Gwangju Nam-gu Accelerates Global University Development Through International Exchange

Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, has achieved results in finding a new breakthrough through international exchange amid the accelerating crisis of local universities' extinction due to the decline in school-age population, along with fostering global leader universities.

According to Nam-gu on the 28th, a comprehensive agreement signing ceremony for exchange between Gwangju University, located in the district, and Vietnam's National Dalat University was held at 10 a.m. (local time) in the president's office of National Dalat University. This is the fruition of two years since Nam-gu Mayor Kim Byeong-nae took on the role of a bridge for exchanges between Gwangju University and National Dalat University.

About 20 officials attended the signing ceremony, including Kim Dong-jin, president of Gwangju University, Le Minh Chien, president of National Dalat University, and Kim Byeong-nae, mayor of Nam-gu, who played a role as a channel for exchanges between the two universities.

The comprehensive agreement includes contents to enhance cooperation and develop the capabilities of students from both universities.

First, the two universities will conduct exchanges such as language training, student exchange programs, and recognition of double degrees, and expand exchanges among professors, researchers, and staff, who are members of the ivory tower.

Additionally, joint programs will be promoted according to the regulations of the Ministries of Education of Korea and Vietnam, and joint research and academic conferences will also be held.

The origin of the exchange agreement between Gwangju University and National Dalat University dates back to June 2022, when Mayor Kim Byeong-nae was officially invited to Dalat City for exchange with Nam-gu, Gwangju.

Mayor Kim Byeong-nae received a proposal for signing a letter of intent for exchange cooperation from the Dalat City delegation and emphasized that Nam-gu is a cultural and educational special zone representing the Republic of Korea, suggesting expanding exchanges to the education field as well.

The opinions of both sides were rapidly coordinated, leading to the signing of a letter of intent for exchange cooperation between Dalat City and Nam-gu on August 25, 2022.

Furthermore, four months after the letter of intent signing between Dalat City and Nam-gu, in December 2022, National Dalat University proposed to Mayor Kim Byeong-nae the hope to establish exchange cooperation with universities located in the district, and Mayor Kim immediately took on the role of a bridge, producing the result of exchanges between the two universities after two years.

Mayor Kim Byeong-nae said, "Since the first official visit in June 2022, we have expanded exchanges from culture to education to leverage the characteristics of Nam-gu as a cultural and educational special zone. This agreement will greatly help save local universities in crisis and enhance the global leader capabilities of Gwangju University."

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