Paran Semester – Ajou Creative Activity Program – for the 2018 fall semester was concluded with a presentation event held on the afternoon of December 7^th in the lobby of the University's Jonghap Hall. The program, which was launched in 2016, allows students to design their own activities and receive credits based on the results.

The event, which was attended by President Hyung Ju Park, the program-guiding professors, and participating students, featured presentations of achievement in student assignments and an awards ceremony.

For the 2018 fall semester, a total of 117 students from 35 teams participated in the program and have been involved in a variety of innovative activities.

The Great Sailor Prize – the highest prize – and 1 million won of scholarship funds went to Team Interlude that organized the 1^st Ajou University Advertisement Festival.

Members of Interlude said, "It was a chance for us to find out that there are various forms of support available for students at the University," adding, "We have realized that students can have many great opportunities and the University staff is here to help us."

Other award winners and their assignments are as follows, receiving a total of 6 million won in scholarship funds:

• The Star of Tomorrow Award: Ajou Great Street (Create a website on commercial districts promotion)

• The Zero to One Award: Blueprint (Develop an automatic printer management system)

• The Golden Failure Award: Frame (Conduct cognitive psychological research using installation art)

• The Turning Point Award: Soft Corn (Raise awareness on abandoned dogs through related content), Jenius (Recommend YouTube videos based on course registration data), and Jubaco (Promote awareness of Judo by making related videos) 

• The Pilot Award: AuBe (Develop self-driving vehicle verification platforms), Inde List (Develop platform applications for independent musicians and independent music listeners), Weavers (Promote the game industry by making game trailers), Ajou Miner (Establish a decision-making support system for exchange students), and Blossom Two (Commercialize online items)

• The Innovator Award: Simple Care, SF, FOREX, Purepoll, One P1ctures, SOON, etc.)

   

   

  The Great Failure Award is given to encourage those who showed enthusiasm and hard work although they failed in accomplishing their designated goal.

   

  Ah Yeong Lee said, "We spent a full year to prepare for this program and tried to work on unique challenges," adding, "I and four other teammates chose an assignment suitable for young students, and we are happy to be able to present what we have done and send our messages to other students."

   

  During the awards ceremony, President Park said, "If you can explain the reasons for your success or failure, it can be your own brand in itself," adding, "I ask that our students will learn how to enjoy challenges through the Paran Semester program."

    

  The 'Paran' in Paran Semester means blue, the color of the University, and signifies 'breaking an egg or the existing practices of individuals' and 'innovative wave' that can bring fresh perspectives to our society. Students should design programs on their own to apply for Paran Semester or can choose or revise programs from among those suggested by the University or professors. 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.