On August 28, the HUSS Global Symbiosis Project Team at Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul) held the “Global Symbiosis Consortium Phase 1 Project Results Sharing Session” at the Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun, with participation from five universities: Kookmin University, Kwangwoon University, Sunmoon University, Yeungnam University, and Honam University.

This results-sharing session was organized to comprehensively share the achievements of Phase 1 of the Global Symbiosis Consortium—part of the Humanities and Social Sciences Convergence Talent Development Project (HUSS) supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea—to disseminate outstanding educational practices and student achievements from participating universities, and to jointly explore the future direction of Phase 2 of the project.

Led by Kwangwoon University as the coordinating institution, the Global Symbiosis Consortium comprises five universities—Kookmin University, Sunmoon University, Yeungnam University, and Honam University—and has been operating various curricular and extracurricular programs with the goal of fostering interdisciplinary talent capable of leading global symbiosis and a sustainable society beyond institutional boundaries.

This Phase 1 project results-sharing session was planned and organized by Kookmin University in collaboration with the five consortium member universities. It served as a forum to share the educational achievements accumulated over the past three years through the perspectives of students and faculty. In particular, the event moved away from the traditional one-way format of presenting project outcomes, instead placing emphasis on “student-centered outcome sharing,” where students who directly participated in the programs shared their own experiences, transformations, and growth journeys.

Going beyond presentation-based outcome sharing, the event also featured a poster exhibition showcasing outstanding entries from a student essay contest as well as representative achievements from curricular and extracurricular programs, allowing attendees to explore the educational outcomes of the past three years in diverse ways. The event was further distinguished by the active involvement of the Kookmin University Global Symbiosis Project Team’s student supporters, who, under the guidance of Research Professor Go Hye-seon, took a leading role throughout the entire process—from pre-event preparations to on-site operations on the day of the event—demonstrating that students acted not merely as participants but as active contributors in co-creating the event.

The event consisted of three parts. In Part 1, following an opening address by Kim Byung-jun, Director of Kookmin University’s Global Symbiosis Project Team, Lee Hye-young, Executive Director of the Global Symbiosis Consortium at Kwangwoon University, delivered a congratulatory speech and shared the key achievements of the consortium’s Phase 1. Next, Jo Eun-byul, Head of the Project Division at the World Smart City Organization (WeGO), delivered a keynote speech titled “What Is a Smart City? Innovation in Global Cities and the Role of Future Generations.” She examined innovation cases from cities around the world and the significance of smart cities, while outlining the role future generations will play in shaping the future of sustainable cities.

In Part 2, “Student Achievement Sharing and Dissemination,” a total of 18 students took the stage as presenters to share their learning and growth experiences gained through the Global Symbiosis Project over the past three years. First, outstanding students who participated in academic and extracurricular programs at the five consortium universities presented five case studies of their growth at each institution. Following this, students who participated in domestic and international extracurricular programs introduced 10 examples of their achievements.

Drawing on their experiences collaborating with diverse individuals and exploring real-world social issues beyond the boundaries of their majors, universities, and countries, the students conveyed in their own words the lessons learned, personal transformations, and new perspectives on their career paths gained through program participation. This concretely demonstrated the impact the Global Symbiosis Project has had on strengthening students’ competencies and broadening their career horizons.

Following the presentations, a student-centered Q&A session and networking event took place. Students listened to each other’s experiences, asked questions, and shared new perspectives and ideas, transcending the boundaries of their universities and programs. The event was particularly meaningful not only for showcasing outstanding achievements but also for providing a platform for students to share their successes and engage in mutual exchange.

In Part 3, “Future Implementation Strategies and Comprehensive Summary,” the session featured “Students’ Voices: Expectations for the Global Symbiosis Consortium,” where opinions were gathered from students who had directly participated in the project. Based on these insights, the project teams from the five universities jointly discussed the direction for Phase 2 of the project. Building on the experience in inter-university collaboration accumulated during Phase 1, the plan is to strengthen the integration of academic and co-curricular programs and expand consortium-wide cooperation so that students can gain broader global educational experiences that transcend the boundaries of individual universities and majors.

Kim Byoung Joon, Director of the Global Symbiosis Project Team at Kookmin University, stated, “This results-sharing session was highly meaningful not only because it summarized the project’s achievements in terms of numbers and performance, but also because the participating students directly shared their personal transformations and growth, and expanded upon each other’s experiences into new learning opportunities.” He added, “Going forward, we will continue to expand educational opportunities that organically connect curricular and extracurricular activities, as well as universities and the field, so that students can view the challenges facing the world and local communities through the lens of their own lives and translate what they have learned into collaboration and action.”

Meanwhile, the HUSS Global Symbiosis Consortium—comprising Kookmin University, Gwangwoon University, Sunmoon University, Yeungnam University, and Honam University—has been operating a program to cultivate interdisciplinary talent equipped with an integrated understanding of and response capabilities regarding the sustainability of resources, industry, and the international community. The program has been running for three years since 2024 with support from the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

△ Photo: Global Symbiosis Consortium Phase 1 Project Results Sharing Session