[Sponsored Report] GIST cements image as top-class research body

The administration building, pictured above, sits at the center of GIST’s campus.

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is the “Hidden Champion” of Korean science and technology, especially because of its high-quality research.

GIST was ranked seventh in citations per faculty by British QS in 2012 and has been the top university in Asia for five years in a row. This is one of the most objective indexes that evaluates research results.

More citations mean that the research is being used by experts around the world and is thus more important.

GIST also boasts the highest SCI (Science Citation Index) in the country, according to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, at 1.3.

Its PhD students are also indicative of this excellence. Members of the GIST class of 2012 published 6.45 SCI-level theses per person during their time at the university.

GIST’s curriculum is based on an R&D base and links undergraduate and graduate courses in order to create an education synergy effect. In 2010, the university bolstered its model of science education by launching an undergraduate program. From this month, GIST has filled all class years, from freshmen to seniors.

The school is planning further leaps forward as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The IBS GIST campus launched its ultrapower laser science research center in December, and the leader of laser research, Nam Chang-hee, recently moved from KAIST to GIST to head the research team.

Professor Nam is planning to conduct research on relativism interaction between laser and material.