Wrapping up 2019: Top 10 News Highlights of SKKU
1. Sungkyunkwan University’s 21st President: Inauguration of President Shin
This year in 2019, Professor Dong Ryeol Shin has been inaugurated as the 21st President of SKKU. President Shin was born in Seoul in 1956 and graduated from the SKKU’s Department of Electronic Engineering. In 1982, he earned his Master’s degree from KAIST, and moved on to pursue his doctorate degree at Georgia Tech in 1992. Two years later, he became Professor at the College of Information and Communication Engineering at SKKU and demonstrated solid leadership competences in education administration.
2. Establishment of Student Success Center
SKKU has introduced “Student Success” as the new educational keyword in 2019. This March, Sungkyunkwan established Student Success Center as the first university nationwide. The Center is strengthening communication between the university and students, and supporting student success in a systematic and holistic way through diverse initiatives. It is also serving as the bridge between diverse organizations and students, strengthening student advising initiatives in addition to coordinating seminars and lectures.
3. Opening Ceremony: Artificial Intelligence Vision Strategy
SKKU was the first post-secondary institution in South Korea to hold an opening ceremony of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Vision Strategy. Through this ceremony, Sungkyunkwan took the first step toward becoming one of the leading global universities that focus on AI Research & Education. It was announced that the institution will commit to educating bilingual students who understand AI Programming languages, and become the forerunner of leading 4th Industrial Revolution, thus contributing to the human kind. Moving forward, SKKU plans on establishing the Department of Artificial Intelligence, AI Research Institute, and S-Centre. The university also intends to add courses on AI in order to facilitate AI competences among students.
4. SKKU ranked 89th by THE, 95th by QS World University Rankings, and No.1 Private University by Jung Ang Ilbo
SKKU has once again received excellent evaluations from diverse university rankings this year. SKKU has been ranked 89th by Times Higher Education (THE), and 95th by QS World University Rankings. It also holds the top place for comprehensive private universities by the domestic university evaluation, Jung Ang Ilbo.
- 5. Highly Cited Researchers of 2019: Professor Myung Ju Ahn, Nam Gyu Park, and Young Hee Lee
Three of Sungkyunkwan University professors have been selected as 2019’s Highly Cited Researchers by the Claribate Analytics (former Thomson Reuters). Clarive Analytics' Highly Cited Researcher (HCR) is selected based on the top 1% cited papers in each field. 
6. SKKU Ranks 1st Nationwide in Legal Professional Appointments
The SKKU Law School announced that 20 members of Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) have been appointed as law clerks and 12 members have been appointed as prosecutors, placing SKKU 1st nationwide. This was the first time that SKKU had a large number of law professional appointments. SKKU also had a 68.8% acceptance rate for its members passing the National Judicial Examination. In addition, about 30 students have passed Civil Service Examination.
7. The Sungkyun Humanity Education Center Wins the First Prize
The SKKU’s Sungkyun Humanity Education Center has won the First Prize of Character Development Education. Since its establishment in July 2013, the Center has developed programs based on our school’s motto, In-Eui-Ye-Ji (benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom), contributing to the cultivation of proper decorum. “Character Development” was assigned as the mandatory Liberal Arts course for the first time in university, and the Center successfully designated The Sunkyun Analects and other courses in the Humanities curriculum. Through the delivery of diverse programs for current students, which include but not limited to Gender Equity, Family Love Competition, and Character Development Campaign, the Center helps to facilitate character development through daily practice.
8. Establishment of Artificial Intelligence Graduate School
Funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT, SKKU was selected along with KAIST and Korea University to open a graduate school for an Artificial Intelligence program. The graduate school opened this September, and it is actively cultivating leaders in the field of Artificial Intelligence, preparing students to become the key growth engines in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
9. Opening of SKKU Convergence Institute for Culture, Arts, and Media, SCI-CAM
SKKU has opened the SKKU Convergence Institute for Culture, Arts, and Media, SCI-CAM with the goal of establishing a hub for education and research on culture and arts media that converges the fields of humanities, social science, and fine arts. The institute is promoting research in diverse areas such as technology-based cultural and artistic convergence, ‘Hallyu’ and international cultural exchange, expansion of humanities and technology, and social impact study.
10. Dukhee Ryu, President of Kyungdong Pharmaceutical Company, donates more than 100 Million to SKKU
Dukhee Ryu, President of Kyungdong Pharmaceutical Company, has so far donated more than 100 Million in total to SKKU. President Ryu has continuously donated to the university for 20 years to facilitate his alma mater’s development. SKKU has named one of the rooms in the 6th floor of the 600th Anniversary Building as ‘Hang Ja Kim and Dukhee Ryu Lecture Room’ in honor of President Ryu and his late wife (Hang Ja Kim).
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