4-part Comprehensive and Visionary Initiative

The Pathways for Tomorrow initiative at Grace Mission University Graduate School (GMUGS) comprises four key projects. This comprehensive program aims to enhance curriculum, establish a digital library, offer multicultural leadership programs, and deliver IT-related education and marketing to students.

Kyunam Choi, Ph.D., president of GMUGS, is among one of the four project leads and explains how each focus area will build academic rigor and expand student resources.

Briefly describe the project.

The first project area, the curriculum improvement project led by Hyunwan Kim, Ph.D., dean, aims to modernize the educational programs at GMUGS and enhance the student learning experience. Innovative teaching methods are being introduced to cater to diverse learning styles and needs.

The second project, led by James Cho, Ph.D., focuses on the digital e-book library. This initiative aims to provide students and faculty with easy access to digital resources by digitizing all library holdings. The goal is to enhance the efficiency of learning and research by offering myriad formats of e-books and materials.

The third component of the grant, multicultural leadership enhancement led by Byoung-Gu Lee, Ph.D., aims to support students from diverse cultural backgrounds in developing leadership skills. This initiative fosters understanding and collaboration among students, with the goal of nurturing global leaders.

The fourth project focuses on digital proficiency education for master’s degree students. Led by  GMUGS president Kyunam Choi, Ph.D., this initiative strives to equip master’s students with the digital skills needed in modern society. The program seeks to enhance students’ digital capacities for research, learning and ministries.

What have you learned so far?

According to Kim, the curriculum improvement project has revealed a deeper understanding of GMUGS’ students diverse learning styles and needs. He cites how some students prefer interactive and hands-on learning over traditional lecture-based methods. Introducing these new methods has required additional planning and coordination than anticipated, with workshops and training sessions becoming essential to support faculty in adapting improved teaching approaches.

Managing manpower and the budget are key concerns in building the digital library for the second part of the initiative. Project lead Cho and his team have identified solutions to technical issues, particularly in database management and user interface optimization. Consequently, they are gaining a better understanding of the increased usage of digital resources by students and faculty. Providing various formats of e-books and materials has improved accessibility and convenience for users.

In the third grant initiative, while working on the multicultural leadership development component, Lee and his team recognized that the Korean diaspora pastoral and mission fields operate within multicultural contexts. This realization highlighted the importance of developing multicultural communication leadership in the U.S. Conducting this component of the project has laid a crucial foundation for Asian-American leadership development, marking a significant learning point. GMUGS sees this as essential to respect and understand diverse cultural backgrounds to enhance multicultural leadership. Appreciating the unique values and leadership styles of each culture is vital. To effectively operate the leadership program requires various approaches and strategies, including workshops, seminars, and group activities to actively engage participants.

In the final project focus, President Choi’s team recognized the importance of digital education and effective delivery methods. A significant emphasis has been placed on effectively utilizing online learning platforms and digital tools. The variation in students’ digital skill levels was greater than anticipated, highlighting the need for tailored education programs to address these diverse needs. Consequently, GMUGS has developed eight, three-credit hour courses designed to enhance students’ digital capacity. Students who successfully complete six or more of the eight courses will be awarded a digital proficiency certificate, which will be noted on their diploma.         

What has surprised you along the way?

The curriculum improvement team was pleasantly surprised by how positively students responded to the new curriculum and teaching methods. They appeared more engaged and enthusiastic about their learning. The engaging participation and support from faculty members have been encouraging, with many professors eager to learn and adopt new teaching methods.

Contrary to projections, in-person library usage did not decrease as expected, while digitized resources experienced heavy usage. The utilization rate of the digital library has been much higher than anticipated, with both students and faculty actively using e-books and online resources, greatly benefiting their learning and research. Numerous unexpected technical issues, such as server stability and the digitization process of certain materials, have arisen. Addressing these problems has provided valuable learning experiences.

The high level of interest and participation by students in the multicultural leadership program has been surprising. Many students are eager to develop their leadership skills through interactions with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds. The positive interactions and mutual respect among these students have been impressive. GMUGS’ doctoral program has significantly evolved into a research-centered degree. A major achievement is the emergence of five researchers in multicultural communication leadership development from the Ph.D. in cross-cultural studies program. Providing a research environment with literature review materials, cohorts, and set research funds has greatly assisted their academic pursuits.

The enthusiasm among which master’s students for embracing digital education has been remarkable. They are eager to learn digital skills and apply them to their studies and research. The rapid improvement in students’ digital proficiency has been striking, with many achieving high levels of competency in a short period.

What have been a few of your successes?

Students’ academic performance has notably improved, with higher test scores and increased assignment submission. Feedback from student satisfaction surveys has been positive. Faculty development workshops have significantly improved teaching capabilities, and many professors are now implementing new teaching methods in their classes, resulting in increased student engagement.

Our e-library project has allowed us to complete most of the Korean books within the designated timeframe and budget. Despite setbacks and turnover, the team maintained a positive attitude. The digital library has been successfully implemented, with students and faculty actively using it. Access to rare materials and specialized books has improved significantly, greatly enhancing research efficiency. This increased access has made research and learning more convenient for students, who have reported in surveys that they find study materials more easily accessible through the digital library.

Through the Multicultural Leadership Development Research Center, GMUGS conducted research on fostering multicultural leadership within the Korean diaspora. For three years, their efforts achieved academic advancements in developing the Multicultural Community Leadership Competency Index and created a practical tool for assessing the competencies of multicultural ministers, marking a significant achievement. The program has notably improved students’ leadership capabilities, with many now assuming leadership roles in diverse school activities. It has also promoted better understanding and cooperation among different cultures. Furthermore, a network of program participants has been established, leading to ongoing communication and collaboration.

Many students have successfully acquired digital skills and are applying them to their research and studies, resulting in significantly improved research efficiency and academic performance. The successful implementation of the digital education program has led to high student satisfaction, with many students providing positive feedback and expressing eagerness to continue participating.

What aspects of the project are you hopeful about?

Our goal is to continuously improve the curriculum to provide students with better learning experiences. Strengthening communication between faculty and students is a key priority to elevate the quality of education as well.

The digital library project has yielded significant results, providing students with 24-hour access to its resources. Our ongoing efforts include updating and expanding the digital library’s resources to offer a broader range of study materials. Additionally, we plan to improve the user experience, ensuring a more convenient and efficient library service for all users.

President Choi hopes to continue supporting students in acquiring the cutting-edge digital skills and integrating them into the school’s studies and research. Additionally, GMUGS intends to continuously improve the digital education program to reach a broader student audience.

What are you learning that could help other schools?

Recognizing the significance of incorporating diverse learning styles into curriculum design is a key takeaway. This insight can guide other schools in enhancing their students’ learning experiences. Additionally, ongoing faculty education and support are essential for effective curriculum improvements.

Sharing our experiences with technical challenges and solutions in building a digital library can assist other schools in successfully launching and maintaining their digital libraries. Understanding the importance of user-centered interfaces and database management is a key insight. We recommend allocating increased resources toward research and the selection of the best tools available. While our initial choice was sufficient, ongoing technology improvements are essential. Also, prioritizing ample time for quality control and the conversion of materials into e-book formats is equally important in optimizing the library’s functionality and usability.

Our experience in managing a multicultural leadership program can guide other schools in implementing similar programs to foster students’ leadership skills. Respecting and understanding diverse cultural backgrounds are key for a successful program.

Likewise, our experience in operating a digital education program can support other schools in launching similar programs aimed at improving students’ digital competencies. Tailored education programs that consider students’ diverse skill levels are pivotal.