Gyeryong Mountain

This year’s forum kicked off with a cultural field trip to Gyeryong Mountain near Daejeon. Participants included students from the five Aspire League member universities and a student from one of the two participating IDEA League member universities, RWTH Aachen. This was a great opportunity for the participants to get to know each other over traditional Korean food and drinks during the party after the field trip to Gyeryong Mountain.

Venue: International Center, KAIST (Symposium) / Buffet Restaurant, Hotel Riviera

The opening remarks made by Dr. Yong-Taek Im, Associate Vice President of KAIST and chairperson of the 2011-2012 ASPIRE League, marked the beginning of this year’s symposium themed, “Sustainability for the Globe: Energy and Environmental Issues.” Representatives from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Tsinghua University and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) made presentations on each university’s effort to tackle issues on energy and the environment. Participants from three member universities conducting joint research under the satellite lab program of Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) made presentations and also provided a brief introduction of their projects. After the symposium, a Welcome Reception was held at Hotel Riviera where vice presidents, professors, administrative staff and students enjoyed an opportunity to talk and get to know each other.

Venue: Main administration building, KAIST

On the following day, a Special Session with the IDEA League was held to discuss a new model for better higher education through the innovation of science and technology. Participants from both leagues recognized the important potential of a joint network and the need to strengthen it further. In this Vice Presidents and Senior Staff Meeting, more detailed plans regarding the implementation of the league’s activities were discussed. The vice presidents and senior staff agreed that the organization and logistics aspects for the 2012 ASPIRE Forum should be handled by KAIST. They also agreed that a summer program should be set up and KAIST will hold a summer program in 2012 as an ASPIRE League activity, but students from other universities and KAIST will be allowed to participate. Chairperson IM announced that KAIST, Tokyo Tech and Tsinghua University have agreed to apply for the CAMPUS Asia (Collective Action for Mobility Program of University Students in Asia) program, which will be subsidized by the ministries of education in China, Japan and Korea. The three universities have held multiple meetings to discuss implementation issues on exchanges during the past year and finalized the joint application prior to the ASPIRE League Vice Presidents and Senior Staff Meeting. The project title is TKT CAMPUS Asia Consortium and the Letter of Intent for Cooperation was signed by the vice presidents of the three universities. The TKT CAMPUS Asia Consortium will be initiated by the three universities, but the collaboration and influence will extend to other member universities: NTU in Singapore and HKUST in Hong Kong, which will contribute to the further development of the ASPIRE League.

Venue: International Center, KAIST

Student Workshop Ⅰ & Ⅱ were held on the morning of July 7, and Student Workshop Ⅲ was in a parallel session to the Vice Presidents & Senior Staff Meeting on July 8 at KAIST’s International Center. A total of 34 student participants from five member universities were divided into six groups and held discussions about the three subthemes: How to cope with natural disasters, how to prevent natural disasters, and how to generate sustainable green energy. As the finale of the Student Workshop, each group made presentations to the vice presidents and senior staff. The top three student groups evaluated by two representatives from five universities received awards. The award for best feasibility (1st prize) went to group 3, best creativity (2nd prize) to group 4 and best presentation (3rd prize) to group 5.