Global Outreach Program
About Global Outreach Program
KAIST is an institution where future, responsible global citizens study and conduct world-class research. Students of KAIST are not only
pursuing personal success, groundbreaking technologies, and innovative solutions, but strive to become engineers and scientists with
heart when volunteering to serve society.
The Global Outreach Program was first initiated in 2013. Many of KAIST’s exchange/outbound programs are primarily focused on allowing
students to seize the opportunities to experience, grow, and learn from various environments located across the globe. However, prior to
the Global Outreach Program, many of the exchange opportunities were limited to academic purposes.
Through the Global Outreach Program, students of KAIST are given the chance to actively give back to society and to experience and
explore the world. Since the program’s inception, teams of KAIST students have extended their acts of kindness and desires for
intercultural communication and understanding to Cambodia, Guatemala, India, Nepal, Tanzania, Zambia, and more.
From helping local residents build environmentally-friendly facilities, educating children about the importance of curiosity and science,
assisting the populace in maintaining and managing their natural resources and environment, to introducing Korean culture and language
to those unfamiliar, the Global Outreach Program has gained recognition for inspiring design projects, volunteer activities, and overcoming
the difficulties of intercultural communication.
- Full-time KAIST students who would like to do overseas volunteer work during a select period.
- Students may apply individually or as a team
- - When applying as a team, your team cannot have more than 3 members (including yourself)
- Minimum ONE week
- Volunteer activities in Asia: 700,000 KRW per person
- Volunteer activities in the Americas, Europe, and Africa: 1,000,000 KRW per person*
* Subject to be partially adjustable after the application process
Examples of Volunteer Organizations
Application dates and deadlines will be posted on the KAIST Portal, the IRT homepage, and/or the IRT Facebook page.
- The application (and instructions) will be provided.
Application form (per person)
Note: Even when applying as a team, each team member must submit an application.
1 letter of recommendation from a professor
Note: If you are applying as a team, each team member must submit a letter of recommendation.
* Your application form will not be accepted if you do not submit a letter of recommendation.
Essay: Discuss why you wish to go to this particular region/organization for volunteer work
Note: Unlike the application and letter of recommendation, of which we require submission of both for each team member, only one essay per team is needed.
Student Testimonials and Impressions
"We [completed] our volunteering through the DEJAVATO Foundation… [and] we
performed language and life skills teaching programs through traditional
lecturing styles and [more] creative, flexible forms of learning to increase the
students’ participation and interest in English. Seeing the deteriorating condition
of the school, we also decided to carry out renovations for one of the classrooms.
In addition to cultural exchanges, we also had the chance to cook [each of our]
traditional foods for the students… and we found ourselves giving students advice
about studying in other countries. [Overall], the voluntary work carried out has
become a memorable part of our lives, and will continue to teach us how to survive
better and contribute towards the [betterment] of all society"
Students, volunteer work in Indonesia
"We volunteered at GIS-Taiwan, an international conference hosted at NTU, as
members of the organizing committee. GIS-Taiwan is [similar] to ICISTS-KAIST, so
there is an exchange of organizing committee members [at each conference],
allowing for an exchange of expertise and [learning from experience]. It was a
significant lesson in which direct interaction between the organizing committee
and the delegates is important to make the conference, or any conference, more
meaningful. Discussing with other committee members gave us [a greater insight]
into the difficulties of hosting large-scale conferences such as finances, schedules,
and adjusting to a new country and culture, no matter [how short] a duration."
Students, volunteer work in Taiwan
"We volunteered through WWOOF
and worked at Kaski, Pokhara in Nepal. It was almost shocking as
it included roads through mountains, a boat ride, and two hours of intense hiking
and trekking, but along the way, the friendliness and kindness of Nepal’s people
was welcoming. Coffee was in season and we worked to help plant, pick, pulp and
ferment, wash, dry, grind, and even roast the coffee as well as taking care of the
buffalos and goats, as well as [the garden]. Learning about, and physically doing,
the harvesting of coffee taught us much about organic farming and the global
market, and the chance to enjoy the nature of Nepal and the view of the Himalayas.
It was rough, hard work but an immensely adventurous experience. Thank you to
KAIST for giving us this opportunity."
Students, volunteer work in Nepal
"We were happy that our work in Cambodia could actually help people. [We] disinfected a town near Phnom Penh and [several other towns] with a 20kg smoke-fumigation disinfector in order to protect the town from mice, cockroaches, mosquitos, lice, and [other needs for pest control]. We helped with [daily tasks] at several orphanages and schools, as well as providing haircuts, manicures, and even taught the children some Taekwondo. Each disinfecting [project] took more than three hours, but the thought of eliminating at least 1 mosquito carrying malaria might save 1 human life was worth the effort and hard work. This program was not just about meeting people and volunteering; it was also about enriching our minds and expanding our views on the world and life."
Students, volunteer work in Cambodia