Latest news with #Yonsei
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
South Korean universities ramp up global recruitment as US tightens visa screenings
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Universities in South Korea are starting initiatives to recruit researches and enrol students from the US. SEOUL - As the United States tightens its grip on foreign students through stricter visa screenings and anti-DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies , South Korean universities are moving swiftly to attract top global students left in the lurch. Yonsei University said on July 3 it established a new transfer system to accept international undergraduates year-round. It will implement a continuous undergraduate transfer admissions process for foreign nationals and overseas Koreans beginning in the first semester of 2026. The move is designed to allow students – particularly those forced to pause their US studies due to sudden visa or legal complications – to continue their academic careers in South Korea without interruption. Unlike the traditional transfer process that opens only once a year in December, the new system allows second- and third-year students to apply and enrol throughout the year. Yonsei University is also working on arrangements with top American universities to allow students to temporarily study in Seoul while receiving credits towards their home institution's degree. The university is in advanced talks with at least one Ivy League institution regarding such agreements, according to the school official. Academic requirements will include document screening, essay writing, subject-specific exams, and interviews, mirroring traditional transfer exams, but with open enrollment throughout the year. The university is also considering setting tuition fees at levels comparable to US university programmes. 'Having more students from top US institutions will not only enhance Yonsei's competitiveness but also elevate its standing in global university rankings,' a Yonsei official said. This institutional shift comes as global competition for American-educated graduates intensifies. The European Union has launched a €500 million (S$751 million) initiative to attract researchers, while France and Australia have introduced new hiring tracks and funding programmes for US-based scholars. Seoul National University has also unveiled a set of measures aimed at capturing international talent. The school recently expanded eligibility for its international joint research support programme, which previously served only graduate students under the Brain Korea 21 education initiative. Starting later in 2025, all SNU graduate students will be able to apply for funding to participate in overseas collaborative research, which covers expenses such as travel and living costs. The university has also been running a new fellowship programme since March to recruit international postdoctoral researchers. Officials expect these programmes to become a magnet for high-performing students and researchers exiting the US due to restrictive immigration policies. Korea University, meanwhile, is revamping its faculty recruitment strategy to draw in more accomplished foreign scholars. From the 2026 academic year, the school will introduce a 'research-focused professor' track. Under this initiative, non-tenured faculty members, including international scholars, will receive increased incentives based on research output, particularly publications. Korea University finalised the necessary academic regulation changes on July 1. 'We plan to actively recruit researchers from elite institutions like Harvard to enhance our global research competitiveness,' a university official said. Beyond the traditional universities, South Korea's top science and technology schools are also capitalising on the shifting academic landscape. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology plans to hire 200 international postdoctoral researchers specialising in artificial intelligence. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has sent recruitment teams to major US cities, including New York, Silicon Valley and Boston, offering up to 90 million won (S$84,180) in research funding per person. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Korean universities ramp up global recruitment as US tightens visa
As the United States tightens its grip on foreign students through stricter visa screenings and anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies, South Korean universities are moving swiftly to attract top global students left in the lurch. Yonsei University said Thursday it established a new transfer system to accept international undergraduates year-round. It will implement a continuous undergraduate transfer admissions process for foreign nationals and overseas Koreans beginning in the first semester of 2026. The move is designed to allow students — particularly those forced to pause their US studies due to sudden visa or legal complications — to continue their academic careers in Korea without interruption. Unlike the traditional transfer process that opens only once a year in December, the new system allows second- and third-year students to apply and enroll throughout the year. Yonsei University is also working on arrangements with top American universities to allow students to temporarily study in Seoul while receiving credits toward their home institution's degree. The university is in advanced talks with at least one Ivy League institution regarding such agreements, according to the school official. Academic requirements will include document screening, essay writing, subject-specific exams, and interviews, mirroring traditional transfer exams, but with open enrollment throughout the year. The university is also considering setting tuition fees at levels comparable to US university programs. 'Having more students from top US institutions will not only enhance Yonsei's competitiveness but also elevate its standing in global university rankings,' a Yonsei official said. This institutional shift comes as global competition for American-educated graduates intensifies. The European Union has launched a 500 million-euro ($590 million) initiative to attract researchers, while France and Australia have introduced new hiring tracks and funding programs for US-based scholars. Seoul National University has also unveiled a set of measures aimed at capturing international talent. The school recently expanded eligibility for its international joint research support program, which previously served only graduate students under the Brain Korea 21 education initiative. Starting later this year, all SNU graduate students will be able to apply for funding to participate in overseas collaborative research, which covers expenses such as travel and living costs. The university has also been running a new fellowship program since March to recruit international postdoctoral researchers. Officials expect these programs to become a magnet for high-performing students and researchers exiting the US due to restrictive immigration policies. Korea University, meanwhile, is revamping its faculty recruitment strategy to draw in more accomplished foreign scholars. From the 2026 academic year, the school will introduce a "research-focused professor" track. Under this initiative, non-tenured faculty members, including international scholars, will receive increased incentives based on research output, particularly publications. Korea University finalized the necessary academic regulation changes on July 1. 'We plan to actively recruit researchers from elite institutions like Harvard to enhance our global research competitiveness,' a university official said. Beyond the traditional universities, Korea's top science and technology schools are also capitalizing on the shifting academic landscape. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology plans to hire 200 international postdoctoral researchers specializing in artificial intelligence. KAIST has sent recruitment teams to major US cities, including New York, Silicon Valley and Boston, offering up to 90 million won in research funding per person.
Business Insider
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
‘Constructive Signs' Ahead, Says Top Analyst about D-Wave Quantum Stock (QBTS)
Quantum computing company D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) is gaining attention again after 5-star analyst, Sujeeva De Silva of Roth MKM, reaffirmed his Buy rating on the stock, citing new signs of progress in the company's hardware business. He maintained his price target forecast of $18 per share, which suggests about 15% upside from current levels. With customers showing growing interest in the company's Advantage 2 system, De Silva believes D-Wave is now well-positioned to expand beyond core cloud quantum computing offerings, and start turning hardware demand into real sales. Confident Investing Starts Here: Analyst's Take on QBTS Stock The analyst emphasized that this shift toward hardware is a meaningful step for D-Wave. He believes growing traction for the Advantage 2 system shows that customers are beginning to see real-world value in the company's quantum technology. That, in turn, could help D-Wave move beyond its early-stage positioning and unlock new, higher-value revenue streams. South Korea Deal Shows Growing Hardware Interest One of the most encouraging signs is D-Wave's new deals in South Korea. The company is working with Yonsei University and the city of Incheon to explore how quantum computing can be used in fields like biotech and materials science. According to De Silva, Yonsei may be planning to purchase an Advantage 2 system. If that happens, it would be D-Wave's second major hardware deal—following an earlier sale to Julich in Germany, which brought in tens of millions in revenue. De Silva believes that a deal with Yonsei would show growing trust in D-Wave's new hardware and could help push other deals forward. Hardware Sales Could Bring in $20M+ Per Unit De Silva believes each Advantage 2 system could sell for $20 million or more. What stands out to him is the short gap of just six months between D-Wave's first hardware sale and this potential second one. Given this steady progress, he believes that other hardware deals in the pipeline could also move ahead soon. Price Still Looks High, But Growth Could Catch Up De Silva's $18 price target values the stock at about 100 times expected 2026 sales, which is much higher than the industry average of 12 times. Still, he thinks the high valuation could make sense if D-Wave keeps closing more hardware deals each year. Overall, he believes the company is making steady progress in both its cloud services and growing hardware business. Is D-Wave a Good Stock to Buy? D-Wave is currently covered by six Wall Street analysts, all of whom hold a bullish outlook. The stock carries a Strong Buy consensus rating with all six analysts assigning a Buy rating over the past three months. QBTS average price target of $16.80 suggests approximately 7.35% upside potential over the next twelve months.
Korea Herald
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
[Editorial] A fracture in the lecture hall
Med students urged to take classes to restore education, medical services South Korea's medical sector has been in turmoil ever since former President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to barrel through with his controversial reform policy, which initially included a major increase in the medical school enrollment quota of 2,000 places per year for five years. Yoon's push triggered an intense backlash, leading to mass walkouts by trainee doctors and medical students. Although Yoon was removed from office after the Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment on April 4, the 14-month standoff between the government and the medical community shows little signs of resolution. The immediate concern is that while medical students have returned to school, many of them continue to boycott classes. Their refusal to attend them threatens to reignite a dispute that had appeared to be nearing resolution following the government's decision to roll back its plan to increase the quota for 2026. Last year, despite vehement protests, the Yoon administration increased the medical school quota for the 2025 school year by 1,509 seats — the first increase in the 3,058-student admission quota that has been frozen since 2006. The move was designed to address a chronic shortage of medical professionals in South Korea's rapidly aging society. In a conciliatory gesture last month, the Education Ministry stated it would restore the quota of new medical students to 3,058 for the 2026 school year — on the condition that students return to class and the academic operations normalize. However, uncertainty persists. This week, student representatives announced that they would stick to the strategy of registering for the new term while continuing to boycott classes — a tactic dubbed 'register now, fight later.' The move came after student representatives from six medical schools — including Yonsei, Sungkyunkwan, Korea and Catholic universities — issued a joint statement on April 9, affirming their commitment to the protest, citing the lack of a meaningful response from the authorities. Yet the students' defiance is both poorly timed and counterproductive. Refusing to attend classes could only heighten tensions with university administrations and the government. With no viable alternative proposals offered, the student stance risks backfiring, potentially inviting sanctions such as academic probation or expulsion. Public frustration is also mounting, as the continued boycott disrupts not only efforts to normalize the crippled medical services but also preparations for the 2026 admission cycle. Universities, for their part, are adopting a firm stance. Administrators indicated they will treat mass absenteeism not as a form of protest but as academic misconduct. The Education Ministry has also made it clear that the leniency shown last year will not be repeated. Yonsei University is set to place first- through third-year medical students on academic probation. Korea University is also poised to send probation notices to 125 students. Other universities are reportedly considering similar actions this week. If disciplinary measures are implemented on a broad scale, medical schools could face an unprecedented crisis. Students from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 academic years could find themselves taking first-year courses simultaneously — a much-dreaded scenario now being referred to as 'medical school tripling.' While universities have explored ways to accommodate a cohort double the usual size, of 7,500 students, through revamped curricula and extended summer terms, they warn the system will collapse under the strain of more than 10,000 first-year students. The implication is clear: if students continue to boycott classes, the government is constrained — both politically and administratively — from offering further concessions. It shouldn't be. While the government initially aimed to finalize next year's admissions policy in early April, that decision now hinges on classroom attendance in the days ahead. A government official noted that a final decision on the admissions quota could be made before the weekend. Medical students must understand that the integrity of their education and the restoration of South Korea's strained medical services depend on their prompt return to class. The longer they remain absent, the more their actions risk becoming a liability — not only for themselves but for their profession and the patients they want to care for.
![[Lim Woong] When AI swipes Ghibli's wand](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F04%2F14%2Fnews-p.v1.20250414.d51cfc53dd3048c287f02070c59e51bb_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Korea Herald
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
[Lim Woong] When AI swipes Ghibli's wand
OpenAI's latest image-generation tool has gone viral, thanks to a fun feature: users can upload a photo and request a version in Studio Ghibli's magical style. In seconds, selfies, vacation snapshots, or family portraits are transformed as if they've come from a Ghibli film. Overnight, social media flooded with charming Ghibli-style images. Many of my graduate students and colleagues at Yonsei changed their KakaoTalk profile pictures to their artificial intelligence-generated portraits. I even tried it, using an old photo of my spouse and myself — though we kept it private. People shared tips on how to get the best results, like a friendly secret. But, as always, the tool was pushed further. Some created disturbing images — 9/11 scenes or violent content — in the soft, pastel Ghibli look. In response, OpenAI began tightening restrictions. You could no longer just say 'make this Ghibli-style'; you had to describe the scene and request a new image in that style. Still, the genie was out of the bottle. The trend sparked broader conversations about the ethics of AI-generated art, copyright, and the long-term consequences for artists. This isn't the first time. Back in 2016, a project called The Next Rembrandt used AI to recreate the look and feel of Rembrandt's work, even though the artist had been gone for centuries. It was seen as a technical marvel — but also raised eyebrows. What does it mean to resurrect a style that took a lifetime to master, all with an algorithm? One can only imagine how Rembrandt might have reacted — probably the same way still-life painters in Europe felt when photography arrived, or actors when film began to overshadow live theater. Accountants likely had similar worries when TurboTax showed up. Today, it's voice actors dealing with AI-generated voices, and illustrators watching their styles cloned in seconds. Beyond ethics and legality, money matters too. Once people learned they could generate Ghibli-style images, many rushed to try it. When the free version didn't work well, they paid for a subscription. OpenAI made a profit — but Studio Ghibli and others whose styles were copied probably got nothing. Some artists, like Karla Ortiz, have spoken out. She saw her work used to train AI, creating markets that earned millions, but none of that came to her. And beyond the money, there's emotional harm that's hard to measure. Take Miyazaki himself. Known for Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, he's famous for crafting each hand-drawn frame with care, often over years. Now, his style is replicated in seconds, by the millions. That would make any artist feel discouraged — especially in a time when social media wreaks havoc and quickly moves on to the next trend. It's no surprise Miyazaki once said AI was 'an insult to life itself.' There's even a risk that when Studio Ghibli releases a new film, audiences — already used to AI-made 'Ghibli' art — might find the real thing less special. Personally, I've found myself avoiding anything Ghibli-esque online, as I've become numb to seeing so many of those images. A brand built over decades can be diluted in weeks. At the end of the day, ChatGPT and similar AI tools are just that — tools. The real issue is how we choose to use them. We can use AI blindly, or use it thoughtfully — with respect for creators and culture, especially when real artists are being left behind. The best art has always been more than just technique. It carries emotion, memory, struggle and vision. People don't love Picasso just for his brushwork — they love the name, the life, the ideas behind the work. Art is valuable because of the person who made it. When we forget that, we risk turning creativity into just another commodity. As AI continues to evolve, we must also evolve in how we protect human dignity, creativity and meaning. We need to ask hard questions — not just about what AI can do, but what it should do. And we need to leave space for people to keep creating, expressing, imagining. If we keep outsourcing — copying and consuming — without giving back, while big tech executives take all the profits, we risk pushing out the very people whose creativity we admire. Their voices, visions and originality are not infinite resources — they require space, respect and support. As we enjoy the playful or impressive outputs of AI, we should also stay awake to the bigger picture. The entertainment and convenience of instant — yet often banal — delivery should never come at the cost of our own agency to think, feel and create. If we let AI do all the imagining, we risk forgetting how to imagine at all. So yes — have fun, explore, experiment with generative AI tools. But don't forget what makes your thoughts, your art and your voice truly irreplaceable. Our stories are still worth telling, and our ideas are worth turning into things — by us. Lim Woong is a professor at the Graduate School of Education at Yonsei University in Seoul. The views expressed here are the writer's own. — Ed.
