The 2025 토토사이트 케이 벳 IDEA Symposium was held on May 20, bringing together over 90 universities and institutions from across the country to explore the theme, Institutional Research: A Compass for University Innovation.

Institutional Research (IR) is a data-driven system through which universities analyze their own performance in education, research, and management, using this analysis to identify areas for improvement and set strategic directions. Far beyond mere data collection, IR has emerged as a strategic tool for driving innovation in higher education by offering data-based insights for decision-making.

This symposium marked the first official event of the newly established Center for Institutional Data and Educational Analytics (IDEA) at Hanyang University. It also signaled the beginning of collaborative networking among universities seeking to advance IR together.

The IDEA Center, which hosted the event, will serve as a strategic support hub for decision-making at Hanyang University through its IR initiatives. Kim Sang-oh, Deputy Director of the IDEA Center and Head of the Strategic Evaluation Team, emphasized that “the core philosophy of IR lies in data-driven self-understanding and reflection.” He added, “IR should not stop at data collection. It must deliver feedback and meaningful insights from the perspective of the academic community, ultimately driving institutional innovation and long-term sustainability.”

Kim noted that although Korean universities began showing interest in IR over a decade ago, many are still defining the role and direction of their IR systems. “This symposium was designed to foster dialogue and shared learning about the practical role and future of institutional research,” he explained.

Lectures were delivered by Professor Ham Seung-hwan (Department of Education, Hanyang University), Professor Lee Gil-jae (Chungbuk National University), Professor Bae Sang-hoon (Sungkyunkwan University), reporter Lee Hoo-yeon (JoongAng Ilbo), and Executive Director Heo Jae-ho (LG CNS), among others. “Each speaker offered distinct insights that provided valuable guidance for institutions navigating IR development,” said Kim. “Hanyang also hopes to grow together through continued collaboration and knowledge sharing with other universities.”

The Hanyang IDEA Center is currently laying the groundwork to institutionalize IR practices. Since its launch in January, the center has been planning studies on the relationship between admissions criteria and student outcomes, evaluating the effectiveness of interdisciplinary majors such as Hanyang Intercollege and Lions College, and implementing longitudinal tracking of student learning.

“Real improvements from IR can only be realized with a robust data management system and active engagement from stakeholders,” Kim stressed. He highlighted the role of student participation: “Course evaluations and learning satisfaction surveys provide critical feedback that helps improve the university. Your voice is a vital asset to IR.”

Hanyang University is turning today’s data into tomorrow’s vision. In this era where institutions must research themselves, Hanyang’s IR efforts mark more than measurement—they are the beginning of transformation. “IR is not an end in itself, but a tool to propel us forward,” said Kim. “We will continue striving to place Hanyang University at the center of higher education innovation.”