By Chanju LEE (2011 MPP, Korea)

Do you remember the crazy happy hour last July? The day when we had yummy barbeque, sang and danced with the Dean! We love KDI School, a lot of students said afterwards, feeling more bonded than ever. Unfortunately busy working schedule of our part-time students kept them from taking advantage of this special afternoon. Against the complicated backdrop regarding the renaming issue that plagued the School’s unity back in summer, the student representative Mr. Sanghyun Seo (2010 MPP, Korea) has thus designed a big gathering for part-time students: two nights and three days on Mt. Jiri.

On August 12^th the part-time students gathered for a good time together. Dean Sang-woo Nam joined them with three professors (Hun-Joo Park, Wook Sohn and Jinsoo Lee), as well as a staff member (BK Lee) from the Academic Affairs Division.

As the bus approached the destination, they could almost feel an aura from Mt. Jiri, the 3^rd highest mountain in the southern part of Korea. Upon arrival students were greeted by a lunch full of vegetable dishes fresh from the mountain. Enlivened by this healthy diet, they set out to climb up one of the highest peaks called Nogodan. Although it was not an easy hike, the fellowship they shared (and maybe the power of extraordinary vegetables Mt. Jiri had grown) propelled them to reach the peak in about an hour. The scenery from Nogodan made the effort worthwhile: a peaceful green world stretched out before their eyes, and invigorating mountain breeze allowed only for a hiker.

Mountain climbing continued the next day. It was an arduous five-hour journey, but the hardship of climbing was amply rewarded by the surrounding nature. Needless to say spending time together and sharing the experience for two days helped to weave a tight network. Then came a night that further united everyone, brought by our very own Dean Nam.

Dr. Nam started off the second evening by emulating a historic speech: “I have a dream. I have a dream just like Martin Luther King Jr. did 48 years ago. I have a dream that KDI School will earn its reputation across the world for its high quality programs. I have a dream that our student body would represent more and more diverse countries, that every member of our faculty and staff would become a global standard for excellent teaching and institutional efficiency. We cannot change at once, but we will get there someday!”

The changes, he said, have already started with restructuring of academic programs. Starting from the year 2012 KDI School will offer two master’s programs: Master of Development Policy (MDP) and Master of Public Policy (MPP). “With the addition of MDP, KDI School will be able to share development experience of Korea in a more systematic way,” he expected. Dean Nam went on to explain that MDP is designed to foster international specialists in Official Development Assistance (ODA), and will provide capacity-building for those who wish to contribute to development policymaking.

Then he delivered a last few lines that spoke to everyone’s heart: “Since I took office as Dean, I have learned that there exist many different viewpoints and positions. When we go up to Nogodan, there were several different paths to get there. But we did not take separate ways to our liking; we arrived at the peak walking in the same path. As tough as it was, we helped each other and reached the same goal. Let us always keep that in mind. Let us always remember that we are marching toward the same objective: making the KDI School better. I promise I will share all the joys and sorrows in the process, walking in the same path, step by step, alongside our students and faculty.”

As the Dean shared his vision and resolution, students began to feel confident that their school is on the right track all the recent changes notwithstanding. “It was a great time to build community spirit; students and professors were assured that we share the same goal,” Mr. Seo reflected, with a hearty smile and a hopeful nod.