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Hallym's educational innovation strategy: Accelerated by corona adversity

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  • Writer 글로벌협력센터
  • 작성일 20.09.01

Hallym's educational innovation strategy: Accelerated by corona adversity   



August 31, 2020
 
 Hallym University President Choongsoo Kim




Professors, staff, students, alumni and parents of Hallym,
 
 At the beginning of this year, as the coronavirus pandemic (hereinafter referred to as COVID-19) began to spread around the world, like all universities in Korea, Hallym University offered full online lectures instead of face-to-face classes. 

The prospect of going back to 'Before Corona' looks as though it could be some time away, so now the era of 'Post Corona' is at the heart of the discussion. The recent coconscious within the scientific community seems to be that corona is unlikely to end prematurely, concerns are being raised that it is now possible to live for a considerable period of time 'With Corona'. The topic of corona is changing from 'before' and 'after' to 'living with'. There are also claims that corona continues to mutate, making it difficult to cope with, so that even if a vaccine is made, its effect may not be long-lasting. 

As the saying goes, “It is only certain that the future is uncertain,” we encountered a situation where it was difficult to look ahead. I think there is no other choice but to respond flexibly while adapting to changing circumstances.
 
 In a state of economic crisis, where all countries in the world record negative economic growth without exception, concerned voices have been heard as to whether current financial resources of the state and households can continue to be invested in university management. 

In the current situation where the amount of high school graduates does not even reach university entrance quotas, tuition fees that have been frozen for more than 10 years, and additional educational investment required to develop students’ needs in the era of the 4th industrial revolution, these issues are creating a series of challenges for universities in Korea.
 
 In spite of these difficulties, Hallym University does not circumvent reality and is devising the best countermeasures with the belief that there are no difficulties that the world cannot overcome. Through communication with all members of the Hallym community, we believe that forming a broad consensus is the best way to cope with these difficulties, by reducing the gap in information between the university headquarters and members of the school.

Last semester (spring 2020), the sudden conversion to ‘full-scale online lectures’, in which lectures were quickly adapted proves the dedication of all faculty and students. We do however accept the point that online lectures have not been able to completely fill the void created by COVID-19 and the sudden conversion from face-to-face learning to mainly online. In the preceding months Hallym has sought ways to cope with this.
 
 Now, classes for the second semester of 2020 begin today. 

There is inevitably a limit to the ability of individual organizations to independently cope with COVID-19, but the Summer School was extended from the usual three-week period to six-weeks and conducted via face-to-face classes, while complying with the government's social distancing guidelines, providing opportunities for classes on campus to more than 500 students. 

In principle, this fall semester, students were notified that they would conduct 'face-to-face classes' while complying with the guidelines for strengthening social distancing. However, since mid-August, the number of people infected within the region has increased rapidly, and in accordance with the government's guidelines, in-person lectures can be selected only for small-scale lectures with 30 or fewer people, focusing on subjects that require experimentation, practice, and practical skills. 

Less than 30% of lectures will be conducted in full or partially face-to-face. The rest of the lectures will start with non-face-to-face lectures. I have great hope for the normalization of education, but I made this decision to protect the health of students while following government guidelines. Needless to say, we are well aware that whatever decision is made, there will be times when we will have to endure inconvenience. There is no solution that will satisfy all members, but we endure to overcome these difficulties and we would like to ask for the cooperation and understanding of all members of the Hallym community. 

In such a dynamic environment where change is happening, it is deemed necessary for the stable operation of the organization to make an effort to form a consensus among members by sharing information. There is, I believe that professors, staff, students, alumni and parents will all consider the future of 'Hallym Education' with a collective interest.

While wishing all the Hallym community peace and happiness, especially in your busy daily life, we once again express our respect for taking the time to read this message. 

We sincerely ask for your willingness to join us in the long journey, to overcome COVID and to continue to make Hallym University a world class university. 


To read the full article (in Korean) please click here.