Event: 17th Hokkaido University-Seoul National University Joint Symposium
Date: 17:00, November 27 (Thu), 2014
Venue: Eminence Hall, Keio Plaza Hotel
Good evening, honorable President Keizo Yamaguchi of Hokkaido
University, today’s keynote speakers Professor Masahiro Okumura of the
Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine at Hokkaido University and Professor
Sanghoon Ahn of the Department of Social Welfare at Seoul National
University, and distinguished guests and faculty members!
I would like to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to President
Yamaguchi for graciously hosting the 17th Hokkaido University and Seoul
National University Joint Symposium and also to the university staff for its
outstanding dedication in preparing this event. I would also like to mention
the continuous joint effort of the former President of Seoul National
University, Prof. Yeon-Cheon Oh, without whom this symposium would not
have materialized as it has today.
I believe the theme of this year’s Symposium, “University’s Role in
Contribution for Developing Countries and International Cooperation” is both
timely and a crucial issue at hand for Seoul National University and
Hokkaido University. This year’s symposium will make us deeply ruminate on
our universities’ roles as well as set a prospective path for future
developments.
As globalization pervasively influences the roles of universities, universities
are now challenged to reinvent themselves to being socially and globally
responsible and to carry agendas that do not merely concern the individual
university’s interest, but contextualize its direction with global issues for
collective benefits.
Higher education institutions in Korea and Japan also face these
challenges. I would like to share Seoul National University’s role in the
contribution to developing countries by giving two examples.
First, since 2011, Seoul National University has organized the Asian
Universities Forum (AUF), which is attended by 30 prestigious university
Presidents from 16 developing countries in Asia. AUF was initiated with its
hopes to act as a facilitator or bridge between developed and developing
countries, reflecting the fact that education played a key role in the national
development of Korea. In the first forum, the Presidents of the member
universities signed a ‘Joint Declaration’ which states a commitment to
continuous cooperation and collaboration in education and research. The
network of higher education institutions will contribute to the advancement
of scholarship and research for the benefit of Asia and all humanity.
Second, Seoul National University launched the SNU President Fellowship
to provide opportunities to faculty members of major universities in
developing countries of Asia in pursuing PhD degrees at Seoul National
University. This was created from the recognition that the main drive for
national development in Korea has been its human capital and Korea is now
responsible for sharing its experiences with other developing nations. Seoul
National University selects 10 promising faculty members yearly for the
program. Until now, we have selected 8 faculty members from Thailand,
Myanmar, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan and they are currently taking PhD
courses as Seoul National University President Fellowship scholars.
Seoul National University’s role is not merely limited to its campus
boundary. As a top higher education institution in Korea, Seoul National
University recognizes well its social and global responsibility. We will
continue to develop knowledge and make efforts for the betterment of our
nation and beyond.
I hope the programs of this year’s Symposium will be nurturing for us all.
Thank you very much.
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