‘Failure Award’ System Encourages Free Academic Exploration
Global Environment with NYU Joint Campus, Korea’s First AI University,
President Lee Kwang-hyung performing with the student rap club GUTOS at the 2024 Innovate Korea. (Provided by KAIST. No resale or DB use) 2025.12.15/News1,
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, “(Daejeon=News1) Reporter Lee Dong-won = KAIST conveyed congratulatory messages to the 2026 academic year early admission successful candidates on the 15th, unveiling its educational philosophy of ‘encouraging challenge and failure’ and its vision to nurture ‘global talents.’ KAIST, which holds creativity, challenge, and consideration as its core values, focuses on nurturing interdisciplinary talents to lead the competition in advanced technologies such as AI and semiconductors.”,
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, ‘President Lee Kwang-hyung described KAIST as a “playground for eccentrics where students can freely play and study with friends, and even try out entrepreneurship and failure.” He emphasized, “Do not fear failure; by organizing and sharing your failure experiences, you can even receive a ‘Failure Award’.” He welcomed students who define their own problems and challenge themselves beyond boundaries, stating that he has never rejected a student-proposed idea during his tenure, highlighting the free environment for challenge.’,
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, “KAIST supports a global educational environment through operating a joint campus with New York University (NYU) and securing a Silicon Valley campus. Recently, it established Korea’s first AI university to cultivate the next generation of AI leaders and is enhancing education in humanities, culture, and arts through digital humanities minors and art gallery operations. Additionally, the ‘Hiking Scholarship’ encourages student challenges and balanced growth.”,
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, ‘President Lee conveyed to the successful candidates, “I look forward to seeing you grow into ‘stars’ with unique colors that shine on the world stage at KAIST,” sending a message of encouragement.\n’