UNIST Leadership Center has been awarded the Minister of Education Commendation at the 2025 Korea Educational Contribution Awards Ceremony, held in Gyeonggi Province on December 12, 2025. The awards, jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Foundation for Science and Creativity (KOSAC), recognize outstanding contributions to education through volunteer initiatives and community engagement.
UNIST Leadership Center has provided STEM-based career and inquiry education to over 33,000 local students over the past 14 years. The recognition reflects the center’s sustained commitment to hands-on, experiential learning in science and technology.
This year, UNIST organized a STEM Mentorship Program with 18 student mentors. These undergraduate mentors designed and led experiment-focused educational sessions at local schools and libraries, offering tailored learning experiences for middle and high school students.
Programs included ‘Meeting UNIST at Ulju Seonbawi Library,’ as well as STEM education sessions at Ulsan Foreign Language High School, the Ulsan Gangnam Gifted Education Center, and Eonyang Elementary School. On December 5, middle school students in Busan also participated in UNIST STEM programs, bringing the total number of students reached this year to over 1,000.
The educational initiatives were supported through partnerships with local governments and educational offices, including Ulsan Metropolitan City, Ulju County Office, Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education, and the Ulsan Buk-gu Office, which provided administrative and financial support.
This year, UNIST has expanded its STEM educational outreach beyond Ulsan to Busan and the Gyeongnam region. A partnership agreement with Pukyong National University (PNU)’s Support Center for Educational Donation has established a collaborative framework for the wider region, and an upcoming agreement with the Busan Seobu District Office of Education will further strengthen program delivery for students in western Busan.
