The second event to present the achievements of 'Paran Semester – Ajou Creative Activity Program' was held on the afternoon of December 6th in Dasan Hall Auditorium. The event was attended by students participating in Paran Semester, their guiding professors, and other students and was an opportunity for congratulating and encouraging the participants.

Prior to the main event, the student participants displayed and explained their task achievements on the ground floor of Dasan Hall. This was then followed by a video on the teams participating in Paran Semester, presentations by 14 teams on their respective tasks, a speech by President Dong Yeon Kim to encourage the students, a summarized evaluation by a judge (Dean Ho Han of the University College), and the presentation of awards. Yeong Lim Ji, who is in the Department of Culture and Content and participated in the first Paran Semester, served as the M.C.

The presented awards included the After You Award, the Innovator Award, the Pilot Award, the Turning Point Award, the Star of Tomorrow Award, the Zero to One Award, the Golden Failure Award, and the Great Sailor Award. The Great Sailor Award and three million won in prize money went to Team Smunalbi, consisting of Dong Eun Lee and Da Jin Yoon (both in the Department of Sociology) and Dong Joo Kim (Department of Psychology). The team made a documentary on the daily life of the elderly and was praised for creating a great work, even if none of its members had any previous experience in filming and producing.

Thirty-one teams of 86 students participated in the second Paran Semester. Guiding professors and experts from outside the University served as advisors to the students and the University checked their progress through interim and final reports submitted by the students.

President Kim said, "While I listened to your presentations, I was convinced that you have all conducted 'practical studies,'" adding, "Our society, including its universities and adults, should provide you with opportunities to do such 'practical studies' rather than only 'theoretical ones.'"

He went on to say, "I believe Paran Semester was successful if it made you feel that there was more to do or was still a long way to go," adding, "I ask that you will not be afraid of failure but have the courage to take on challenges."
 

Students should design programs on their own to apply for Paran Semester and receive 3-18 regular credits if the tasks are successfully completed. There is no limitation of the areas in which students may design their tasks, i.e., the humanities, culture and arts, community services, globalization, and industry-academia cooperation. It is also possible to choose or revise programs from among those suggested by the University or professors.

The Paran Semester tasks for this semester included making a documentary on the daily life of the elderly, planning and organizing a competition of university bands, exporting used cars to Africa, making independent games, designing and building zero-energy houses, and making smart bicycle locking devices.

< Students look at pictures and explanations of building zero-energy houses displayed by Team Sangsang. >

< A member of Team Bony Car gives a presentation on exporting used cars to Africa. >