Ajou History

Leaders of Global Asia (2001~2010)

A leading global university of interdisciplinary learning

In commemoration of its 30th anniversary, Ajou University has created a new vision for the university’s development (Ajou Vision 4U) that will propel it toward its goal of becoming a world-class university. In accordance with this new vision, Ajou University will be improving its learning environment and actively supporting the research activities of its faculty by implementing progressive policies while also encouraging student activities that have the potential to enhance the university’s culture both on and off campus.

In 2004, Ajou University published the first 12-year plan (2004-2015) for its transformation into a world-class learning institution, in which it proposed a list of specific goals for each step of the transformation process in addition to 50 related projects (GAPI~50), including organizational restructuring, reform of the Bachelor’s degree system, and administrative and financial reforms of campus facilities. Ajou University also dedicated significant efforts toward founding a law school and gaining ABEEK (Accreditation Board for Engineering Education of Korea) certification for all of its engineering degree programs. In 2008, the university established “Ajou Vision 2023,” a completely new vision to be carried out until 2023, which will be its 50th anniversary.

Under the slogan “A Leading Global University of Interdisciplinary Learning,” Ajou University decided on the “cultivation of interdisciplinary creators” as its key educational objective. The first university in Korea to establish a financial engineering department and cultural content department (in 2010), Ajou produced multiple track-based curricula while also contributing to the larger goal of advancing interdisciplinary learning.

To achieve its goal of interdisciplinary learning, Ajou University introduced the autonomous management of its collegesand established an executive agency system for the operation of its departments, through which it encouraged the decentralization andautonomy of its colleges, graduate schools, research centers, and various support institutions.