SNU Hosts AEARU General Meeting

The Association of East Asian Research Universities (AEARU) held its 18th Annual General Meeting at SNU’s Engineer House (Bldg. 310) on November 2.

At this event, leading universities in East Asia gathered, including Seoul National University, the University of Tokyo, Peking University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and 10 other major Asian universities.

Various topics were discussed in depth, among them the future of higher education, Asian leadership, and ways to promote exchange between Asian universities. Furthermore, the meeting generated discussions on collaboration with the League of European Research Universities (LERU), ways to reinforce undergraduate level education, and finally the future path of AEARU, in particular the matter of rejuvenating research and education.

AEARU is a regional organization founded in 1996 with the purpose of developing alliances and mutual exchange between research-oriented universities in East Asia. The organization has been carrying out numerous projects, including workshops, student summer camps, annual general assemblies, and international symposia.

AEARU is comprised of a total of 17 member universities. Three member universities are in South Korea (SNU, Pohang University of Science and Technology, and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), six in China (Fudan University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and the University of Science and Technology of China), six in Japan (Osaka University, Kyoto University, Tohoku University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, the University of Tokyo, and the University of Tsukuba) and two in Taiwan (Taiwan University and National TsingHua University).

As a member of AEARU, SNU strives to promote common Asian values and stimulate exchange between Asian universities, thereby contributing to the development of higher education in the East Asian region.

At the opening ceremony, President Lih J. Chen (陳吉寧) of NationalTsingHua University, who is also the chairperson of AEARU, said,"At this event, the universities will share ideas about world university rankings and come up with ways to foster collaborative efforts with LERU."

In his welcoming speech, SNUPresident OH YeonCheon remarked,"Through mutual understanding and joint efforts, the major universities of Asia need to strengthen the academic foundation for the sake of co-prosperity." He also emphasized that"The future society expects Asia to fulfill its role and responsibility. Therefore, as Asia's leaders, we are obliged to take the lead in creating universal values for the future generation."

For more information on AEARU, visit its official homepage (http://www.aearu.org).

Written by JANG HyoJeong, SNU English Editor, fatalbonds@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Eli Park Sorensen, SNU Professor of Liberal Studies, eps7257@snu.ac.kr
Proofread by Brett Johnson, SNU English Editor, morningcalm2@gmail.com