YU is the First Korean university to pursue 'Regionally Specialized International Exchange'
YU signed MOUs with 9 national universities in 7 Southeast Asian countries such as the University of Malaya, Chulalongkorn University and University of Indonesia.
[June 6, 2013]

A new Hallyu (Korean Wave) is sweeping in Southeast Asia. The Hallyu, that began with pop culture such as Korea's TV dramas and pop music is now shifting to 'Knowledge Hallyu' such as the Saemaul Undong, the Korean language and engineering technologies. YU is standing at the heart of this.

9 national universities that represent the intellect of 7 Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines gathered at YU on the 6th. They came for education and research cooperation and exchange with YU, which is especially strong in the Saemaul Undong, the Korean language and engineering technologies.

The 'Strategic Symposium for Collaboration in Education & Research between Korea and Southeast Asia' was held at the Chunma Arts Center Sapphire Hall from 9 a.m. The University of Malaya (Malaysia) that was ranked 33rd in the 2013 QS Asian University Ranking, Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) that was ranked 48th, University of Indonesia that was ranked 64th, and the University of the Philippines that was ranked 67th, as well as Burapha University (Thailand), Royal University of Phnom Penh (Cambodia), National University of Laos, and USSH Hanoi and USSH HCMC (Vietnam), which are all top universities in their respective countries gathered at YU to discuss effective exchange and cooperation plans. They also signed an MOU to promise to put into exercise a global partnership.

Thus, YU has become the first Korean university to begin 'regionally specialized international exchange' that has joint partners with the world's regional hub universities, rather than separate exchange programs between universities.

The first partner is Southeast Asian regional hub universities that have high educational demands for the Saemaul Undong, the Korean language, and Korean engineering technologies. These 9 universities are member universities of 'KoSASA' (Korean Studies Association of Southeast Asia), which studies Korea from Southeast Asian countries. Therefore, this MOU shows the willingness of KoSASA that aims to promote exchange with and research on Korea using YU as its base.

Dr. Mohd Hamdi Abdul Shukor (42), chairperson of KoSASA and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malaya said, "Global interest is shifting from the west to east. At this point, exchange and cooperation between Korea and Southeast Asian countries will strengthen ties in our region and enhance our competitiveness. Based on the principal of mutual learning and mutual benefit, KoSASA and YU will work together so that our global partnership can become stronger."

YU's strategy is to jumpstart Knowledge Hallyu in Southeast Asia by actively promoting human and material exchange, joint research and academic activities focusing on the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul and 'Korean Language Education as A Second Language' in graduate school and college of engineering.

YU President Noh, Seok Kyun said, "Through today's symposium, we once again confirmed that demand in Southeast Asia for Korea's Saemaul Undong, the Korean language, engineering technologies and culture are considerably high." He also added, "I hope that the MOU signed between YU and universities of Southeast Asia will mark the beginning of reinforcing exchange and cooperation between Korea and Southeast Asia."

The Korea Research Institute (KRI) at UNSW (The University of New South Wales), which is a leading research and education university of Australia, also visited YU and promised to provide full support for exchange and cooperation with Southeast Asian hub universities. KRI is one of the best known research institutes on Korean studies that made joint efforts in Southeast Asia for the past 15 years to promote research and education related to Korea.

At the summary discussion to end the symposium, KRI Executive Director Suh, Chung Sok said, "The 10 leading universities that gathered today must think together and make joint preparations for the coming age of Asia. For this, it must be exchange and cooperation based on a 'partnership' that share the vision of organizations, share risks, and participate together, rather than looking for 'memberships' just to reap the benefits from the organization."

About 30 international students who graduated from the 9 Southeast Asian universities attended the event to welcome the presidents of their undergraduate universities.

Vice President of University of Indonesia Sunardji, Se, MM, who heard news that an alumni of University of Indonesia studying at YU won awards at international academic conferences and received scholarships, said, "I am extremely happy to see our alumni study hard in the great educational environment of YU and achieve great results." He added, "I hope that many excellent students from YU come study at University of Indonesia as well."

Andy Tirta (28, 4th term in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering doctorate program), who graduated from University of Indonesia and met the president of his school 6 years after graduating said, "It was great to be able to meet the president of my former university here at YU," while adding, "There were about 70 Indonesian students who came to study at YU during the past 6 years, and that number will grow in the future."

Meanwhile at the strategic symposium, vice governer of Gyeongsangbuk-do Lee, In Seon, deputy president of the DGB Financial Group Park, Dong Gowan, Honorary Professor of Seoul National University Choi, Song Hwa (chair professor at YU, KoSASA advisor) also attended to congratulate the exchange and cooperation between YU and 9 national universities of Southeast Asia.