From February 7^th to 13^th, 2015, the KDI School held the 2015 Spring Session Opening Ceremony and Orientation at Lincoln Hall of the new Sejong Campus. Around 215 students were present for this occasion, all bright-eyed and energetic about the new school term to come.

The KDI School President Joon-Kyung Kim, Dean Hong-Tack Chun and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs Kwon Jung warmly addressed the students. Professors from various programs were present, as well as other school staff members, which made a total of about 60 faculty members who took time out of their busy schedule to welcome everyone to the KDI School.

There was interesting and enlightening meet-the-faculty session where the student were informed about the courses taught by world-class professors, specialists and authorities in their chosen fields. This was followed by explanations on how to register for classes, how school life was, and an introduction of the school faculty and staff divisions.

The Opening Ceremony continued with an introduction of the different programs offered by the KDI School. A course consultation session with the faculties, which presented the students with an opportunity for a one-on-one meeting with the professors, was provided during the ceremony. The meeting with professors provided pervasive, perceptive guidance to the students.

As a show of hospitality, the new international students were given a tour around the beautiful city of Sejong; a model city for development and urban innovation. The spectacular Sejong Lake Park was beautiful, especially the artificial islands, Festival Island, and an on-water stage island. With all the developmental projects ongoing, Sejong city is well on its way to becoming an internationally recognized planned city.

During the tour, the new international students learned about the history of the city. Named after the King Sejong, who profoundly impacted the history of Korea with the introduction of the Hangeul- the South Korea’s originative alphabet system, Sejong City was to become a grand step forward in the growth of Korea as a whole.

Later, everyone was taken to the observatory tower, and the Government Complex of Sejong, which comprised of 36 relocated government Ministries and agencies with the aim of de-congesting the capital, Seoul. This complex houses around 10 major Government ministries such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Trade, Industry and Energy, Health and Welfare, Employment and Labor, and Patriots and Veteran affairs. This was also introduced as an internship/job hotspot, where students could, in the future, earn jobs and learn more about actual hands-on work.

Next was the National Library Sejong, which was built in the impressive and distinctive shape of a book- with the motif of a book page being turned over. It was planned to be the major support and resource facility to the government complex and the city inhabitants. The library holds over 1 million books and was designed to suit various readers regardless of age. When the school library might be too full of people, this could become a nice alternative.

The KDI School definitely promises to be a wonderful journey of knowledge impartation. All the students look forward to learning from South Korea’s valuable experience to help them become global leaders who will create the new models for transformation.

By Oluremilekun Akinyemi (2015 MDP, Nigeria)