Seoul National University has confirmed its plan to launch a green leadership program as an undergraduate course, establishing an agreement with relevant government offices and private enterprises for effective operation of the program.

The meeting was held in the small conference room of the University headquarters on May 18. SNU President Lee Jang-Moo, the Minister of Environment of Korea Lee Maanee, and twenty other university-affiliated and foreign personnel attended the meeting.

The Green Leadership Program is an educational course designed to foster ‘green leaders’ among Korea’s future leaders and establish a green development paradigm in the country. This program is part of the “Sustainable SNU” declaration. It will be directed by the education sector that carries out the declaration’s educational practices. The declaration was made by the Asian Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability on October 13, 2008. Its goals include: 1. Research, education and practices for sustainable development, 2. Cooperation with the local and global community, 3. Campus environment management in response to climate change, 4. Creating a sustainable campus, 5. Management and operation for sustainable development. (For further information, please visit http://aiees.snu.ac.kr)

Following the launch of the Green Leadership Program, the University will offer fourteen courses in various fields of study targeted at the 5,000 students enrolled at SNU by the year 2011.

In addition, to ensure the successful operation of the Green Leadership Program, the Ministry of Environment, Samsung Tesco Homeplus and Pulmuone decided to give their enthusiastic support to the program. Especially, the Ministry of Environment agreed to provide the necessary administration, financing and technical support for the development and eventual expansion of the program. Minister of Environment Lee Maanee explained the wholehearted approach in an interview with Daehak Shinmoon, the SNU newspaper. “At a time when sustainable development is being pursued on a global level, completion of the Green Leadership Program will serve as a stepping-stone for students in becoming a global leader.”

Samsung Tesco Homeplus and Pulmuone decided to support internship programs for green leaders’ social advancement and provide preferential employment opportunities to green leaders who have completed the Green Leadership Program. Lee Seung Han, president of Samsung Tesco Homeplus, commented, “Although the program is optional at the moment, I hope all SNU students will become ‘green leaders’ when the courses offered become mandatory in the future.” President of Pulmuone Han Yun Wu also added, “SNU is the first university in the country to establish such a course aiming for the cultivation of ‘green leaders’. Pulmuone will actively support this program through internship programs related to the program.” Samsung Tesco Homeplus is jointly operated by South Korea’s Samsung and the British supermarket giant Tesco. Pulmuone Co., Ltd. produces perishable foods such as soybean products and pepper pastes.

“Sustainable SNU has already brought about much progress,” says Lee Jang-Moo, president of SNU. On this day, he emphasized that “SNU will lead the cultivation of environmentally-friendly leaders through this program.” The Green Leadership Program, as much as it is the first program launched by a university in Korea aimed at fostering global eco-friendly leaders, will no doubt bear fruit and invoke positive change throughout the country.

May 31, 2010
Written by LEE Bo Young, SNU English Editor