The awarding ceremony of SNU President Fellowship was held at the President’s office on March 12.
Seoul National University recently announced its recipients of the SNU President Fellowship for the spring of 2015.
On March 12th, at the office of the President of Seoul National University, SUNG Nak-in, the award ceremony was held for the recipients of the Spring 2015 SNU President Fellowship. This semester, a total of four fellowships were awarded to the following professors: JIN Xuanzhen (Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Yanbian University Research Fellow, 36) MA Chi Thanh (Graduate School of Medicine, Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Medicine and Pharmacy University Professor, 32), VANG Hue (Graduate School of Dental Science, Laos University of Health Sciences Professor, 39), AUNG Thu Hein (Graduate School of Dental Science, Myanmar University of Dental Medicine, Professor, 36).
Through the aid of the SNU President Fellowship, which was established in 2014, SNU plans to provide PhDs to promising professors in developing countries who have not acquired their PhDs. This initiative began with the recognition that the main reason for national development in Korea has been its human capital and Korea is now responsible to share its experiences with other developing nations. Five recipients have been selected for the 2014 Spring Semester, and three recipients for the 2014 Fall Semester. Thus, there is currently a total of twelve recipients of the scholarship.
With the SNU President Fellowship, Seoul National University hopes to give back to the academic community the kind of support that South Korea received while it was a developing country in the aftermath of the Second World War from developed countries such as the United States. During such times, scholarships were provided by developed countries for promising academics in emerging economies.
The SNU President Fellowship provides both financial and cultural support. It includes three year fellowships of full tuition and fees along with a yearly stipend of KRW 24,000,000 which is paid to the recipients over a period of 12 months. The airfare for the roundtrip (approx. KRW 2,000,000) is provided along with Korean language training and mentoring programs that focus on the instruction of research methods and writing. The Fellowship enriches the non-academic aspects of the recipients’ experience by organizing extracurricular activities such as cultural excursions and field trips which help educate them about Korean culture and integrate them into Korean society.
SNU President Fellowship applicants are free to pursue PhDs in all research areas but selection priority will be given to applicants doing outstanding work in the fields of engineering, medicine, public health, agriculture, developmental studies and Korean studies.
The SNU President Fellowship is SNU’s attempt to uphold its social responsibility as an influential institution in Asia. It utilizes SNU’s knowledge and position to consolidate international relations and contribute to emerging economies by opening roads for academics with limited opportunities. Although new, it is a charitable initiative which will prove beneficial to both SNU and the recipients of the Fellowship.
For further information and enquiries about the SNU President Fellowship contact Ms. Boo-Yun Jang: Tel: +82 2 880 8636, Email: byjang@snu.ac.kr, Address: Office of International Affairs, Bldg. 152, Seoul National University 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea 151-742
Written by JUN Taehoon, SNU English Editor, taehoonjun@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Eli Park Sorensen, SNU Professor of Liberal Studies, eps7257@snu.ac.kr