Inauguration of Lee Byung-woon as the 10th President of Suncheon National University

88th Anniversary Vision Declaration

Proclamation of a University as a Hub for Innovation and Convergence in Industry-Academia-Government Cooperation

Suncheon National University (President Lee Byung-woon) announced that on the 12th, it held the inauguration ceremony of its 10th president, Dr. Lee Byung-woon, along with the 88th anniversary celebration at Wooseok Hall in the 70th Anniversary Memorial Hall on campus.

The event was attended by about 500 people, including Kim Hoe-jae, member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea, No Gwan-gyu, Mayor of Suncheon, Moon Geum-ju, Vice Governor of Jeollanam-do, Kim Young-cheol, president of the alumni association, former presidents, key local institution heads, city and provincial council members, journalists, members of the Development Support Association and Development Support Foundation, retired faculty and staff, university officials, faculty, and students, who all celebrated President Lee Byung-woon's inauguration.

[Photo by Suncheon National University]

At the inauguration ceremony, President Lee Byung-woon declared a new vision: “Innovation and Convergence! A Hub for Government-Industry-Academia Cooperation, Glocal Suncheon National University,” expressing his ambition for the university to become a pivotal point for regional development.

In his inaugural speech, President Lee stated, “In step with the rapidly changing era of AI, we will break down existing frameworks and boldly attempt new education.” Along with the new vision, he presented five innovation and convergence models: ▲ a university rising to the top 30 domestically through selection of four essential projects ▲ a hub university for government-industry-academia cooperation ▲ a university cultivating talents who settle locally ▲ a university realizing education desired by the region ▲ a glocal university expanding globally.

Suncheon National University aims to solidify its status as the top national university in Jeollanam-do and leap into the top 30 universities nationwide, based on selections for major government financial support projects such as university institutional accreditation, Glocal University 30, RISE project, and National University Development Project.

To this end, the university plans to develop a ‘government-industry-academia convergence model’ as a cooperative hub encompassing local governments, industries, and all universities in the region, and to focus on fostering low-carbon smart agriculture, secondary batteries, aerospace, bio, animation, digital cultural content, and ecological tourism resource development.

Furthermore, Suncheon National University will nurture ‘settlement-type talents’ who are born, raised, educated, and work in the region, seek to expand local talent recruitment in cooperation with regional industries, and contribute to citizen content development and distribution with companies, digital education for local residents, high-quality liberal arts education, and demand-tailored lifelong vocational education.

Above all, the university plans to awaken the ‘youth and spirit of challenge’ essential for the younger generation to mature as responsible citizens and to become the center of local culture by building an outdoor permanent stage for busking and cultural performances and a youth culture center through cooperation with local governments and companies.

In response to the declining school-age population, the university also announced plans to transform into a glocal university.

Leveraging Suncheon City’s strengths as an international ecological city showcased by the 2023 International Garden Expo, the university will propose a university education model for a ‘small but strong city with learning and rest,’ expand overseas exchanges to share credit and degree programs, and provide high-level language courses and Korean language education for students and local residents, aiming to become the center of regional internationalization.

President Lee Byung-woon stated that he will enhance work efficiency through future organizational restructuring and actively communicate with internal and external members through an open president’s office, listening carefully even to small voices and solving pressing issues through dialogue.

Additionally, the event featured a presentation of the university vision and management roadmap by Planning Director Son Young-jin and a vision declaration performance involving 10 representatives from government, industry, and academia.

President Lee said, “For the next four years, I will devote myself solely to the university and work tirelessly.” He added, “I will never forget the heavy responsibility entrusted by our members and will move toward the glorious 100th anniversary with passion and belief that Suncheon National University can become a representative model of win-win growth that revitalizes the region.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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