The Aalto University Student Union Board visited Korea in May to see local university campuses. The trip sparked a lot of thoughts on how the Otaniemi campus could be developed.
Getting to know internationality at the campus, Korea Design Factory. Yonsei. Picture: Emma Savela
The AYY Board makes a bi-yearly trip to China to visit our friendship student union at the Tsinghua University in Beijing.
Each time the trip includes a second place of visit. The aim of the visit is to learn something new from the actions of other universities and student unions. This time, the AYY delegation visited the Aalto cooperation universities in Korea; KAIST, Yonsei and SNU (Seoul National University).
New kinds of growing methods are tested on the roof of the environmental tech department. SNU. Pictured Rosa Väisänen, Niko Ferm and Tapio Hautamäki. Picture: Emma Savela
University life in South Korea is interesting in many ways. Despite cultural differences, the similarities are numerous: PISA success, the quality of teaching and education, the efforts on technological development… The populace in Korea is aging like in Finland and the need for outside experts is growing, so international students are lured in with a similar manner.
There are differences, of course. In contrast to Finnish cutbacks in education, the Korean education and research investments seem endless. For example, during 2015, a total of 69% of young adults in Korea had higher education degrees. The number is the highest in all OECD countries, and 28 percentiles higher than the Finnish number. (OECD 2017: Population with tertiary education).
There was a lot to learn, understand and benchmark during the visit! We sought for tips and tricks at the four campuses visited, especially in things pertaining to campus development with Otaniemi and our other large project, the Student Center, in mind.
Stairs for sitting at the new KAIST library. Could something like this be built at, for example, the Student Center? KAIST. Picture: Emma Savela
Sports have a strong presence on campus. KAIST. Picture: Emma Savela
The general impression on Korean university campuses is that their outdoor areas are especially well accounted for. There are a lot of pleasant outdoor spaces.
For example, a water element is centrally placed at the KAIST campus (dubbed the “Ducky pond” by the locals), opening to a central yard and terrace area. Other campuses have many pleasant spots aplenty, available for students to spend time, study, have a break or just enjoy an ice cream.
During summer, the importance of these kinds of spots in Otaniemi is very visible. The small terrace next to the AYY Central Office is jam-packed with people enjoying the weather during warm summer days. Maybe we should have more places like this?
There is a pond located on a central spot at campus, surrounded by an avenue and a terrace. KAIST. Picture: Emma Savela
Yonsei campus has a comfortable lounging area, created with plants and different uses of textured materials. Yonsei. Picture: Emma Savela
Greenery, plants and diverse nature are also points of focus on campus areas.
The Aalto campus area has been called green and close to nature many times. Still, these factors are even more present in Korea.
While nature plays a significant role in Otaniemi, for example the seaside and beaches are not very utilized at all. How often do you even notice that the campus is right by the sea?
Otaniemi has a lot of potential, however. The upcoming campus development will most certainly focus more on the outdoor areas in the future.
Green digs at the Yonsei main campus. Yonsei. Picture: Emma Savela
Regarding the student center, the Korean examples lack a straight “bullseye” that would fulfil the vision planned for Otaniemi.
However, on a general level, the benchmarking was really useful. It was very instructional to see how concepts that we have on paper have been implemented in a different environment. We found examples of work spaces, printing spots and club rooms.
Stylized entrance into the facilities of a party organizing association. SNU. Picture: Emma Savela
Dance practice at a local student center hallway. SNU. Picture: Emma Savela
In general, the everyday life in Korean universities differs a lot from Finland.
The most memorable thing at each university were probably all the very familiar well-being and equality themes and their implementation on each campus.
Human rights and ways to intervene in harassment are being advertised with big posters and online ads. Help can be reached through phone lines and from help centers located on campuses. In addition to campus development, we also received a lot of clever ideas for AYY’s equality work.
Posters on human rights on campus. Yonsei. Picture: Tapio Hautamäki
The best thing about the visit were the numerous discussions we had with local students and staff. So, thank you to KAIST, Yonsei, Korean Design Factory and SNU for the heartfelt cooperation!
Emma Savela
AYY board member (real estate and student center, living and other services)
Rosa Väisänen
Advocacy specialist (international matters and new students)