President Oh Yong-jun: "Hanbat University Benchmarks Ollin Engineering College... Will Set a Milestone for Industry-Academic Cooperation Universities"

Hanbat University Introduces 'Project' Teaching Method in Mechanical Engineering Department
President Oh: "Establishing a Student-Centered Model Preferred by Companies"

"Hanbat National University will transform into a new type of industry-academia cooperation university through exchanges with Olin College of Engineering. We will also strive to establish a kind of milestone that domestic and international universities can benchmark again from our university."

On the 22nd, Oh Yong-jun, president of Hanbat National University, presented this innovative vision of Hanbat National University during a dialogue with Gilda A. Barabino, president of Olin College of Engineering.

Oh Yong-jun, President of Hanbat National University, is presenting the future direction of university innovation. Photo by Hanbat National University

President Oh said, "A few years ago, I encountered the successful case of university innovation at Olin College. At that time, the interdisciplinary education, problem-based learning, and project-based education that characterize this university became the direction we should pursue in the future."

The vague blueprint that was only in his mind became a reality. Hanbat National University invited the president of Olin College, opening the door for inter-university exchange. It is meaningful not only to invite the president for a lecture but also that Hanbat National University plays a role in spreading the strengths of Olin College throughout the Asian region.

This outcome was achieved as the blueprint envisioned by the president of Olin College, including the expansion of university innovation models and active international cooperation, met the mutual understanding of Hanbat National University's will for university innovation.

However, considering domestic conditions, President Oh believes it is difficult for Hanbat National University to immediately follow Olin College's university innovation case as it is.

President Oh explained, "The operational method of Olin College shows uniqueness in many aspects." He added, "However, to transfer this university's innovation case, it is appropriate to first utilize an educational reform sandbox as part of regulatory relaxation. The Olin College model can be applied at the level of small to medium-sized universities or some colleges or departments rather than large universities."

With this intention, Hanbat National University is promoting the introduction of a project-based education method in a detailed track of the Department of Mechanical Engineering within the College of Engineering to reflect Olin College's innovation model. The core is to sufficiently collect and reflect students' opinions on the planning of class content, teaching methods, and evaluation aimed at solving engineering problems.

In addition, through continuous communication with the faculty of Olin College, Hanbat National University plans to seek and establish concrete methodologies applicable to Korean universities. Ultimately, President Oh envisions creating a kind of platform so that the university innovation case transplanted to Hanbat National University can spread and be applied throughout the Asian region.

President Oh emphasized, "The era demands change and innovation from universities. Hanbat National University will strive to present a successful model of university innovation by advocating a university favored by companies, a university for companies, and a student-centered university amid these trends."

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