<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Interview with Jung-Ho SUNO, president of GIST&nbsp; <BR>&nbsp;<BR>A drive for nurturing the talent as a comprehensive university&nbsp;</SPAN></STRONG></SPAN></P>

<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><STRONG><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"></SPAN><BR></STRONG>&nbsp;</SPAN></P>

<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><IMG style="WIDTH: 306px" height=396 alt=일반정렬 src="http://ewww.gist.ac.kr/bbs/pds/en_news/8df7b73a7820f4aef47864f2a6c5fccf.jpg" width=320 border=0></SPAN></P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">

<P><BR>“2010 will be a very meaningful year for GIST, marking its 16th anniversary of foundation. The first undergraduate students will enter the school and government contribution surpasses 100billion won, GIST moving a leap forward in both qualitative and quantity manners. <BR>New year’s resolution of Jung-Ho SONU aged 70, president of GIST, is very special. His long-cherished desire of establishing undergraduate courses since its foundation has been finally realized so in coming March, GIST will advance into a comprehensive university. As the National Assembly passed the revised bill late last year, his title will also be raised to higher status, a president.</P>

<P><BR>The president said that not only is his title changed but also GIST is eligible for profit-making business and has a flexibility to freely pursue the establishment of departments and majors, and added that 2010 will be a very special year for GIST as GIST is being re-created.<BR>There is one more event that has pleased him early this year. A budget for 2010 increased by 3billion won more than the previous expectation, securing a total of 108.996billion won. The contribution from the government rose by 40% from the previous year, exceeding 100billion won for the first time since GIST was established. <BR></P>

<P>“Such achievements as establishing undergraduate courses and securing budget were made thanks to not only the efforts of our GIST staff but also the help of lawmakers from our area and other organizations. GIST will develop diverse programs that can grow along with the local community and commit itself to nurturing talented people in return.” <BR></P>

<P>In this regard, GIST provides classes in English so that the students can develop their knowledge of humanities and social science and become creative and well-balanced talents suited for a globalized world.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>In addition, GIST pushes ahead with various projects along with the local community. It invites the children from nearby orphanages to enjoy cultural events together and provides lab equipment and science books through sisterhood relationship with primary schools in marginalized area. <BR>&nbsp;<BR>GIST runs after-school classes for middle and high school students from low-income family. The president of GIST whose term marks the second anniversary is much interested in directly taking care of these programs for the development of Gwangju area and the cultivation of superior talents in science. <BR></P>

<P>The president commented that GIST ranked 14th in the world and first in Asia in Citations per faculty of The Times-QS World University Rankings 2009, proving its research strength, and added that GIST will expand into a university with 2000 students and 200 faculty members and annual budget of 200billion won as the one of the best comprehensive universities in science and engineering so that GIST will be listed among the top 30 of World University Rankings by 2010. <BR>&nbsp;</P>

<P><BR>&lt;Posted on etnews on Jan. 7 2010&gt;<BR></P></SPAN><BR>