KAIST AIM, a technology-management integrated course……practical education recognized by FT.

“One of the characteristics of our executive education program is that the latest management strategies and trends can be learnt. As the word technology is associated with KAIST, its core characteristic is the integration of the latest technology with management strategy.”

Han In-Goo, the professor in charge of KAIST Advanced Innovative Management (AIM) Program, considered the program’s curriculum and its strengths. “Unlike other schools’ AMP courses, we have an AIM course in which ‘I’ stands for ‘Innovative’; this shows the importance of innovation to us…Unlike other schools which teach traditional management courses, we offer an education that integrates management and technology.

There are numerous subjects that can only be found in the KAIST AIM course; ‘Emerging Technology’ deals with integrating the latest trends and business and ‘Smart Management’ provides ways to maximize the value creation in the technology integration era.

KAIST AIM course is recognized as the leader among executive education programs in the nation. AIM was first established in 1994. CEOs were taught how to use the computer back then and this was the first time that this kind of course was offered.

“Back then, the biggest aspect of progress was CEOs carrying laptops, sending e-mails and making orders via the computer. Naturally, the workers also became skillful in computers…Although the history of the course is short compared to those offered in Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University, the course allows for future-oriented education…since the technology trends change rapidly, some people re-enter the course.” said professor Han.

This kind of integrated education is also recognized internationally. In the 2014 Executive Education rankings by the Financial Times (FT), KAIST AIM course was the only Korean executive education program to be ranked and was 1^st in Asia and 24^th globally. More specifically, in the criteria which assesses the extent to which the curriculum reflects the latest research, the program was ranked 9^th in the world.

The KAIST AIM course is praised for the quality of its network, despite the short history. CEOs of the Korea’s most renowned giant firms, including Jung Mong Gyu of Hyundai Development Company (HDC) are alumni.

There are two ways to establish and strengthen the network in the AIM course -- the Alpine Club and Golf Club which both gathering for building relationships. The alpine club sets up hiking trips once every month, and a monthly event has taken place every month for the last 10 years.

In the executive education course, a network is usually established on field trips. The Silicon Valley Workshop initiated in 2014, is an example of a field activity. The executives visit IT firms such as Google and SAP and attend seminars with venture businessmen and venture consultants.