Selected Speeches
Dr. Chungserved as the President of SNU from 2002 to 2006. These are selected speeches during his presidency.
Acceptance Remarks for Honorary Degree from the Far Eastern National University, Vladivostok (Oct.21,2004)
HIT: 10302
Acceptance Remarks
By Dr. Un-Chan Chung
President, Seoul National University
At the Far Eastern National University
Vladivostok, Russia
21 October 2004
Thank you and good morning....
President Kurilov, distinguished guests, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen:
On the flight over to this beautiful city yesterday evening, I was briefly lost in thought, recalling from my history lessons as a young schoolboy, thinking about how closely our two countries’ histories have been intertwined over the past century. And yet, despite over a hundred years as neighbors in the same corner of the globe, we still do not know each other very well. In fact, this is my first visit to Vladivostok and to your fine university.
President Kurilov, I would like to take this occasion to express to you personally, and to our distinguished Russian colleagues, my heartfelt appreciation for the invitation to visit your university. I am not quite sure that I deserve the honorary degree bestowed on me this morning by the Far Eastern National University, but I feel extremely privileged to become a member of the community of scholars recognized by this outstanding university.
My Korean colleagues and I are very well aware how, in less than a decade, the Far Eastern National University has become one of the top five national universities in the Russian Republic. I have no doubt that this was made possible by the forward looking leadership of President Kurilov and by the dedication to teaching and research shown by your faculty members. I am sure my Korean colleagues will join me in saluting your outstanding achievements thus far, and in wishing you continued success in the years ahead.
When President Kurilov and I were in Santiago de Chile this past June, we agreed that it is vitally important for leading universities to collaborate much more closely with one another if we are to strengthen academic excellence and provide the best education possible to our students. In this age of interdependence and globalization, no university, however great, can stand alone. Forging strategic partnerships with like-minded peer institutions is no longer a matter of choice, it is a necessity. Universities must pool their resources and capabilities if we are to provide the knowledge and skills needed by society, and if we are to produce the best and the brightest of our young people.
For the past fifty years or so, my own university has worked extremely hard to make itself a place of academic excellence where the best of our scholars and the best of our young people would want to come to study. Today, our graduates hold key leadership positions in our society and in many important international institutions around the world. Though we take pride in our accomplishments, we are all well aware that we have much more to do in the coming years. And it goes without saying that the many and complex challenges facing my university can be better addressed by closer collaboration with world-class institutions such as the Far Eastern National University.
Dear colleagues, in this century, we as academicians and educators bear the special responsibility of molding future leaders not only of our respective countries, but of the world. We must strive to educate future generations that think in global terms, and share ideas and values that bring the world together. Today, more than ever, universities must work together to encourage closer cooperation and the willingness to share and learn from others.
I know that President Kurilov agrees with me that the bonds we are building in between our two universities can play a vital role in shaping the kind of environment that we want our future generations to inherit. It is my earnest hope that we can work together in encouraging the young people of our two countries to understand one another more deeply, and that friendship in between our two peoples will be founded on shared values and common goals that better mankind.
President Kurilov, I would like to close my remarks by once again expressing my sincere gratitude to you and to the Far Eastern National University for bestowing this great honor on me this morning. May I wish all of you good health and continued success in your varied endeavors. Thank you very much.
By Dr. Un-Chan Chung
President, Seoul National University
At the Far Eastern National University
Vladivostok, Russia
21 October 2004
Thank you and good morning....
President Kurilov, distinguished guests, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen:
On the flight over to this beautiful city yesterday evening, I was briefly lost in thought, recalling from my history lessons as a young schoolboy, thinking about how closely our two countries’ histories have been intertwined over the past century. And yet, despite over a hundred years as neighbors in the same corner of the globe, we still do not know each other very well. In fact, this is my first visit to Vladivostok and to your fine university.
President Kurilov, I would like to take this occasion to express to you personally, and to our distinguished Russian colleagues, my heartfelt appreciation for the invitation to visit your university. I am not quite sure that I deserve the honorary degree bestowed on me this morning by the Far Eastern National University, but I feel extremely privileged to become a member of the community of scholars recognized by this outstanding university.
My Korean colleagues and I are very well aware how, in less than a decade, the Far Eastern National University has become one of the top five national universities in the Russian Republic. I have no doubt that this was made possible by the forward looking leadership of President Kurilov and by the dedication to teaching and research shown by your faculty members. I am sure my Korean colleagues will join me in saluting your outstanding achievements thus far, and in wishing you continued success in the years ahead.
When President Kurilov and I were in Santiago de Chile this past June, we agreed that it is vitally important for leading universities to collaborate much more closely with one another if we are to strengthen academic excellence and provide the best education possible to our students. In this age of interdependence and globalization, no university, however great, can stand alone. Forging strategic partnerships with like-minded peer institutions is no longer a matter of choice, it is a necessity. Universities must pool their resources and capabilities if we are to provide the knowledge and skills needed by society, and if we are to produce the best and the brightest of our young people.
For the past fifty years or so, my own university has worked extremely hard to make itself a place of academic excellence where the best of our scholars and the best of our young people would want to come to study. Today, our graduates hold key leadership positions in our society and in many important international institutions around the world. Though we take pride in our accomplishments, we are all well aware that we have much more to do in the coming years. And it goes without saying that the many and complex challenges facing my university can be better addressed by closer collaboration with world-class institutions such as the Far Eastern National University.
Dear colleagues, in this century, we as academicians and educators bear the special responsibility of molding future leaders not only of our respective countries, but of the world. We must strive to educate future generations that think in global terms, and share ideas and values that bring the world together. Today, more than ever, universities must work together to encourage closer cooperation and the willingness to share and learn from others.
I know that President Kurilov agrees with me that the bonds we are building in between our two universities can play a vital role in shaping the kind of environment that we want our future generations to inherit. It is my earnest hope that we can work together in encouraging the young people of our two countries to understand one another more deeply, and that friendship in between our two peoples will be founded on shared values and common goals that better mankind.
President Kurilov, I would like to close my remarks by once again expressing my sincere gratitude to you and to the Far Eastern National University for bestowing this great honor on me this morning. May I wish all of you good health and continued success in your varied endeavors. Thank you very much.