"Thank you for the warm advice and encouragement"... Successful Completion of the 2023 Mentorship Day for the Academic Year 

The KUBS (Dean: Kim Sang-yong) hosted the 2023 Mentorship Day for the spring semester, which took place for three days from May 9th (Tuesday) to May 11th (Thursday). The event was held during lunchtimes at the LG-POSCO Building KUKU Hall and the An Young-il Hall, and it was eagerly anticipated as it marked the first in-person event in three years since the pandemic. 

The Mentorship Day targeted students who wished to meet their mentor professors and accepted pre-applications. As the students approached the assigned tables where the professors were waiting, the initial awkwardness quickly disappeared, and they engaged in lively conversations. The professors listened to various stories ranging from students' hobbies, living arrangements, academic challenges, career aspirations, and networking. They shared empathetic and heartfelt advice, reminiscing about their own student days. 

Professor Bae Jong-seok, who participated in the Mentorship Day held on the 9th, said, "During the pandemic, the event was conducted online, and the participation rate was low, which gave a sense of disconnection. I am glad to be able to meet the students face-to-face and have conversations. There are many excellent professors in the College of Business, and I hope that students do not hesitate to seek help from professors and build good relationships." Lee Kyung-jin (Business administration '18), who says to be participating in the Mentorship Day event for his third time, said, "I think the Mentorship Day is a great opportunity to get closer to the mentor professors. I always have a grateful heart for their guidance." Oh Seung-wook (Business administration '23), who was meeting with a professor for the first time, said, "It was enjoyable to hear various stories about studying abroad, career paths, and clubs. After the event, I should look into student exchange programs based on the professor's advice." 

On the Mentorship Day held on the 10th, Lee Seung-hoon (Business administration '23) said, "Today was my first time meeting Professor Yoo Seung-won, my mentor professor. He provided me with a lot of valuable information that I need during my university life, and it was reassuring to hear that I could always come to him for help." Lee Yoo-na (Business administration '23) expressed her joy at having the opportunity to participate in the Mentorship Day, saying, "If it wasn't for today's event, I wouldn't have had the chance to meet the mentor professors and get familiar with my peers. I received valuable advice that will be helpful in setting my future goals." 

However, there were concerns that incoming students who did not attend might not be aware of the benefits and miss out on them. Professor Kim Jung-hyuk, who attended the Mentorship Day, expressed his concerns, saying, "Not many students came today, and it seems that due to the disruption of interactions between senior and junior students caused by the pandemic, incoming students are not aware of the benefits of events like today's. It would be great to promote and activate department-level events and benefits in the future." Professor Kim continued, "Since I mostly teach senior-level courses, I haven't had the opportunity to meet students from the class of '23. It was personally enjoyable to have lively conversations with the incoming students and witness their enthusiasm and passion." 

Professor Ahn Yoo-jeong, who participated on May 11th, the last day, expressed her delight, saying, "I didn't participate in the Mentorship Day when I was an undergraduate, but now that I've had conversations, it's really fun. I can vividly see the excitement that the incoming students have for their university life." Won Sung-bin (Business administration '23), a freshman student, said, "I was quite nervous, thinking it would be a formal and difficult occasion, but thanks to the professor's guidance, I felt at ease during the conversation. I found it beneficial to hear about various examples of social enterprises, which I have been interested in, through the professor." 

Amidst the students' excitements and the professors' warm advice, the event concluded in a comfortable atmosphere. The Mentorship Day has been held every spring semester since 2007 to help KUBS students share the challenges of university life with their peers, establish networks through interactions with mentor professors, and provide support.