SEOUL, June 08 (AJP) - Students from five universities in South Korea presented multidisciplinary solutions to global challenges during the finals of the 2026 Global Symbiosis Joint Academic Festival on May 29, 2026, Kookmin University said Monday.
The festival was organized by the HUSS Global Symbiosis Project Group and brought together participants from Kwangwoon University, Kookmin University, Sunmoon University, Yeungnam University and Honam University. The competition challenged students to analyze complex social issues, such as climate change and demographic shifts, and propose practical solutions through cross-major collaboration.
Nine teams advanced to the finals, pitching ideas across fields such as technology, welfare, and urban planning. A team from Yeungnam University won the grand prize for proposing a symptom translation and hospital matching solution designed to improve medical access for international students. First prize went to a Kookmin University team for a food donation campaign aimed at supporting vulnerable youth.
Excellence awards were given to three teams for artificial intelligence-based proposals. These included a carbon reduction platform using local energy data, an accessible cultural tourism application, and a monitoring system to prevent solitary deaths among single-person households. Judges evaluated the projects based on creativity, feasibility, and their multidisciplinary approach.
The festival is part of the HUSS Global Symbiosis Consortium, a three-year initiative launched in 2024 with support from the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation. The consortium aims to train 2,500 students in sustainable resource management and international cooperation through various educational exchange programs.
"This academic festival was an opportunity for students to interpret the complex problems of global society based on their majors and fields of interest, and to propose solutions through multidisciplinary collaboration," Professor Ahn Hyun-chul said. "We will continue to expand various programs so that students can grow while experiencing the value of a sustainable future and global symbiosis."
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