Lee Jae-young, a student in the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Kookmin University's School of Global Climate and Environmental Convergence, received the “HUSS-STAR” Presidential Award from the National Research Foundation of Korea at the Humanities and Society Convergence Talent Development Project (HUSS) Performance Sharing Workshop held in Busan on Wednesday, September 4.

“HUSS-STAR is a program that aims to boost the morale and self-esteem of project stakeholders and secure policy momentum for the establishment of a convergence education system by identifying and rewarding meritorious individuals to revitalize the HUSS project and share and spread its achievements, and rewards faculty, staff, students, and employees of partner organizations with best practices or outstanding achievements in the HUSS project. 

Lee Jae-young was selected as the first place winner in the student category and was awarded the Chairman's Award of the National Research Foundation of Korea in recognition of her steady interest in environment-related curricular and extra-curricular activities over the past year, including Climate-Talk, the K*Climate Environment Forum, The ECO, the Climate Action Club, Campus Green Reporting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Global Green Growth Supporters, and the Korea Scholarship Foundation Environmental Service Camp “Dive into ECO.”

Lee Jae-young, the winner of the award, said, “Most of the existing ‘environment’ related majors were difficult to access because they were tailored to the science and engineering curriculum, and I wanted to look at environmental issues from a humanities and sociology perspective, so the opportunity to study at HUSS was even more gratifying and precious to me.” “There were many moments when I faced barriers, but I realized how to overcome them, and I was able to feel fulfillment and joy, and I promised to become a person who does not settle and shares learning,” she said. In particular, she is grateful for being able to meet friends who are interested in the environment and participate in various climate action programs with them, which is what drives her to grow.

The Humanities Utmost Sharing System (HUSS) is a project run by the Ministry of Education (National Research Foundation of Korea) to foster humanities-based convergence talents by breaking down boundaries between departments and colleges within universities.

Kookmin University was selected as the host university of the HUSS Environmental Consortium, a project to foster humanities and social convergence, and has been participating since last year. Kookmin University has formed a consortium with five other universities, including Deoksung Women's University, Ulsan National University, Inha University, and Chosun University, to provide climate and environment curricula, as well as non-curricular activities such as exploration, competitions, climate forums, skill-ups, grassroots activities, and clubs to foster human resources who recognize and solve environmental problems in various ways.