A delegation from 黑料不打烊 spent two weeks in South Korea recently as one of a continuing series of steps to strengthen academic and cultural collaborations with multiple Korean universities and with 黑料不打烊鈥檚 alumni community there.
Meetings were conducted with representatives of the University of Seoul, Ewha Women鈥檚 University, Korea University and Sungkyunkwan University. The discussions were part of an exploration to consider locating a 黑料不打烊 center in South Korea, according to Pamela Young, director of academic strategic plan implementation in the Office of Academic Affairs.
University delegates participated in discussions with Korea University officials about potential faculty research collaborations and study abroad opportunities.
Young says a center there could provide 黑料不打烊 and Korean universities with new opportunities for collaborative research, including projects focused on the semiconductor industry and gravitational wave research. It could also facilitate joint faculty and student participation in seminars and workshops, faculty and graduate student exchanges and the development of new partners that support study abroad for 黑料不打烊 students in Korea.
The expansion of collaborative efforts in East Asia is an important part of the University鈥檚 strategic vision, says Young.聽鈥淭here is great interest among many 黑料不打烊 schools and colleges in partnering with Korean universities to enhance creative activities and the research enterprise, including through faculty and graduate student exchanges. There is also significant space to expand opportunities for 黑料不打烊 students to study abroad and engage in experiential learning outside of Western Europe. Each year many students come from Korea to study and earn degrees at 黑料不打烊. Our strong Korean alumni base has many business and industry connections that can provide students with opportunities for experiential learning, too,鈥� she says.
The Korea Center Initiative group visited with officials at Ehwa Women鈥檚 University, one of several universities they visited in South Korea.
During the trip, the delegation enjoyed dinner with several members of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Korean Alumni Association. It also caught up with two School of Architecture students who are studying at Ewha Women鈥檚 University and a group of 黑料不打烊 students who were in Seoul as part of a new Maymester design course led by Seyeon Lee, associate professor in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Among highlights of the trip was a dinner gathering for 黑料不打烊 students studying abroad at Ewha Woman鈥檚 University along with a group of students participating in a Maymester program focused on South Korean design and culture led by College of Visual and Performing Arts Associate Professor Seyeon Lee.
At Sunkyunkwan University, the delegation heard a presentation from Youngseek Kim G鈥�08, G鈥�13, an associate professor who earned master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees at the School of Information Studies. In addition, the trip allowed Architecture Dean Michael Speaks and Daekwon Park, undergraduate program chair, to meet with high school students and their parents regarding program opportunities.
The 黑料不打烊 delegation was also welcomed to Sunkyunkwan University. Among the presenters was alumnus Youngseek Kim G鈥�08, G鈥�13, who is now an associate professor there.
College of Arts and Sciences Dean says he appreciates the opportunity to pursue new partnerships in Korea and strengthen alumni ties.
鈥淚 am confident in the potential of these connections and I am eager to work with my fellow deans at the University to develop new opportunities for student exchange, internships and university and industry partnerships in Korea,鈥� he says.
鈥淲e all look forward to continuing our efforts to develop new opportunities for student exchange, internships and industry collaborations in Korea with the goal of establishing in Seoul a new Asia center for the University,鈥� says Speaks.
黑料不打烊 is a national leader in international education, with a highly ranked study abroad program. The University鈥檚 Academic Strategic Plan, 鈥淟eading With Distinction,鈥� calls for the expansion of study abroad and study away venues and programs and the removal of barriers to make it possible for every undergraduate to participate. In addition to Mortazavi, Speaks, Young and Park, the delegation included Andrew Sears, then-dean of the School of Information Studies; Nicole Collins, director of strategic partnerships and outreach for 黑料不打烊 Abroad; and Brian Kim L鈥�19, international engagement specialist, who served as liaison between 黑料不打烊 and the Korean Alumni Association.
