Seoul National University students, faculty, staff, and alumni!
Today, SNU celebrates its 77th anniversary. As the president of SNU, I must say thank you to all of you, both those part of SNU for your commitment and those beyond for your support, making it possible for us to play a pivotal role in our nation's development.
This is the first commencement ceremony of the university I am attending as the president of SNU. Since taking office, I have been invested in preparing for the next big step for SNU to meet the great transformation ushered in by fourth industrial revolution. Determined to proactively reshape the framework and content of our education, research, and social contribution for the future of Korea, I have made steady progress in transforming the university over the past eight months.
Dear members of Seoul National University and distinguished guests!
University innovation is an urgent need of the hour. The rapid development of cutting-edge science and technology is profoundly changing the conditions of human life, and the direction of the political and economic environment surrounding Korea is increasingly uncertain. In this era of great transformation, where opportunities and crises intersect, universities must respond actively.
The role of universities remains crucial for the sustainable development of Korea. Corporations are responding quickly to domestic and global challenges, and the government is working to support universities' bold innovation. Universities, on the other hand, are not keeping pace with them.
Top universities around the world have a long history of bold university innovation. I recently visited MIT and Harvard, the two universities at the heart of the Boston cluster that drives the U.S. bio industry. It was impressive to see the synergy between global pharmaceutical and biotech industry and over a thousand university research labs, a synergy resulting from breaking free of conventional practices and wisdom about the ivory tower. Their cooperation is a testament to the strength of the innovative imagination of universities that strive for a different kind of future beyond their campuses, connecting with a wide range of actors.
The stature of global top universities in the future will be determined by the intensity of their urgency to implement innovation based on creativity and convergence. Where is SNU now? Do we feel the urgency, with the necessary intensity?
The starting point of university innovation is educational innovation. Every transformation, including in research, social contribution and internationalization, finance, and administration, starts with educational innovation. I believe that the SNU Convergence Research Platform, which is under way, can succeed only if it nurtures talented students with a solid base and competence, thus promoting a virtuous cycle between education and research,
We do not need an SNU that merely grants brilliant students diplomas as if giving lifetime orders of merit. We need an SNU that enables students to develop themselves through education and to achieve greater achievements in society based on the new sensibilities, ideas, and knowledge they fostered in SNU. We need to cultivate "SNU talent," intellectuals who think critically and challenge existing ideas and orders, and potential leaders who strive to alleviate the suffering of their neighbors.
Then, in what kind of environment can students change, to meet these goals?
The solution lies in SNU’s educational move forward, to respecting difference and diversity and maximizing communication. "SNU talent" can only be cultivated in an environment where students with diverse backgrounds and abilities can discuss, argue, and learn from each other without any barriers. The result of long deliberation to create this very environment, an open educational environment of convergence and integration, is none other than SNU's “University College” and “Residential College.”
In March 2024, ‘School of Transdisciplinary Innovations(SNUTI)’ will be launched. We are preparing a curriculum that will foster common core competencies through discussion and collaboration beyond the disciplinary boundaries of existing majors. We are also piloting the 'Living and Learning' project to develop a SNU-style residential college program.
Another project with the same goal is “SNU Commons,” a space that belongs to all of us. We will turn the center of the university into a space for fostering future talents who can think creatively and through convergence. We will reorganize the administrative building into an open space for students, which will serve as the centerpiece of SNU Commons. The central library will be transformed into a lacivium, an integrated library, archive, and museum, which will be an experiential complex for learning, culture, art, and exhibitions with advanced media equipment.
The SNU Convergence Research Platform aims to be a trans-disciplinary innovation ecosystem where natural sciences, engineering, medicine, humanities and social sciences, and culture and arts are all involved in the comprehensive grasping of the changes in the world and lead the advancement of science and technology. We will build an institutional foundation and research ecosystem that breaks down boundaries within the university and stabilizes collaboration with society outside the university. SNU will take the lead in laying the foundation for Korea's prosperity in core fields such as bio-medicine, artificial intelligence, quantum computers, and secondary batteries.
Dear members of Seoul National University!
The innovation in education, research, and global contribution that we aspire to is only possible on the foundation of a university administrative and financial governance that supports the free expression of the spontaneity and creativity of our members. This is why, in June, SNU established the "Institutional Innovation Committee" as a permanent body for innovation in both the national higher education ecosystem and SNU. Through this committee, we will propose practical alternatives to resolve unreasonable regulations that hinder innovation in the university society.
At the same time, we will drastically change the administrative system and operation method of our school. In particular, it is very important and urgent to break the existing complex and rigid framework of compartmentalized regulatory administration, and embrace organizational flexibility, while also simplifying and decentralizing the work system. In addition, we need to invest actively in motivating administrative personnel to develop their professional capabilities to meet the needs of the university of the future. Let us all work together to ensure that the transition to competent and agile university governance, based on trust, autonomy, and accountability, happens sooner rather than later.
Innovation in teaching and research and the realization of long-term plans are only possible with stable administrative and financial operations and support. We look forward to your continued support and cooperation.
Dear nation, and dear SNU students, faculty, staff, and alumni!
SNU will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2026. It will be an important time for us to evaluate our accomplishments and set goals for the future. We need to start envisioning and creating a future SNU that will celebrate its 100th anniversary twenty years from now. SNU is clearly becoming a "game changer" that imagines, plans, and leads a new world. We are creating a model for university education based on innovation in education and research. Universities in other countries are looking forward to exchanges and cooperation to learn from Seoul National University's growth experience and innovation efforts.
We recognize that it was only through the expectations and love of the people that SNU, once barely standing on the ruins of war and hardship, is now able to compete with the world's most prestigious universities. However, we need to reflect more thoroughly on whether SNU has properly repayed the people's expectations and love. The ultimate goal of university innovation should be to share the fruits of our labor with the people, and this can only be achieved by working together with businesses, governments, and the public beyond the university campus.
A university that stays within the confines of fixed conventions, majors, universities, and the nation is not sustainable. Let's create a 'big' SNU, an academic community that leads the era of transformation, and a university where the achievement of innovation makes its members proud. Through this, let's create a Seoul National University that is trusted and loved, not only by its members but also by the public.
Seoul National University will always do its best to fulfill its responsibilities to the nation, society, and humanity. We look forward to your continued interest and support.
Thank you.
October 13th, 2023.
Honglim Ryu
President of Seoul National University