[2025 Commencement] “You Are Pioneers with the Ability to Change the World!”

President Chong Rae Park delivered some valuable life lessons in his commencement speech at the 2025 UNIST Commencement Ceremony, which took place on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

In his congratulatory remarks, President Chong Rae Park extended heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2025. He urged graduates to embrace challenges with the spirit of ‘UNIST Pioneers,’ which they have exemplified throughout their studies. “We are committed to empower our graduates to forge new paths through the creative problem-solving skills honed at UNIST,” he stated, encouraging graduates to rise above difficulties and aspire to change the world as representatives of Ulsan.

President Chong Rae Park delivered some valuable life lessons in his commencement speech at the 2025 UNIST Commencement Ceremony, which took place on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

President Park emphasized that every journey comes with its share of challenges, mistakes, and setbacks. He cited Jensen Huang, the CEO and co-founder of Nvidia, who started his company from humble beginnings and made the impossible possible by overcoming numerous obstacles. “You, too, can transform failure into opportunity,” he said. “To achieve this, adopt the mindset of Try Many, Fail Fast. In other words, experiment with various approaches and learn quickly from your setbacks. Mastering this process enables you to turn failures into stepping stones toward realizing your goals.”

Below is the complete commencement address by President Chong Rae Park:

Dear Members of the Graduating Class, Congratulations!

I am grateful to the faculty, parents of the graduates, and everyone else gathered here to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Our Esteemed UNIST Pioneers, 

Today marks the start of a new journey. You are here not to commemorate the past, but to use the creative thinking skills and cross-disciplinary abilities you learned at UNIST to create the changes this world needs.

Each of you has experienced hardships and learned from trial and error, which shaped you into who you are today. Your hard work on research and academics has borne fruit. Be proud, as I am, of the effort and how it brought you to this occasion. Take joy in this moment and use your accomplishments to empower yourself to face the many challenges that await you.

In celebration of this milestone, let us take a moment to acknowledge the individuals whose unwavering support has been instrumental in bringing you to this day. Express your gratitude to your families, your professors for the knowledge and insights they shared, and the administrative staffs whose dedication has created a productive and pleasant experience at UNIST, contributing to your academic success.

To the Graduating Class, the Pioneers of a Brighter Tomorrow!

Our world is changing rapidly, and cutting-edge technologies, especially those that involving AI and quantum mechanics, are offering incredible opportunities. The knowledge and skills you gained while at UNIST are not confined to these walls. They are meant to change the world and turn your dreams into reality.

Today, I am excited to announce UNIST’s commitment to an ‘AI Campus,’ marking the comprehensive integration of AI across education, research, and administration. With the use of “One-person per One-generative-AI,” we are committed to empowering every student, researcher, and employee with the skills to harness AI effectively. This year marks the beginning of a profound transformation—one that unlocks AI’s potential to stimulate creative thinking and enhance problem solving capabilities.

Through GPT-based, personalized learning, students can fine-tune the efficiency of their studying, while faculty will utilize AI to make more effective instruction. In research, AI-driven data analyses and simulations will drastically improve both the speed and accuracy of research projects. AI-powered automation will optimize administrative operations, enabling our members to focus on more innovative initiatives that contribute to institutional development.

Today, we are honored to have a very special guest: Lee Sedol, a 9-dan Go player who will be joining the UNIST family as a collaborating professor. Through his match with AlphaGo, Professor Lee showed us the merits that are unique to humans: creativity and a willingness to take on challenges. He showed us that we can thrive with AI instead of fearing it. This spirit aligns with our 2025 motto, “AI-based transitional innovation,” and is a valuable life lessons as you leave this campus.

To Our Proud Graduates! 

You are now equipped with the power to change the world. The knowledge and skills you have acquired at UNIST will make you leaders in your chosen fields and, ultimately, contribute meaningfully to society.

As we are becoming ever more closely intertwined with technology, we must think seriously about how to address social problems and how science and technology can benefit local communities, the nation, and humanuty. You are the bridges connecting technology and society. Embrace your roles as leaders, applying the lessons in teamwork and integrated thinking that you have learned at UNIST, to contribute to a better world.

As with any path, there will be challenges, mistakes, and setbacks. Jensen Huang, the CEO and co-founder of Nvidia, started his company from humble beginnings, but made the impossible possible by overcoming many obstacles. You, too, can transform failure into opportunities. To do this, Try Many, Fail Fast! In other words, try many approaches and learning quickly from setbacks. Succeeding at this allows you to turn any failure into an opportunity to realize your goals.

You are pioneers with the ability to change the world, like the Reformation that brought the curtain down on the great Middle Ages. You are able to create social values and technologies that benefit human life everywhere. Your futures are limitless. I am confident that you will achieve your dreams and make a unique imprint on the world.

Graduation is not an end, but a beginning. You are beacons that illuminate the world . “We Are All Pioneers!” The path you forge will be unlike any other. May you make your mark on that path, connect with a wide range of people, and build the life you dream of. UNIST will be every step of your valuable journey.

Congratulations again to our proud UNIST Pioneers, leading the way as Korean Pioneers and Global Pioneers! The world awaits the brilliance of your lives. As beacons of light, your future shine bright, and your contributions will be invaluable.

Thank you.