KAIST has been producing scientists and technicians of exceptional quality. In particular, a large number of graduates from the Department of Mathematical Sciences, to which the Project Group belongs, are teaching at Seoul National University, KAIST, Korea University, and other prestigious schools across Korea, as well as renowned foreign universities such as University of Michigan, University of Illinois, and Pennsylvania State of University. KAIST is committed to ensuring quality education and research to help its graduates demonstrate their outstanding capabilities in their respective fields. KAIST is determined to produce a greater number of researchers who will be recruited by schools in the U.S., Europe, and other foreign countries to perform research and give lectures.

In a society where specialists are required to handle many specific tasks ? a society of science and technology that Korea aspires to become talented people must be versed in science, engineering, finance, and other various related fields, and it is further desirable to have expertise in at least one of such fields. In consideration of this, KAIST is operating a non-major system in the undergraduate program, and the Department of Mathematical Sciences is implementing various programs to foster interdisciplinary research, such as recognition of credits earned from courses of other majors as those of mathematics and inclusion of IT disciplines into the math department��s curricula. To cite a few examples of elective interdisciplinary courses, arithmetic and information mathematics can be taught in conjunction with programs offered by the Graduate School of Finance and Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering or with bio systems of the Biology Department, while algebra and manifold structure can be combined with the Department of Computer Science, which utilizes cryptographic and geometric concepts. Meanwhile, analysis of applied mathematics may share common interests with mechanical engineering, construction and environmental engineering, and electronic engineering. One of our goals is to strengthen interdisciplinary research to nurture high-quality researchers capable of solving increasingly complex natural science and engineering problems.

In consideration of the national core technologies and new growth engines designated by the government, the department��s curriculum is built around areas that can help create high added value for the nation such as encryption, IT, video and game industries, intelligent facility business, and industrial mathematics, in order to develop talented researchers who will have absorbed advanced mathematical theories and applied technologies. In particular, our education will be focused on nurturing talented individuals who will exert their capabilities in world-renowned companies such as Samsung, IBM, and Intel.

KAIST is increasing the number of courses given entirely in English in order to nurture talented graduates who will be at an internationally competitive level. In addition, KAIST is actively attracting international students and increasing the number of foreign faculty members while encouraging its students to gain overseas academic experience by providing support for seminars and exchange programs. The Department of Mathematical Sciences already has foreign professors on the full-time faculty to help raise students�� international competitiveness, and numerous international students in the graduate program as well. In addition, because doctoral degree candidates are required by the school to publish their doctoral dissertations in international academic journals, they are able to achieve a level of international competitiveness before graduation. This is a highly advantageous environment to cultivate talented graduates with international competitiveness, one of the goals of this project group.

In cultivating skilled graduates with the qualities stated above, the project group will concentrate its efforts on algebra, manifold structure, arithmetic and information mathematics, and analysis of applied mathematics, while striving to maximize the use of mathematics through exchange with other academic fields and to provide quality education of mathematics, the basis of science and technology. In the field of algebra, we will produce a robust number of internationally competitive researchers and professionals who will have acquired the latest research experience in cryptography and coding theory, which have a higher level of use in everyday life. Moreover, researchers with world-class capabilities will be nurtured in the field of manifold structure, and students will be equipped with mathematical knowledge that can be applied to encryption and internet searching. In addition, the department will cultivate outstanding researchers in arithmetic and information mathematics, as well as professionals who will have acquired expertise in applied fields such as IT, financial mathematics, biology, and custom advertisement. In the field of analysis of applied mathematics, numerous researchers who can solve mathematics problems of the field through direct interaction with domestic industries will be trained to advance into the IT sector including the field of signal processing.
The goals for each academic degree are as follows:

Master's degree
Students with a master's degree in mathematics can take advantage of their understanding of sophisticated mathematics to join industries that utilize mathematical creativity so that they can carry out diverse tasks to establish new models and to perform system analyses and achieve product improvement. For instance, they can apply geometry and graph theory to internet search engine design, create mathematical models to develop new ad techniques, utilize algebra and number theory for information security, or apply financial mathematics to the actual field of finance. Since master��s degree holders often find themselves collaborating with experts of specific fields, it will be advantageous to have another specialty in addition to mathematics and to nurture communication skills required of collaborative projects. As such, interdisciplinary research will be an opportunity for them to acquire minor-level knowledge as well as the ability to communicate with experts in other fields.

Doctoral degree
A doctoral degree is a must for most researchers specializing in mathematics. Because the importance of mathematics will become even greater in future society, it is essential to nurture specialists who will perform mathematical education and research. Those who earn a doctor's degree in mathematics take advantage of their expertise to engage in research and development activities in industries or laboratories, or take on educational and research tasks to maintain and further develop mathematics. It seems that Korea is lacking high-level talents in mathematics and it is of national importance to cultivate outstanding doctors of mathematics. Those who obtained their doctoral degree in mathematics at KAIST are making strides in universities and laboratories at home and abroad. Building on this tradition, the project group will endeavor to reach a higher level. To equip applied mathematics majors with the capacity to identify and solve problems in fields other than their own, we will emphasize the importance of general communication skills including the ability to explain highly complex mathematical theories to experts of other fields.