National Mokpo University Lays Foundation as a Glocal University Leading Green Marine Energy30

Signing of Cooperation Agreement for Offshore Wind Power R&D and Workforce Development

On the 20th, Mokpo National University (President Song Hacheol) announced that on the 18th, it signed a 'Cooperation Agreement for Offshore Wind Power Research and Development and Workforce Training' with Jeollanam-do, Norwegian offshore wind power company DeepWind Offshore (DWO), Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), and Mokpo National Maritime University.

Attendees at the signing ceremony included Song Hacheol, President of Mokpo National University; Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do; Anne Kari Hansen Obin, Norwegian Ambassador to Korea; Hans Peter Obrevik, Executive Vice President of DWO; Liv Reiden Grimsbø, Director of the Marine Engineering Center at HVL; and Han Won-hee, President of Mokpo National Maritime University.

This cooperation agreement was established to strengthen collaboration in offshore wind power research and development and customized workforce training among DWO, one of Norway's leading power companies currently promoting 1GW-scale offshore wind power projects each in Yeosu and Wando, Jeonnam, HVL, a leading university in marine renewable energy, and local universities.

Mokpo National University signed a "Cooperation Agreement for Offshore Wind Power Research and Development and Workforce Training" with Jeollanam-do, Norwegian offshore wind power company DeepWind Offshore (DWO), Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), and Mokpo National Maritime University.
[Photo by Mokpo National University]

The main agreement items include △ planning of international joint research on offshore wind power △ development of technology for optimization of power plant construction and operation △ development of specialized and skilled workforce education programs △ operation of exchange student programs and other mutual personnel exchanges.

Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, emphasized, “I am confident that this agreement will lead to the success of Jeonnam’s large-scale offshore wind power projects and serve as a catalyst for Jeonnam’s offshore wind power industry to leap forward as a hub for expansion into the Asia-Pacific region beyond South Korea.”

Hans Peter Obrevik, Executive Vice President of DWO, said, “We are pleased that DeepWind Offshore, which has taken root by operating a local office and projects in Jeonnam, is participating in cooperation among leading Korean-Norwegian marine energy academic institutions. We will contribute to developing future talent and advancing the regional offshore wind industry by combining expertise from various fields.”

Song Hacheol, President of Mokpo National University, stated, “We are very pleased to collaborate with global leaders in the offshore wind power sector through this agreement, and we expect this to enable Mokpo National University’s Glocal University 30 to play a pivotal role in the marine energy field.”

He added, “We will strengthen our glocal strategy to provide students with world-class education and research opportunities and devise ways to grow together with the local community.”

DWO was established in 2020 through joint investment by four major energy companies from Norway and the UK and is developing a large-scale 10GW project with a total project cost of 50 trillion KRW across Norway, Korea, and Sweden. HVL operates five campuses in the western coastal region of Norway and is a prestigious comprehensive science and engineering university focusing on marine engineering and energy environment fields.

Mokpo National University is preparing for its designation as a Glocal University 30 main campus, with offshore wind power as a core green marine energy sector. Through establishing global governance, it plans to expand workforce training and research capabilities in the offshore wind power field within the global green marine industry.

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