SNU Signs Its First Academic Exchange Agreement with an Ivy League School
Two Symposia Co-Hosted Following the Agreement

On May 23, Seoul National University signed an Academic Exchange Agreement with the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). SNU and UPenn have already been carrying out an academic exchange between their two respective dental colleges since April 1992. This academic exchange agreement is an extension of that previous exchange agreement.

SNU is the first Korean university to sign a general academic exchange with an Ivy League school. UPenn and SNU will primarily focus their academic exchange on the already recognized common academic interest in dental studies as well as Korean studies at UPenn. Especially, with the cooperation of SNU, the Institute of Korean Studies at UPenn expects to develop into the center of Korean studies on the East Coast. Amy Gutmann, the president of UPenn, explained that she has “come to Korea to expand UPenn’s academic exchange with SNU”, and that it is an “honor to become an official partner of the most prestigious university in Korea, as Korea has been UPenn’s principal Asian partner for the past several decades.” She added, “UPenn and SNU will commit to co-research that transcends borders and academic boundaries by taking further the academic exchange between individual professors in each university.”

As an expression of goodwill, President Gutmann mentioned how the UN Secretary General BAN Ki Moon, a graduate of SNU’s Department of International Relations, was met with a big crowd of students when he visited UPenn to give a special lecture.

President OH explained the social responsibility SNU has to continue pioneering education in Korea and contributing to its progress. As an example, he described the recent three-year long tuition freeze SNU imposed in order to relieve students of the financial burden of higher education and to serve as a role model for other universities that continually raise their tuition every year. President Gutmann expressed her appreciation by remarking that it seemed as though in Korea “SNU is doing what the Ivy Leagues are jointly doing in the States.”

After the academic exchange agreement ceremony, SNU and UPenn co-hosted a symposium titled “Perspectives on Korea: A Historical and International Understanding” at SNU’s Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS). At the symposium professors from SNU, including Professor CHO Kuk of the College of Law, and Professor PARK TaeGyun and Professor PARK Cheol Hee of GSIS, participated. From UPenn, Jacques deLisle, Stephen A. Cozen Professor of Law and Director of UPenn’s Center for East Asian Studies, and the Director of the Korean Studies Program Eugene Y. Park participated in the event.

On Tuesday, May 24, the dental colleges of both universities hosted a public forum entitled the “Global Oral Health Symposium”. On this day ten professors from both universities, including the two deans from both dental schools, will participate. To name a few, Dr. Louis I. Grossman, Professor and Chair, and Dr. Syngcuk KIM, honorary professor in UPenn’s Department of Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine, will be present. The University of Pennsylvania was founded by Benjamin Franklin, one of the United States’ Founding Fathers, in the 18th century. As one of the eight Ivy League schools it is one of the most prestigious universities in America.

Written by LEE BoYoung, SNU English Editor, bylee0708@gmail.combylee0708@gmail.com   ?
Reviewed by Eli Park Sorensen, SNU Professor of Liberal Studies
Proofread by Brett Johnson, SNU English Editor