The Kyung Hee University (KHU) 2024 summer graduation ceremony was held on August 20. The event took place on both the Seoul and Global campuses, bringing many people together to celebrate their loved ones' most memorable moments. Notably, this year's ceremony featured several new elements that distinguished it from previous ones.

The 2024 summer graduation ceremony site, Global Campus Sunseung Building

A Closer Look at the 2024 KHU Summer Graduation Ceremony

The ceremony was conducted in the same way on both campuses. On the Seoul Campus, graduates gathered at the Grand Peace Hall, while the Sunseung Building served as the venue for the Global Campus ceremony. At both locations, the ceremony began at 11 a.m.

The event followed a structured program: opening with President Kim Jin-sang's Graduation Speech, followed by the Awarding of Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral Degrees, Recognition of Academic Excellence, a Graduate's Speech, a Congratulatory Performance, and concluding with the Singing of the University Song.

President Kim Jin-sang is giving the graduation speech

This year, a total of 1,665 students received bachelor’s degrees: 929 graduating from the Seoul Campus and 735 from the Global Campus. According to the KHU Academic Affairs Team, an additional 1,472 students earned master's degrees and 195 received doctoral degrees, bringing the total to 3,332 students who completed their academic journey.

President Kim Jin-sang remarked to the graduates to utilize the Humanitas spirit in society. He said, “I hope the graduates can grow to be great global citizens, becoming a ‘true light illuminating the beautiful world.’”

He added, “To achieve this, you must continuously ask yourself, ‘Who am I and what kind of being am I?’ In each community, ask ‘What kind of being are we and what role does our relationship play?’”

Reversing the Tradition: Ceremony Location

The most distinctive feature of this event is its location. Previously, graduation events were based on the Seoul Campus. The KHU President would deliver a speech at the Grand Peace Hall, which would be broadcast via video to the Global Campus Sunseung Building.

In contrast, this summer graduation ceremony was held in reverse. Kim came to Global Campus and gave a speech at the Sunseung Building. The video recording was then livestreamed to the Grand Peace Hall. After the ceremony, President Kim also visited the Philosopher’s Square to encourage the graduates who were taking the picture.

The Summer Graduation Ceremony Management Team explained that the decision reflected the KHU president's will. "The KHU president's visit to Global Campus aims to break tradition. The ceremony has historically been held at the Seoul Campus, then we decided to make a distinctive change this time," they said. "Essentially, President Kim Jin-sang wanted to hold the ceremony on the Global Campus, which made this change possible,” they further remarked.

Changes to the Graduation Gown Borrowing System

More than the KHU president's visit, another improvement enhanced participant satisfaction. During this summer graduation ceremony, graduates and KHU students enjoyed more convenient access to graduation gowns.

Previously, each department managed its own borrowing process. This resulted in different borrowing schedules and pickup locations depending on the major, which limited flexibility in obtaining a gown.

Since this event, gown borrowing was centralized under one department with a single pickup location. The Management Team of the KHU General Affairs Team now manages gown borrowing, with students able to pick up gowns at the basketball court on Seoul Campus and the Central Library Renaissance Hall on Global Campus. The borrowing schedule was also standardized from August 20 to 23.

Global Campus graduation gown pick location: Central Library Renaissance Hall

The system change primarily resulted from the redesigned graduation gown. The Management Team explained that the new gown is heavier and more sensitive to humidity. Since the department's storage area was inadequate, the team brought a management company to store the gowns, which ultimately led to the unified borrowing system.

The Management Team also added that the new system is worth aligning with student demands. "Students have consistently complained about varying borrowing schedules and locations. We view the new borrowing system positively as it addresses these previous inconveniences,” they stated.

While improving convenience, the new system also strengthened the compensation policy. The fee for a lost graduation gown increased from 120,000 won last year to 200,000 won this year. The Management Team explained, "We raised the compensation fee to prevent students from intentionally paying the fee to keep the gowns for selling or lending online."

Fresh Banners Brighten the Celebration

The newly designed banner also made the campus atmosphere different. Until July, the banner was designed with a lighter color—two flags, including the KHU’s symbol with sky blue and light orange.

However, in August, the Communication Center updated the banner to reflect KHU’s original colors: Kyung Hee Red and Kyung Hee Blue. The slogan was also changed from "Toward Lux Mundi" (meaning "toward light of the world" in Latin) to "Toward Global Eminence," which is KHU's vision.

“KHU is now pursuing a better future for the current generation and achieving Global Eminence in academia and peace. The new slogan is to reflect the KHU’s strong willingness toward this vision,” they explained the meaning of the change in words.

They added that they have changed the banner’s design annually, or for an important event. The current change was for this post-graduation ceremony.

The 2024 summer graduation ceremony concluded successfully. Especially, new elements introduced at this year's event created a fresh atmosphere for the graduates. The KHU graduates appeared to experience one of their most memorable days with high satisfaction.