GIST, Going International with iPhone Applications

Launching of first English iPhone App Service by a Korean university

A global promotional medium providing real-time news and information on academic courses 

 

 

Amidst the recent craze over iPhone, which has triggered an intense competition among domestic universities to develop iPhone applications, the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is attracting public attention with its English applications targeting global users. GIST is the first Korean university to develop English-based applications for international users.

 

On (May) 25, GIST (President Jung-Ho Sonu) announced that it completed its development of ‘iGIST’, an English-based iPhone application for global users, and registered the service at Appstore. Now, all iPhone users can download the service free of charge.

 

With the launching of iPhones, major universities in Korea, namely Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, Hanyang University, Soongsil University and Inha University, have competed in the development of iPhone applications. Previous applications were more focused on providing convenience services to students and faculty within the school campus, such as posting of school notices, restaurant information, library seats search and academic affairs search.

 

The new application developed by GIST is differentiated from other services in that it is an English-based application planned and created for users around the world interested in GIST.

 

iGIST features seven basic menus: introduction to the institution, major news, campus maps, promotional videos, photo gallery, information on academic courses and major events.

 

The major news (‘News’) menu is connected to the GIST English website and delivers real-time news about GIST through iPhones. In addition, the application enhances promotional effect through multimedia videos in English and campus pictures compared to previous text-based promotions. Furthermore, course syllabuses can also be referred to in English, thereby providing detailed information on the courses installed at GIST. It is expected to gain great interest from freshmen that will be entering the school.

 

Hee-Chul Choi, Head of International and Public Affairs  at GIST, says “GIST is moving up in world university rankings and the global community is taking an increasing interest in the school”. He added, “The application is expected to become a new communication tool that will link more international users to GIST”.

 

Beginning with the launching of its new services, GIST will continue to upgrade iGIST and actively utilize it in promoting the school to the world. iGIST can be downloaded from the iPhone Appstore and GIST website free of charge.