[Maeil Daily News] Original article : https://news.imaeil.com/page/view/2023051620385934081

Reporter KIM Tae-jin novel@imaeil.com

[May 22, 2023]

Cultivation of talents to share our experiences in development with developing countries

Leaders to develop Korea to a dignified and proud country

Endeavors will be made to cultivate talents to contribute in resolution of international society’s common tasks

<President CHOI Oe-chool of YU is having an interview with a reporter from Maeil Daily News.>

President CHOI Oe-chool of YU met a reporter from Maeil Daily News on the 4th at his tenure turning point. Many questions and answers were made in the interview for about two hours but the whole atmosphere was “Conviction.”

He said, “My aspiration to manage the university with the top priority of inheriting and developing the founding spirit of YU to contribute in creation of a new history of national revitalization is still valid and I have the convection for stepwise realization.” And he told me his motto, “Hardships and trials make me strong and dreams and hopes for the future move my heart and make me act. I can do it.”

To a question on a secret plan to turn the common crisis that has hit the university district has resulted in sharp decline in the school-age population into an opportunity, he answered, “Innovation,” and he said that future will be made more expectable and he can do it. He showed self-confidence of the university to inherit and develop inheritance of PARK Chung-hee as an academic.

- You have been talking about innovation since the time you took office in 2021. You explained the necessity by setting detailed tasks but I want to know what changes have been made in the past two years.

▶ There are three prerequisites for innovation of the university. These are accurate diagnosis of the environment the university, presentation of a vision that meets the needs of the times, and the empathy and practice of members to achieve such vision.

Society is constantly changing and the type of demanded talent is also changing. University education should make students have the knowledge and capability required by the society. Last year, YU carried out the largest academic restructuring since the establishment of it. It contains preemptive responses to social and economic structure and environmental changes.

The performances of such endeavors are found in the result of recent YU entrance exams. YU broke the all-time high competition rate for two consecutive years in the 2022 and 2023 entrance exams and in particular, in this year's regular entrance exam, admission scores increased in 56 admission units out of 60 departments (departments) and majors comparable to last year.

This is the result of all university members sharing their vision and awareness of the necessity of innovation and working together in one direction. I thank the professors and staff teachers who were willing to be with me.

- You seem to have attempted a shift of paradigm but how will the types of talents be changed to meet the times?

▶ Today's society demands the talents with convergence and complex problem-solving capabilities based on character. Talents cultivated by universities should be able to contribute to society with jobs that society needs. They should be altruistic talents with personal achievements. YU will lead cultivation of the talents who will develop Korea into an advanced country with dignity and, on the other hand, of the talents who will contribute to the common prosperity of human society.

<President CHOI Oe-chool and students are doing morning cleaning volunteer work on the YU campus.>

- It is important to enhance employment rate of students but they seem to pay large intention in social contribution for enhancement of ultimate character.

▶ Our current generation should be grateful for the fact that we are enjoying the culture and fruits of our predecessors. One of the roles of the present generation is to ensure that future generations can live in a safer, happier world.

“Social Contribution” is in line with YU's educational goal and types of talents. YU students should complete “Social Contribution and Service” as a common liberal arts subject. I hope that talents who studied in YU will fulfill their roles so that all members of the global family enjoy their life worthy of human beings. This is why global social contribution activities on the world stage are so important.
 
 

Recently, ESG management is being emphasized as sustainable development can be achieved by considering the environment, society, and governance. Social contribution activities are also very important for sustainable development of human society. YU is cultivating talents with a warm heart who can contribute in creation of a safer and happier world.

- It seems to be connected with “Self-Help” of Saemaul spirit...

▶ Korea had been one of the poorest countries in the world but has developed to an advanced country in half a century. Saemaul Undong is in the center. The basic values of the Saemaul Undong, which became the foundation of Korea's development, are diligence, self-help, and cooperation. I think that, among them, self-helping endeavor is the key.

Today, the global Saemaul Undong practices social contribution by being combined with new values of sharing, service, and creation. It has evolved into a second-generation Saemaul Undong beyond the first-generation Saemaul Undong, which was based on diligence, self-help, and cooperation. On the basis of diligence, self-help, and cooperation, the values of sharing, service, and creation shine. The key of development of individuals and organizations would also be self-help efforts.

- It is a remarkable achievement that “Saemaul Studies” based on Saemaul Undong could become diplomatic contents. In an age of university crisis, such as a sharp decline in the school-age population, can it be regarded as a specialized field of YU, which is strengthening its global competitiveness?

▶ “Saemaul” is one of YU's representative brands but I think that it is a brand that represents Korea. YU systematized and developed the Saemaul Undong, which was Korea's poverty alleviation policy, into a study called “Saemaul Studies.” This is why the demand for education on “Saemaul International Development Studies” continues in developing countries around the world.

YU has an education and research system and know-how to share Korea's development experience with the world. Following Philippines, the Department of Saemaul Economic Development was established and is being operated in Western University in Cambodia and major universities in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America have been requesting the establishment of Department of Saemaul. Until now, more than 80 countries have been contributing in improvement of quality of life of entire global villages through Korea's experiences in development and Saemaul Undong education. It is domestic and foreign perspective to consider it as a diplomatic achievement at the global level beyond educational exchange achievements.

This time is the era of the “department” and “major” brands rather than the era of “university” brands. It is an era that it is possible to become the world's number one beyond Korea's number one if competitiveness is possessed in specific fields of majors. The successful case of “Saemaul Studies” that is an indigenous study established by YU gives many implications for university innovation. It is an educational capability that cannot be compared with other universities. YU plans to gradually expand this internationalization policy to other academic fields and utilize it as a new opportunity.

<President CHOI Oe-chool of YU is distributing snacks to students in the morning of the first day of midterm exam for this spring semester.>

- The program is quite encouraging because it allows students to experience the reality of developing countries in cooperation with Gyeongsan-si. It is also required to cooperate with local governments and universities to cope with the sharp decline in school-age population and cultivate local talents.

▶Gyeongsan-si and YU agreed with Mayor CHO Hyeon-il that it is important to open the way for young people. Today is not an era of whole life workplaces but an era of whole life jobs. Therefore, it is very important for young people to experience the global trends. It is a program that enables young people to understand the phenomena and characteristics of global village, especially the reality of developing countries, to see and experience with their own eyes, to broaden their horizons and expand their thinking, and to find their own roles.

By visiting companies in developing countries, interacting with local communities, and carrying out social service activities, young people will be able to develop their capabilities to solve common global challenges. In addition, since it is said that “hearing one hundred times is inferior to see one time and seeing one hundred times is inferior to act one time,” I expect that you will have a grateful heart for seeing the world correctly and living today.

It is highly meaningful that “Daegu-Gyeongbuk Regional Innovation Platform” centered on YU and Kyungpook National University was recently selected for RIS Project. I think that it will be a turning point for regional innovation along with “30 Glocal Universities” which is being promoted by the government. Universities will become the center of government-academic-industry-research clusters and make the foundation for taking the lead in creating a virtuous cycle ecosystem of regional growth engines by fostering core industries in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

- It seems to be the confidence to ride on the big wave of government-led selection of 30 Glocal Universities, which is interpreted as a signal of restructuring and the implementation of the RISE Project led by local governments.

▶ Opportunities are given to those who are ready. Innovation of YU has already started to enhance competitiveness in each academic field. YU's preemptive innovation has already gained sympathy from students and parents who are consumers of education. Objective figures such as competition rate for entrance exams, rate of recruitment of new students, and entrance grades of new students prove it. Prior to government-led structural reform of universities, it seems that screening of education demanders have already started.

- It is interpreted that the university's visions, new sets of talents, and reorganization of the curriculum and academic structure are focused in “innovation.” What are the most urgent tasks to be performed for YU’s sustainable innovative growth?

▶ At this point, the first priority is to be selected as a “Glocal University” to be promoted by the government. Recently, attention is paid in integration of YU and YU College of Science and Technology. When saying the conclusion first, a consensus was reached on integration between the board of directors of the school corporation and the presidents of the two universities. For integration, key officials from both parties are in the process of working-level consultations. The integration of both is recognized as a social and contemporary demand.

Although all universities in Korea are facing a crisis due to a sharp decline in school age population, the competitiveness of both has been proven as shown in their admission competition rates and the new student recruitment rates. If competitive both parties are merged, a world-renowned university that will be stronger both in name and reality will appear. The premise for integration is “win-win” and “development.” The both will pursue integration in a direction to create mutual synergy.

Meanwhile, it is also important to remove the factors that may hinder growth of innovation in universities. The University should be a free, fair, and transparent organization that may be trusted by their members. Some of the members have continuously made up false facts, divided the members, and on the contrary, have done things that impede the development of the university by advocating democracy, justice, and fairness.

We will respond sternly to such behavior. We will make it a free academic community where principles stand right and laws and regulations work fairly. Now, the vast majority of university members feel fortunate to know the true identity of a few persons right away. We will continuously try to make free and competitive YU.

<President CHOI Oe-chool of YU is having an interview with a reporter from Maeil Daily News.>

- It seems to be in line with the innovation demanded asked by 30 Globcal Universities. Are there any gaps between innovation by YU and innovation by the Ministry of Education?

▶ The direction of innovation between the Ministry of Education and universities cannot be different. Competitive universities will develop but uncompetitive universities will face difficulties. The conclusion is to become competitive universities wanted by students that are education demanders and by society.

Since the inauguration of the president, attention has been paid in management by the university to be accepted by students. All aspects, such as academic structure and curriculum reorganization, are determined being focused in students. Although there were difficulties, innovation over the past two years was the highest entrance competition rate ever, the recruitment rate for new students, and the selection for the largest government-sponsored project. After all, students and parents, who are education consumers, sympathized with and chose the direction of innovation pursued by YU. It is seen that the direction of innovation that the government is pursuing is not different.

- What do you think to be the final destination of innovation of universities in our era?

▶ University innovation has no destination. I think that it is a direction that we should be constantly moving towards. In a situation where the social paradigm is rapidly changing, the change of universities is also natural. Universities that do not constantly innovate cannot be competitive.

When looking at the development of conversational AI, which has recently become an issue, the speed of technological development and social change is so fast that it is difficult to keep up. Numerous technologies and studies appear and disappear repeatedly. Studies and education that are not in line with social changes and are not desired by students must be boldly innovated.

Over the past two years, YU has carried out the largest-ever structural reform and it will not stop or settle there. We will continue innovation to become a university that will lead social changes and a university to be desired by education consumers.

<President CHOI Oe-chool and foreigner students are playing tug-of-war at YU’s 75th Anniversary Foreigner Student Athletic Meeting>

- They say that it is difficult to see even 10 years from now and that education is a big plan for 100 years. What about to look at the changes in our society and to show the blueprint of YU 10 years later?

▶ Every time I listen to the YU school song, there is a moving feeling in my heart. The lyrics of the song, “Be the creator of a new history for the people and for the mankind,” contain the founding spirit and educational goals of YU.

The growth and development of YU has been in line with the development of Republic of Korea. The educational philosophy of cultivating national revitalization proposed by President PARK Chung-hee, the founder of YU, as the direction of education is the driving force that raised Korea to an advanced country today.

About 1 billion of the 8 billion people are obese and about 1 billion still live in absolute poverty. Everyone has the right to live a life worthy of humanity, regardless of skin color, nationality, gender, education level, occupation, religion, or place of residence. This is not the time to evaluate companies based on sales and profits. It is an era in which the company's contribution to solve common global issues is evaluated as an important corporate value.

In the future, YU will move forward to achieve the vision of “Creative Innovation University contributing to the Prosperity of Humanity.” This is YU's new vision, educational goal, and the one it should be pursued.