 |
||
| SKKU's Business School and Geumjandi Square | ||
Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) well-known for its 611-year history was initially founded long back in 1398 when Chosun dynasty, the longest-lived one in Korean history, designated the old SKK as the highest education institute in Jongro.
After the establishment, the SKK was separated to one performing traditional academic activities and the university devoted to new education and research in 1946 under the command of Kim Chang Sook, who initiated the reformation plan for old and new SKK.
△ Vision 2010+
The development in the university began to speed up as the Samsung Group, the leading company in Korea, became the foundation in 1996.
Samsung now supports SKKU with more than 100 billion won of funding per year and about 1138 full-time professors are employed at the university.
In particular, 'Vision 2010 plus' project is one of the most striking changes since having Samsung as a main sponsor for the university. The project was set to present the new vision for the university to emerge as one of the top 100 research-oriented universities in the globe and to take a big leap toward No. 1 in at least five academic fields by 2010.
"Vision 2010 plus in fact started to show the visible results as it was planned and another project is going to be prepared for the next 10 years based on the past achievements the project made," said an official.
△ International Program with Double-Degree System
SKKU also operates a variety of distinctive programs for globalization including dual-degree system in partnership with prestigious universities overseas like the Kelly School of Indiana University in the U.S.
SKK Graduate School of Business also offers an executive master of business administration (MBA) program that provides two degrees in cooperation with Sloan Management School in Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
SKKU is the first kind in Korea to provide dual degrees in cooperation with these renowned universities.
The university has signed such agreements with universities in China like Peking and Fudan, as well. The plan with Chinese universities is to produce professionals in political affairs under the tailor-made education by pre-occupying the education and research centers in Beijing and Shanghai.
Currently, SKKU is in partnerships with 422 universities in 52 countries having 744 out-bound and 1744 in-bound students. The number of universities for exchange students increased from 26 in 1996 to whopping 622 this year.
"SKKU is the top ranking university in Korea in terms of the number of cooperative agreements with academically-prestigious universities worldwide and such global network will be the foundation for the students to bridge Korea’s tradition in academic activities to the international community," announced the university.
△ SKKU topping the list of ‘World Class University’
The academic and industrial cooperation to train students to suit the society well is also one of strengths the university owns as the research-oriented university.
Customized programs are provided to meet the needs not only from students but from the society by introducing a variety of academic lectures like so-called ‘Courses with Quality' and 'Cutting-edged Technology'. Those are mainly new studies related to the scientific area as well as the traditional field, which are considered unique and branded kinds that only SKKU can provide.
In result, SKKU accomplished the outstanding feat of taking number one spot in university evaluation by Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) last year. SKKU received the highest score among private universities in Korea in terms of the size and number of research projects as a result of 'World Class University' project, which promotes certain schools to upgrade their values by the help of government’s subsidy.
The university is scheduled to open a new academic course called ‘Intersection Science’, which combines design with management and engineering, starting from the second semester this year. As a new form of study, the course of Energy Science is also going to be introduced in combination with electric and mechanical engineering and management.
In order to deliver classes with academic quality, SKKU has already invited 14 professors from Korea along with 17 internationally-renowned scholars including Dr. Karlo Rubbia, Nobel laureate in physics.
The university is opening joint course in the graduate school with Samsung Electrics to develop new technology for cell phone, offering full scholarships upon the admission and giving guarantee of being accepted to the company after the graduation.
Kim Jun Young, vice-president of international cooperation department, said that the reputation of SKKU has skyrocketed as it increased the number of thesis in Science Citation Index (SCI) from 92 in 1996 to striking 1768 this year, resulting in putting its name on 140th place in appraisal of the global universities.
"Now the goal of being the top university in five academic fields by the year 2010 is highly likely to be accomplished sooner or later by implementing the project Vision 2010+ successfully," he added.
By Lee, Hanul
이하늘 기자 ehn@ajnews.co.kr
Translated by Shin, Kirim
신기림 기자 kirimi99@ajnews.co.kr
아주경제=ajnews.co.kr 무단전재 배포금지
