Innovation Foundations

Active.
Experimental.
Integral.

Develop foundational skills and build your confidence.

Our curriculum is designed to empower students with the foundational skills and knowledge needed to excel in a rapidly changing world. The School of Innovation Foundations is guided by six key competencies that are woven throughout our programs and courses, providing a holistic approach to education that promotes the development of well-rounded, intellectually versatile individuals who display empathy and compassion. By nurturing students’ ability to think critically and creatively, communicate and collaborate across cultures in a global environment, and practice empathy in everyday relations with others, we cultivate compassionate problem-solvers who can create meaningful change in the world.

  • How does the School of Innovation Foundations prepare students?
    The School of Innovation Foundations provides the foundational education for all first-year students at Taejae. We emphasize a dynamic classroom environment that prioritizes active learning where students are engaged, challenged, and inspired. After completing the school’s requirements, students are prepared to pursue their fields of study to become the next generation of change-makers with the skills, knowledge, and mindset necessary to create a brighter future for everyone.
  • What skills do students learn?
    Our Innovation Foundations program prepares students to pursue whatever fields inspire them by developing a foundational set of cognitive skills and knowledge that provides a framework for specialized study. Students participate in hands-on projects and group activities as well as real-world simulations and case studies, which ensures that our students not only acquire a wide range of skills and knowledge but also develop the confidence to apply them in practice.
Professor
Educational
Goals

Students completing our program will have developed these key competencies:

Creative Thinking

We teach students the skills they need to explore new ideas, experiment with novel approaches, and embrace unconventional solutions, ultimately equipping them with the tools to drive groundbreaking change. They learn to use heuristics that strengthen their abilities to devise new ideas and select those that are most appropriate for a specific situation.

Diversity and Empathy

Navigating multicultural settings is essential in our interconnected world. Students learn to appreciate and leverage the diversity of various cultures, perspectives, and values.

Critical Thinking

Students are encouraged to think analytically and systematically, evaluating information and ideas from multiple perspectives to make informed decisions and solve complex problems. They learn to recognize and counter cognitive biases and reason both formally and organically.

Communication and
Collaboration

Students learn to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing by articulating diverse perspectives, recognizing different cultural communication styles, and developing cross-cultural communication skills. They hone their collaboration skills by working in diverse teams on real-world problems, learning to value different viewpoints and to synergize their varied skills and knowledge for a common goal.

Global Harmony and
Sustainability

Students learn to integrate sustainability into their decision-making and problem-solving processes. This approach fosters their development as global leaders, equipping them with the skills to create solutions that promote environmental, social, and economic well-being.

Course
Description

Students in Innovation Foundations enroll in eight courses, including 6 required courses and 2 electives.

The courses include:
Critical and Rational Thinking/Creative Thinking and Problem Solving/Diversity, Empathy, and Global Citizenship/Motivation and Self-directed Learning/Data Analysis and Storytelling/Judgment and Decision Making/ Human Communication.