Cover Story L.L.F Reporter Yoon Hee Kim

Do you know DU student's life?

Daegu University’s (DU) main educational idea is innovation. This means continually improving 'educational systems for DU students, and striving to be an innovative university.' The previous system was one in which the provider (professors) decided upon the curriculum and the users (students) freely chose the courses they wanted. In the new system, DU strives to reflect the user’s opinion in the organization of the curriculum and the management of the university. The user in this case includes not only the students, but also parents, private enterprises, and the government, too.

The previous system emphasized freedom and control of professors. The new system emphasizes guidance for and protection of students. This new model of education is different than that practiced at other universities and is a distinguishing and positive aspect of DU.
DU's project of education innovation is progressing in a variety of ways.
1. Reorganize the process of common subjects such as English, computer science, composition and the humanities.
2. Through consultation and guidance with students, DU will reorganize its student support systems.
3. DU introduced a student portfolio system. The student portfolio is a record of a student’s activities and accomplishments prior to entrance and up to graduation. It is preparation to assist with DU students’ employment after graduation.
4. The university will judge each department annually to encourage a sense of responsibility and commitment to education innovation.
5. DU now operates a program to support education innovation to inspire departments and colleges to self-regulate. For example, departments may submit programs for consideration. If the programs are deemed to be innovative and worth while, the university will provide financial support. Last year sixty departments submitted proposals and thirty were selected for funding. DU supports each program with from 1 to 30 million won. These programs are now progressing very activity.
DU also opened the Institute of Innovation Education. It is the only such institute in Korea. DU also has opened the institute for teaching and learning to provide support to professors to help them improve their teaching. It helps develop things such as efficient teaching and learning methods. So, DU promotes the intention to improve the future of education.
Other universities focus on competition of operation while DU on the competition of education.
If DU continues its effort for several years, this effect will be positive. Therefore it will help DU student's networking capabilities and improve the quality of the education they receive. And DU believes that thanks to this program its image will be better than now.

김윤희  rlaaa@daegu.ac.kr