Mokpo National University President Song Hacheol Discusses Exchange and Cooperation Plans with Former Indonesian President

Establishment of Mokpo National University Open University in Indonesia

Key Industry International Joint Research between Mokpo National University and Indonesia

Song Hacheol, President of Mokpo National University, visited Indonesia on the 15th and met with Megawati Sukarnoputri, former President and Chairperson of the PDIP party, to discuss the current status of exchanges and future cooperation plans between Mokpo National University and Indonesian universities.

(On the right) Song Hacheol, President of Mokpo National University, met with Megawati, former President of Indonesia and Chairperson of the PDIP party, to discuss ways to promote exchange and cooperation. [Photo by Mokpo National University]

According to Mokpo National University on the 17th, former Indonesian President Megawati personally chaired a meeting of BRIN (The National Research and Innovation Agency), which oversees national R&D in Indonesia, to discuss cooperation with Mokpo National University.

About 30 people attended the meeting, including former President Megawati, Handoko, Chairperson of BRIN, Gandhi Sulistiyanto, Indonesian Ambassador to Korea, and Rohmin Dahuri, former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. From Mokpo National University, President Song Hacheol, Vice Dean of Student Affairs Park Kyungseop, Team Leader Yoo Kyunghee, and CEO Choi Hongsik of Shinwoo Industry participated.

At the meeting, President Song introduced the current status of the dual degree program in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering for foreign students, which began in 2018 with Indonesia's Institut Teknologi Sepuluh (ITS). He said, "As the first result, 29 Indonesian students graduated last year without any dropouts, and among them, nine found employment in Korean shipbuilding companies or pursued graduate studies."

He specifically explained, "We will sign an agreement to expand the dual degree program with ITS University to include IT-related majors."

He also announced plans to "train more than 100 welding specialists annually locally in cooperation with ITS University and other Indonesian universities to attract them to shipbuilding and marine companies in Jeollanam-do, which are experiencing severe labor shortages."

President Song requested cooperation from the Indonesian government, saying, "We will establish a Mokpo National University broadcasting and telecommunications college in Indonesia to promote Korean language education and Korean culture. Among these students, outstanding ones will be encouraged to study abroad at the main campus of Mokpo National University and be nurtured as excellent professionals who can work in various regional industries."

In response, former President Megawati said, "I have great interest in human resource development and will provide active support. I hope that the young generation in Indonesia, who have great interest in Korea, will become the foundation for the development of both countries through excellent educational cooperation with Korea."

This program is expected to become a leading model for foreign student systems at regional national universities by supplying excellent foreign professionals to various regional industries in Jeollanam-do, which are experiencing labor shortages, as well as promoting the global spread of Korean culture.

Mokpo National University and Indonesia discussed international joint research and development.
[Photo by Mokpo National University]

During the subsequent discussions on international joint research and development between Indonesia and Mokpo National University, former President Megawati expressed, "Among the various innovation fields currently being promoted in Indonesia, I hope the two countries will cooperate on international joint research and improvement measures, especially in marine and fisheries resource research, expansion of joint research in agriculture and fisheries, and environmental issues such as marine debris management." She urged, "I hope research topics will be set through active consultations with BRIN."

In response, President Song introduced, "With support from Korean national projects, we plan to complete the construction of a world-class smart farm plant factory and greenhouse at IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia, by the end of this year," which received much interest and positive response from attendees.

He added, "We will promote joint research and development and nurture excellent researchers not only in the agricultural life sciences field but also in aquaculture and food sectors with Indonesia, which has main industries very similar to those of Jeollanam-do."

Handoko, Chairperson of BRIN, proposed various fields of international joint research and exchange cooperation based on concrete practical consultations with Mokpo National University and Jeollanam-do, and President Song agreed to sign an agreement on this matter as soon as possible.

BRIN was established in 2019 by consolidating Indonesian national research institutes such as BPPT (Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology) with a workforce of about 13,000, and it oversees the planning and execution of national research and development in Indonesia.

Former Indonesian President Megawati received an honorary doctorate in economics from Mokpo National University on November 16, 2017, and has maintained continuous interest and exchanges with Korea.

President Song said, "I remember the promise of Mokpo National University to strive for mutual development between the two countries through nurturing young talents in Indonesia, which former President Megawati made when she returned home from Muan Airport after receiving the honorary doctorate in 2017." He added, "We will share successful cases such as the dual degree system with Indonesian universities and further develop them to nurture talents and contribute to industrial development that will lead the future of Indonesia and Jeollanam-do."

A representative of Mokpo National University said, "Taking this meeting with former President Megawati as an opportunity, we will develop the global cooperative relationships we have built so far to systematically nurture excellent foreign talents as well as conduct international joint research specialized in the region." They added, "We expect to contribute to resolving the local community's pressing labor shortage and establish a leading study abroad system at Mokpo National University."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.