KAIST said on the 10th it will hold an inauguration ceremony for the 18th president, Bae Chung-sik, in the main auditorium and present "Fundamentals First, Innovation Forward" as its new vision.
Bae, who took office on July 1, will present "Continuity & Innovation" as the basic direction of university management at the ceremony and is expected to outline plans for changes across education, research, startups, and administration.
KAIST said it will cultivate talent with a foundation in basic academic disciplines, humanistic literacy, and the ability to use artificial intelligence (AI), while pushing for organizational operations that enhance autonomy and accountability.
The core strategies cover five areas: expanding AI education and research; commercializing research outcomes and invigorating global startups; improving administrative efficiency; building a carbon-neutral campus; and strengthening international cooperation.
In particular, it will spread AI as a common tool used across all disciplines, not a specialized technology for certain majors. It will also expand research on strategic technologies such as physical AI, quantum, and climate and energy, and pursue plans to build an AI-based autonomous research environment jointly with corporations.
It also unveiled a plan for an "AI-native campus" that applies AI to education, research, administration, and infrastructure. By linking AI-based education, autonomous laboratories, and administrative automation, it aims to create an environment where members can focus on education and research.
At the ceremony, Bae is expected to say, "While inheriting KAIST's values of creativity, challenge, and consideration, we will push new innovation based on people and an organization strong in fundamentals."
Bae graduated from the Department of Aeronautical Engineering at Seoul National University and earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Imperial College London. He joined KAIST in 1998, served as head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and dean of the College of Engineering, and has conducted research in eco-friendly energy and carbon-neutral power engineering.