Last month in Seoul, Professor U. Aytun Ozturk and his FILA seminar students experienced a remarkable day at the Samsung Innovation Museum, part of their annual seminar trip. The students were captivated by the integration of AI technology in Samsung's latest offerings and gained insights during a private tour about the diverse technologies that have propelled Samsung to the forefront of innovation.
 

Before the seminar trip began, the students participated in two intensive boot camps tailored to sharpen their skills in developing analytics models using Python, targeting real-world challenges. The subsequent journey to South Korea spanned three days filled with rich educational and networking activities. Key highlights included Professor Ozturk's lectures at Konkuk University, where discussions extended beyond the classroom to engage with the leadership of Konkuk University's International Affairs Office as well as Konkuk University students during a campus tour.

A particularly memorable event was the dinner with alums of Professor Ozturk's seminar. During the dinner, students could network with former students pursuing advanced degrees or excelling in various professional fields, including positions at major corporations like CJ ENM — a powerhouse in the South Korean entertainment industry — and Caterpillar, the largest construction equipment maker globally.
 

This trip marked the opening activity for this year's business analytics seminar, spearheaded by Professor Ozturk, who has played a role in shaping the FILA program's curriculum. He ensures the forging of strong links between current students and successful alums. Notably, Ayame Nishiyama, an alum from the inaugural class of FILA, returned to campus in the Fall of 2023 from Romania to deliver a guest lecture in the 'Principles of Business' course.
 

Professor Ozturk has held significant academic roles and continues to play a pivotal role at The International Centre for Innovation and Industrial Logistics (www.iciil.net). His latest project, supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI and culminating in 2022, not only received accolades at the TTRA APAC conference in December 2022 but also contributed to a notable publication in the Journal of Tourismology in December 2023.