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  On June 19, SUNY Korea conducted a special training session in collaboration with the Gangwon Middle School Principals’ Association, that was targeted at preparing the future of education in the era of digital transformation. Held over two days from June 19 to 20 at Songdo International Business District, the session brought together over 100 middle school principals for the in-depth discussions and learning. As part of the training session, Professor Johng-Ihl Lee from the Department of Technology and Society and also the Vice Executive Director for the Research and Business Development Foundation (R&BDF) delivered a lecture titled “10 Useful Tips for Understanding the Advancement of AI.”       Through this training session, the principals gained a deeper understanding of the direction of education and technological trends in the era of digital transformation, as well as valuable insights to guide future school operations and educational innovation. Building on this collaboration with the Gangwon region, SUNY Korea aims to broaden its partnerships with education offices and schools not only in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, but across the country, to support education innovation and regional cooperation. 

  For the second year in a row, Department of Technology and Society Professor Neal Dreamson’s strong publication record, the impact of his work, and the notable quality of his scholarly contributions have placed him in the top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide.   He has been awarded Top Scholar status based on his accomplishments over the prior five-year period, which is the same as last year, but this year he received another status in the category of ‘over the totality of his career (lifetime)’.    Top Scholar - Lifetime #204 Pedagogy Top Scholar - Prior 5 Years #60 Digital electronics #64 Pedagogy ScholarGPS (https://scholargps.com) provides rankings of individuals and institutions Overall (in all Fields), in 14 broad Fields (such as Medicine, Engineering, or Humanities), in 177 Disciplines (such as Surgery, Computer Science, or History), and in over 350,000 Specialties (such as Cancer, Artificial Intelligence, or Ethics). 

  Lack of Talent Innovation Threatens National Competitiveness — Urgent Shift Needed in University Education Policy A new government has been inaugurated. While promoting unity remains important, the public's foremost concerns lie in restoring livelihoods and ensuring economic stability. Beyond short-term stimulus measures, there is an urgent need to strengthen South Korea’s long-term, sustainable national competitiveness. Achieving this level of competitiveness requires bold structural reforms, particularly in education and governance. Although South Korea excels in corporate agility and public adaptability, its progress is undermined by low government efficiency and excessive regulations. In contrast to top-ranked countries like Singapore and the U.S.—where universities serve as powerful engines of innovation—Korean universities remain tightly controlled, with limited autonomy over tuition, admissions, and institutional growth. To thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape, the government must recognize universities as vital partners in innovation and talent development. Click here to read the full article.  

  Professor Neal Dreamson received the Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor's Commendation at the '2025 Incheon Fair Trade Festival' on June 14, 2025. The festival, hosted and organized by Incheon Metropolitan City and the Incheon Fair Trade Council, was held successfully on the afternoon of the 14th of June at the Songdo Central Park Lawn Square, with attendance by Incheon City Vice Mayor Hwang Hyo-jin, Incheon City Council Chairman Jeong Hae-kwon, and Incheon City Superintendent of Education Do Seong-hoon.  The certificate of Commendation indicates that Professor Dreamson “has contributed greatly to the promotion of fair trade in Incheon Metropolitan City by actively participating in ethical consumption practices as well as raising awareness of fair trade”.  Professor Dreamson serves as a member of the Incheon City Fair Trade Steering Committee, and he participates in establishing and promoting fair trade-related policies. In addition, he also serves as a member of the Incheon City Office of Education's 4th Industrial Revolution Education Promotion Committee, and as an outside director of the GM Employee Foundation Korea. In these roles, he has been actively promoting SUNY Korea in the community.

      On June 13th, 2025, SUNY Korea celebrated a momentous day, beginning with a commencement ceremony for the Spring 2025 graduating class at the IGC Auditorium. Together, the graduates of SUNY represented seven departments: Computer Science, Technology and Society, Mechanical Engineering, Business Management, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Fashion Business Management, and Fashion Design. This wide array of majors was just one aspect of their diversity- students came from over ten different countries, representing the global reach SUNY Korea has worked hard to cultivate over the years. Professor Hamid Hefazi served as the anchor for the event, beginning with a warm welcome to the graduates and their friends and family who came to celebrate their accomplishments. Arthur H. Lee, President of SUNY Korea, gave a congratulatory speech, reminding the new graduates that they are part of a large network of successful alumni all over the world, working towards a brighter future. Their achievements - whether earning an Associate's, Bachelor's, or pursuing further education - were made possible by their dedication and perseverance at SUNY Korea. Carl Lejuez, Provost and Executive Vice President of SBU and Chairman of SUNY Korea LLC, once again joined the ceremony this year to deliver a congratulatory message to the graduating class. He reminded the graduates that they are now part of a global alumni network of over 200,000 members from the State University of New York (SUNY), and encouraged them to stay connected and support one another through mentorship and shared experiences. SUNY Korea welcomed a special guest this year: Tardis Johnson, Associate Dean of Student Academic Support and Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success at FIT, who traveled from New York City to give a speech to the FIT graduating class in Incheon, South Korea. His invigorating speech emphasized the honor it was to graduate as an alumnus of one of the best fashion schools in the world, praising their hard work and encouraging them to keep being true to themselves and their creative sides. The ceremony concluded with the awarding of certificates to the graduates, many of whom received honors such as Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude—a testament to the strong academic ethic SUNY Korea students have maintained throughout their time here. Among these academic stars, FIT’s Minhee Kim, a Fashion Business Management graduate, and SBU’s So Won Park, an Applied Mathematics and Statistics graduate, were appointed Valedictorians of their respective schools. Following the ceremony, FIT Korea welcomed guests to view the incredible work of the graduating Fashion Design students at the SUNY Korea Museum of Modern Costume. Among the many beautiful garments designed by the graduates, designers Yoonseo Han and Anežka Rysavá were selected for the ‘Critic Awards’ by Jaewon Park, a renowned trailblazer in the growth of the Korean fashion industry, in recognition of their beautiful and thoughtful handiwork. During this ceremony, Professor Mark-Evan Blackman gave a congratulatory speech to the graduating class, leaving many students in tears after having shared so many memories and sleepless nights creating these pieces with the others in the room. The close bond between the Fashion Design professors and graduates was evident, shaped by months of collaboration at SUNY Korea. The Fashion Design faculty honored the commitment and hard work of their graduating students by giving them a gift of appreciation, a heartfelt end to a lovely student showcase.         (Critic Awards to Yoonseo Han and Anežka Rysavá) The journey of these SUNY Korea graduates doesn’t end here–some will enter the professional world, while others will continue their studies in the United States and beyond. Regardless of their next steps, their shared experience here at SUNY Korea links them together. We proudly wish them a farewell as they become history-makers around the world. Congratulations, Class of 2025!   Written by Student Reporter, Kenessa Washington (kenessa_washington@fitnyc.edu)