Yonsei University College of Dentistry Signs Academic and Educational Collaboration MOU with Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Yonsei University College of Dentistry recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) in the United States for academic and educational collaboration. This agreement marks the first time that Harvard School of Dental Medicine has established an MOU with a university in Korea, and it is only the second such partnership with an Asian university.

In front of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine building, Professor JaeGuk Cha from the Department of Periodontology at Yonsei University College of Dentistry (from left), Dean YoungSu Jung, William V. Giannobile, Dean of Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Professor Sang J. Lee are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Yonsei Medical Center

Prior to the signing, Dean YoungSoo Jung of Yonsei University College of Dentistry and Professor JaeGuk Cha from the Department of Periodontology visited Harvard University on July 15, where they discussed directions for mutual cooperation and development with Harvard School of Dental Medicine Dean William V. Giannobile and Professor Sang J. Lee.

Through this agreement, the two institutions pledged to actively collaborate in various areas, including the exchange of students and research personnel, joint development of dental education curricula, and the promotion of joint research. They plan to operate training and educational programs to expand exchanges between undergraduate and graduate students, as well as collaborative symposiums in research fields. In particular, they will support direct connections between researchers to enhance synergies in shared research areas such as the oral microbiome and dental biomaterials. In addition, they intend to jointly develop and operate continuing education programs for dentists, which have seen increasing demand in recent years.

Founded in 1867, Harvard School of Dental Medicine is the world’s first university-affiliated dental school. In the 2025 QS World University Rankings, it was ranked 10th globally and 3rd in the United States in the field of dentistry, receiving high marks for its basic and clinical research capabilities.

Dean YoungSoo Jung stated, “We expect that this agreement will further strengthen Yonsei University College of Dentistry’s global capabilities in education and research,” and added, “We will continue our efforts to expand the dental school’s global network in the future.”

Meanwhile, Yonsei University College of Dentistry was ranked 1st in Korea and 31st globally in the field of dentistry in the 2025 QS World University Rankings. The college is also expanding its global network by establishing strategic partnerships with major dental schools worldwide, including the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, University of Washington, and Tufts University.

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