Georgia Tech and Kaist Partner to Offer Dual Degrees

The Georgia Institute of Technology and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have announced dual degree programs in electrical and computer engineering (ECE). The new programs will be offered at two campus locations: Georgia Tech’s main campus in Atlanta and at KAIST in Daejeon, Republic of Korea.

All lectures at KAIST will be presented in English to better serve a growing number of students from overseas. Undergraduate students may earn either a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering from Georgia Tech in tandem with the bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from KAIST. While in the dual undergraduate degree program, students spend two years each at both Georgia Tech and KAIST. For the master’s dual degree program in ECE, students spend two semesters each at both institutions. Participating students must satisfy the graduation requirements established by both universities in order to earn degrees from both institutions.

“One of the goals in our strategic plan is to support Georgia Tech’s objective to become a global university,” said Gary S. May, professor and Steve W. Chaddick School Chair of Electrical and Computing Engineering.  “We feel that these dual degree programs will help prepare our students to become leaders who will contribute to cultural, political, educational, economic and high-tech concerns in their home countries. In addition, collaborations between the two institutes will create opportunities to educate students who possess the skills for excelling in a dynamic global environment.”

Georgia Tech students participating in the dual bachelor’s degree program will spend their first and fourth years in Atlanta and their second and third years at KAIST. KAIST students spend their first two years in Daejeon and the final two in Atlanta. For the dual master’s program, Georgia Tech students will complete their first year at Georgia Tech and second year at KAIST, while KAIST students will complete the first year at KAIST and second year at Georgia Tech.

“KAIST’s proximity to many governmental research facilities, funding agencies and headquarters of many high- tech companies provides a rich resource for student internships and faculty research collaboration opportunities.” said Sung Kyu Lim, ECE associate professor and KAIST dual degree program director. “In addition, KAIST is near the National Research Foundation of Korea, which is comparable to our National Science Foundation. This symbolizes the strategic importance of KAIST as the leading national research institute in Korea.”

Key areas of interest at KAIST and local industries are information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology. With approximately 8,000 students, KAIST is home to one of the top science and engineering programs in South Korea and Asia. 

The new programs, pending final approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, are scheduled to start in Spring 2011 for the dual BS and Fall 2011 for the dual MS. In addition, since costs for the new degree programs will primarily be covered by tuition, they will be revenue neutral.

The application deadline for the inaugural class is October 1, 2010, for the dual BS and December 1, 2010, for the dual MS. For more information, you may e-mail the program director, Sung Kyu Lim, at limsk@ece.gatech.edu or call 404-894-0373.



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Harris Corporation Commits $2 Million to Georgia Tech's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

/PRNewswire/ -- Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) , an international communications and information technology company, has signed an agreement to make a $2 million donation to the Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). The gift, made through the Harris Foundation, will help support a capital campaign for construction of a new ECE headquarters and the renovation of the school's 47-year-old Van Leer Building, where some 7,000 students receive instruction each year.

Harris will donate $500,000 each year for four years beginning in 2010 -- the anticipated completion date of the Georgia Tech Foundation's private fund drive for the new facilities. Specifically, the Harris gift is intended for construction of an auditorium or other similar space. Harris has a decades-long partnership with Georgia Tech and its School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, which is the largest producer of electrical and computer engineers by degree in the nation. The company employs nearly 200 of the school's graduates.

Howard L. Lance, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Harris, and Dr. G.P. "Bud" Peterson, president of Georgia Tech, signed an agreement for the donation during a special ceremony at the Harris Customer Briefing Center in Melbourne, Florida. The event also included a reception attended by Harris employees who are Georgia Tech graduates and by other representatives from the university.

"While it may be tempting for corporations to reduce educational support during challenging economic times, at Harris we believe that this is exactly the right time to invest in our company's future by supporting excellent schools like Georgia Tech, whose graduates have helped make Harris a national and global leader in the communications and information technology sectors," said Lance. "Our investments in education and university partnerships pay dividends many times over."

"Our faculty and students are currently scattered across 10 buildings around the campus, the Van Leer classrooms are outdated, and the building lacks adequate laboratory facilities," said Dr. Gary S. May, professor and Steve W. Chaddick School Chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who attended the check presentation. "Clearly, this generous lead gift from Harris Corporation provides significant momentum for the school's long-term capital needs and helps to create a new presence that will serve us well in the 21st Century."

In addition to the $2 million gift announced today, Harris has donated some $280,000 to the university since 2006. This includes a five-year, $250,000 pledge for a research lab in the Nanotechnology Research Center, and another $30,000 to support various programs within the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

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