KDI School, aiming to foster research interests and academic development through student forum activities, introduced the Student Forum Symposium. This symposium is an exploration of scholarly works and student interests throughout the year, culminating in this event. The KDIS Student Forum serves as a platform for students to delve deeper into their academic interests and focuses particularly on unique research.

The symposium was organized in November 2023 under the theme "Exploring Academic Endeavors and Research Insights" showcasing the research performances from six student forums: the African Development Forum; ASEAN Forum; Latin American and the Caribbean Forum; Women Leaders Forum; Intellectual Property Forum; and Human Rights Forum.

Professor Rhee Inbok, as the advising professor, emphasized the significance of this meeting. He highlighted the forums' performance, research insights, academic activities, and shared his perspectives regarding the future of KDI School’s student forums. Furthermore, he provided insights and comments on each forum's presentations. For instance, the Latin America and the Caribbean Forum presented on the "Economic Landscape; A Closer Look at Trade and Development in the LAC region." He said, "This topic is very interesting, especially when observing the current crisis and inflation cases in Argentina. Discussing appropriate policies for the American economy to impact economic growth would be a valuable recommendation."

The symposium acted as a platform for students to showcase their academic prowess, offering insights into diverse research areas and presenting innovative ideas. Ranging from economics to public policy, intellectual property, women's issues, human rights, and international relations—especially within ASEAN and Korea—the symposium unveiled a wealth of intellectual curiosity and scholarly achievements. 

Musa (MDP Spring 2023), from Nigeria, expressed his interest in the diverse research topics from each forum: "Despite all our differences, there is power in unity because wherever there is diversity, there are innovative ideas that can solve a lot of problems we all share in common. Therefore, with the great minds at KDIS and as future policymakers, we are going to make the world a better place."

Moreover, participants were encouraged to provide insights, ideas, and questions during each student forum presentation. The symposium became impactful due to the flowing discussions. Arief Megatama, the new chair of the KDIS ASEAN Forum, shared, "It was an insightful symposium where representatives of each forum shared their impactful activities and received constructive feedback from audience members, showcasing their strong sense of belonging and concern for the KDIS community." This experience motivated Arief to learn and prepare himself as the ASEAN Forum leader in 2024.

This annual event not only celebrates students' academic achievements but also nurtures a culture of collaboration, fostering the exchange of ideas among an enthusiastic learning community. Roeurng Sarath, an MPP Fall 2022 student, expressed interest in future symposiums: "Going forward, I hope that the symposium continues to provide an enriching platform for forums to share their insights and foster more collaborations among the student body. Additionally, I anticipate that it will further encourage meaningful discussion on critical issues affecting different regions and policy domains." Undoubtedly, it was an engaging and impactful symposium!

As we reflect on this inspirational session, it is evident that the KDI School Student Forum Symposium serves as a model of academic excellence, motivating student forums to push the boundaries of knowledge and make meaningful contributions to their respective fields of study.