Theories and Practices of Innovation, and the Remaining Resolutions

Last June, the first "SNUTI to Silicon Valley" program by the School of Transdisciplinary Innovations (hereinafter SNUTI) was successfully held. The freshmen of SNUTI, along with supporters who acted as mentors, not only observed and learned from the passion and wisdom of Silicon Valley but also developed their creative and collaborative skills through practical assignments. We revisited the scene of the Ideathon*, where students took a step closer to valuable innovation and reflected on the achievements gained during the week with the members of SNUTI.

How to Contribute to the World through Design Thinking

On Thursday, June 27th, students had the opportunity to learn and apply design thinking. Park Sewon, a Product Designer at Amazon Music who was responsible for the training, explained, "Only by combining the expertise of people from various fields can problems be solved." He also introduced "Double Diamond Theory" by Don Norman, a master of design thinking. The theory's core lies in repeating the process of diverging and converging thoughts based on empathy for the user. Park advised the students to follow the steps of discover, define, design, and deliver when executing a project.

In the subsequent Ideathon activity, groups chose and explored one of the following topics: ▲Solutions for democratizing clean energy in underserved countries, ▲Personalized healthcare solutions that enhance patient autonomy and empathy, ▲Solutions utilizing VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) to aid in education and cultural understanding, and ▲Solutions using artificial intelligence to mitigate the spread of misinformation and cyber propaganda. Student supporter Lee Hajun (Department of Intelligence and Information, Master’s program, Class of ’23) noted, "By using the techniques we learned, we could see the ideas developing more efficiently." Student Koh Hyungmin (SNUTI, Class of ’24) added, "Although it was challenging to align opinions because we had many passionate team members, I learned how to resolve issues through communication." Professor Yoon Tae Jun (SNUTI) remarked, "It was fascinating to see the students propose different approaches to the same problem and materialize them," adding, "I hope they can utilize the knowledge and experience gained through this activity."

Students participating actively for the ideathon activity

After dinner, an achievement-sharing session was held where the prepared ideas were presented. Each team that participated in the Ideathon clearly defined problem situations based on various phenomena in the international community and proposed creative solutions using the latest technologies. The team that won the grand prize highlighted the general lack of information or awareness regarding energy and presented an app service idea that encourages efficient energy consumption by analyzing and providing regional energy usage data. Meanwhile, the team that won the excellent presentation award proposed an algorithm that displays videos presenting opposing viewpoints on the Shorts interface to prevent YouTube users from encountering biased information. This session not only showcased the students' thoughtful efforts and hard work but also provided a glimpse into their potential to create a better society in the future. Dean Song Junho (SNUTI) commented, "We will continue to develop and implement concrete plans to ensure that students can cultivate the ability to solve complex problems together with people from various majors and backgrounds through both curricular and extracurricular activities."

Professor Yoon Taejun and students engaged in discussion (left), Ideathon award ceremony (right)

Our Stories After Silicon Valley

After completing the journey to Silicon Valley and returning to their daily routines, students and faculty members reflected on their experiences. The students unanimously agreed that their perspectives on the world had shifted. Kang Seungwon (SNUTI, Class of ’24) said, "Through the visit, I realized that many overseas companies are driving countless innovations," adding that it motivated him to study hard and build competitiveness on the global stage. Ahn Sangjun (SNUTI, Class of ’24) remarked, "I felt how quickly industry and technology trends are changing, so I aim to gain knowledge that can be applied to various fields through my studies."

Meeting with alumni working in cutting-edge industries also left a lasting impression. Koh Hyungmin (SNUTI, Class of ’24) said, "It was an opportunity to reflect on my career path through the experiences of different people." Student supporter Shin Uisik (Department of Nuclear Engineering, Class of ’21) shared, "The speakers paid close attention to the students' opinions and thoughts, and I gained many meaningful insights through our conversations." Professor Choi Seung Hong (SNUTI) encouraged the students, saying, "I believe many students resonated with the idea that following a similar career path as the mentors we met in Silicon Valley is not an unattainable dream. I hope they remember the preparation processes they've envisioned and maintain the valuable connections they made, so they can build impressive careers after graduation."

The group also discussed how to bring the spirit of Silicon Valley to Korea. Kang Seungwon (SNUTI, Class of ’24) noted, "I felt that companies in Silicon Valley have a flexible working environment and a strong sense of responsibility for their roles," expressing his hope for changes in the corporate culture in Korea. Ahn Sangjun (SNUTI, Class of ’24) suggested, "We need to improve our institutional systems, which are concentrated in large companies and the capital region, to better support the growth of startups." Jeon Wonjun (SNUTI, Class of ’24) proposed, "If young people become accustomed to learning through challenges starting from university, our society might change." Shin Uisik (Department of Nuclear Engineering, Class of ’21) added, "While our society has a lot of negative views or fears about failure, this can serve as a good driving force at an appropriate level. We need to find a balance that is unique to Korea."

Experiencing the spirit of Silicon Valley and shaping dreams through conversations with alumni

Though the "SNUTI to Silicon Valley" program has concluded, SNUTI’s journey toward the future is just beginning. The students interviewed shared visions of changing the world through corporate management, semiconductor research, software development, and more. Student supporter Lee Hajun (Department of Intelligence and Information, Master’s program, Class of ’23) remarked, "I was impressed to see students breaking down barriers between disciplines and striving to become innovative talents, which suggests that Korean education is gradually changing. SNUTI offers a wide range of career paths, and I hope students will explore and understand their favorite fields in an interdisciplinary way, becoming experts in those areas." Kim Isoo (Department of Physical Education, Class of ’23) added, "I’m proud of the freshmen who have successfully adapted as the first cohort of SNUTI. I hope they make the most of the unique experiences that only Seoul National University can offer."

Dean Song Junho (SNUTI) emphasized, "I hope SNU students can shape their own precious and free dreams rather than simply following popular dreams desired by many. Through this program, we provided an opportunity for students to directly see and feel a broader sense of freedom than what they had previously encountered at school or in Korea. I believe this has planted seeds of meaningful change and growth." We can look forward to the continued growth and achievements of SNUTI. Updates on the School can be found on its official website (snuti.snu.ac.kr).

*Ideathon: A compound word combining 'idea' and 'marathon,' referring to a competition where participants generate and present creative ideas on a given topic or business within a limited time.

Seoul National University Student Reporter
Choi Hayoung (Department of Linguistics)
harongee@snu.ac.kr
Translated by Bae InKyung (Department of English Language and Literature)