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School of Biotechnology, Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun's research team Accelerate production of insulin and regeneration of damaged organs without side effects [May 16, 2012] The Yeungnam University School of Biotechnology yet again displays major research achievements. Not long ago, Professor Choi, Chang-bon reported his research findings that Hanwoo beef with good marbling has lower risk of causing adult diseases compared with imported beef. This time around, Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun's research team developed medicine that effectively suppresses diabetes and its complications using a new protein. Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun's (photo) research team announced on the 16th that a medicine that can accelerate insulin production of the pancreas and accelerate regeneration of damaged organs without causing adverse reactions is developed by compounding new High Density Lipoprotein. This research, which was conducted as part of the 'Core Researcher Support Project (Key research) and General Researcher Support Project' of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (minister Lee, Joo-ho) and the National Research Foundation of Korea (president Lee, Seung-jong), was published on the 24th of last month on the online issue of <Rejuvenation Research> published by the European Society of Preventive, Regenerative and Anti-Aging Medicine, which in an internationally acclaimed academic journal in its respective field. Professor Cho's team stated that the newly developed medicine is highly resistant against saccharification, which transforms protein due to high blood sugar, and therefore can maximize treatment effects such as promoting insulin production. They also added that after recombining new High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), they found that the formation of advanced glycation end-products, which are the main cause of diabetes complications, were suppressed. The research team cut part of the tail of a zebra fish, which is a vertebrate, and injected various HDL and found that it had five times better effect in regenerating effects compared to others. Thus, it is expected that an epochal turning point was made for suppressing the occurrence or progression of diabetes complications, which is one of the main goals in treating diabetes. Diabetic complications occur when diabetes is prolonged and generally after a few years, it damages almost every organ in the body making one highly vulnerable to various infections. It causes diabetic wounds, diabetic nephrosis, diabetic cataract, and diabetic neuralgia. It is a very dangerous ailment that accelerates overall aging of the body, resulting in severe drop in quality of life and that can even cause death. The medicine developed by Professor Cho's team was found to be especially effective in treating diabetic foot ulcer caused by complications from diabetes. Diabetic foot ulcer is a very severe ailment in which about one person amputates their foot every thirty seconds around the world. The research team added that another achievement of this research is that they confirmed that it is effective in preventing and treating other diseases related to aging, besides diabetes and diabetic complications. Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun (44, School of Biotechnology) stated, "This research developed the medicine that can effectively suppress not only Korea's two major diseases of diabetes and diabetic complications, but also diseases related to aging without causing side effects." He added, "It can be used not only as medicine, but also in everyday life such as health foods and components for skin-aging preventing cosmetics." Meanwhile, Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun, who led this research, has been very active in research such as publishing over 60 SCI level theses, applying for and registering over 20 domestic and international patents, and transferring one technology overseas (300,000 USD of the initial payment, 3% sales royalty) in the past five years. Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun and students of the School of Biotechnology
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Reenacting 'Traditional Coming-of-age ceremony' in commemoration of the 65th year anniversary of the Yeungnam University 10 international students experience Korean tradition wearing Dopo and Dangui [May 15, 2012] "Gwans were worn three times on the good day of the good year. Therefore, brothers shall live together and be virtuous and will sing to live a long life and receive great blessings from the heavens.(以歲之正 以月之令 咸加爾服 兄弟俱在 以成厥德 黃耈無疆 受天之慶)" At 6pm on the 14th in the Gugye-Seowon inside the Folklore Park of the YU Gyeongsan Campus, the 'GwanRye'(冠禮, Coming-of-age ceremony), the first of the adulthood ceremony was reenacted. Lee, Hyo-soo, president of YU, who was invited as the venerable guest(賓), recited a message congratulating male students who have become 20 years old this year. Following this, they completed the Chipogeon and Yugeon and finally wore 'Gat'(冠, Korean traditional hats), which is the third ceremony, and tied Gatkken, the strings of the Gat to officially announce their adulthood. YU (president Lee, Hyo-soo) held a 'Traditional Coming-of-age ceremony' on the '40th Coming-of-age Day'. 'Coming-of-age Day' is a legally designated commemorative date on the third Monday of May. It naturally tells young men and women who have become 20 years of age of their responsibilities and duties as an adult, while congratulating their physical and mental maturity out of adolescence. The traditional coming-of-age ceremony held on the 65th anniversary of the university was co-hosted by the YU Department of Archaic Sino-Korean Education and the Dosan Traditional Manners Research Institute, and over 20 students, including 10 international students, wore traditional clothes called dopo and dangui to take part in the coming-of-age ceremonies called 'GwanRye' and 'GyeRye'. 'GwanRye' is a rite where men who have become over 20 years of age have gwans placed on their heads three times to emphasize their responsibilities to their family, community and country. The rite is started with the 'BunriUirye'(rite of separation) where the hair is tied up in topknots and 3 gwans are placed on the head three times while they changes their clothes. The rite is also made up of 'ChoRye' where it is announced to the heavens that they have come to age with a drink of alcohol, and in 'MyeonjaRye', 'Ja'(字, a new name) is given to be called instead of their original name so that they may preserve the body and name their ancestors gave them. 'GyeRye' is a rite where the braided hair of girls are undone and Jjoks are done with a 'Binyeo', a Korean hairpin to recognize them becoming an adult woman. Jeon, Jin-seong (20, sophomore, Department of Archaic Sino-Korean Education), who represented the male students of YU who became 20 years of age, stated, "This solemn procedure and atmosphere that was conducted in front of adults made me feel a stronger sense of responsibility in that I have now become an adult" while adding, "I will try my best to become an adult so that the adults who gave me the new name 'Sung-jin' and placed the Gwan on my head can be proud of me." Chaib Yacine (23, photo), a French student who is currently studying Korean at YU after coming to Korea in the fall of last year, stated, "I was able to learn the deep meanings and values of traditional Korean culture, and also see just how charming it is" and added, "Though I am over 20 years of age, after completing this meaningful adulthood ceremony, I feel a heavier sense of responsibility for the society. I will always remember what I have felt today so that I may become a respected adult." Lee, Hyo-soo, who was present at the traditional coming-of-age ceremony carried out for an hour and a half amidst spring rains from start to finish, emphasized, "Rather than thinking of this simply as a rite of passage, we should preserve our traditional coming-of-age ceremonies as a rite for learning the pride and responsibilities as an adult," while stating, " I hope that our students who have become adults this year will be able to respect their selves, love us, and become a prized asset of Korea that fulfills his and her social responsibilities.
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Lab rat injected with Hanwoo(Korean Native Cattle) Beef, US beef and Australian beef for four weeks Rat that consumed Hanwoo Beef reduced neutral fat in blood by 1/3 Present the strategy for high-quality of Hanwoo Beef that can overcome the FTA [May 15, 2012] The research found that by consuming Hanwoo beef, which has more than five times as much fat content compared with US or Australian beef, the neutral fat content in the blood of lab rats actually dropped to 1/3. Professor Choi, Chang-bon (52, photo) of the School of Biotechnology gave Hanwoo beef with marbling scores of 1 (3 grade), 3 (2 grade), 5 (1 grade), 7 (1+ grade), and 9 (1++ grade), and US beef and Australian beef to lab rats. After analyzing blood of lab rats, he discovered that as the marbling score of the Hanwoo beef rose, the neutral fat content inside of the lab rats dropped considerably compared with those that ate US beef or Australian beef. Professor Choi, who received support from the Hanwoo Board, used three samples each from Hanwoo beef with marbling scores of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and American beef and Australian beef and fed them for four weeks in amounts equal to 10% of the total daily consumption amount for three white mice for each sample (63 mice in total). The results showed that Hanwoo beef with marbling scores of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and the sirloing of US beef and Australian beef have average fat contents of 3.5, 11.9, 13.2, 17.0, and 23.5% (Hanwoo beef), while it was 8.4% for US beef and 4.5% for Australian beef. However, the neutral fat in the blood of the mice that ate the beef were 49.4, 23.6, 16.9, 12.4 and 19.6mg/dL (Hanwoo beef), and 36.9mg/dL (US beef) and 50.8mg/dL (Australian beef). In particular, the mice that ate the Hanwoo beef with marbling scores of 7 (1+ grade) showed only 1/5 of neutral fat in the blood compared to the mice that ate Australian beef, while 1/3 of neutral fat in the blood compared to the others which ate American beef. When considering that the daily fat intake of lab rats that ate Hanwoo beef that has high marbling scores was three to five times higher than those that ate US beef or Australian beef, such results have major implications. This is because lab rats that consumed higher levels of marbling scores of Hanwoo beef actually had lower neutral fat in their blood. On such results, Professor Choi stated, "Because the marbling scores of Hanwoo beef contain more mono-unsaturated fatty acid such as oleic acid compared with US beef or Australian beef, it represents that it has lower risk of causing adult diseases related to the cardiovascular system such as arteriosclerosis and high blood pressure," while adding, "By continuously reporting scientific and objective data that can prove the superiority of Korean Hanwoo beef, our research aims at lighting a spark of hope to the Hanwoo ranches and farms that are facing difficulties due to the FTA." Professor Choi is planning to report the results of this research at the 'General Symposium and Academic Seminar of Korean Society of Animal Sciences and Technology' that will be held at Chungnam National University on June 28-29. Futhermore it is planning to conduct clinical tests based on its test results and scientifically prove the effects of Hanwoo beef and imported beef on human health.
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65 universities applyed for the MEST ACE project. Attributable to fostering of 'Y-type Human Resources' that combine Humanity, Creativity, Initiative, Specialty Achieved 'Grand Slam' in nationally funded projects for education, research, and industry-academic cooperation, such as the 'WCU project' and 'Technology-Innovative LINC project' [May 10, 2012] Yeungnam University (president Lee, Hyo-soo) was selected in the '2012 Korean Advancement of College Education (ACE)' project. Thus, it was officially recognized as the 'Good Teaching University'. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (minister Lee, Joo-ho, hereafter called 'MEST') announced the results of selecting the '2012 ACE project support universities' on the 10th. According to this, 3 universities in Korea including Yeungnam University will receive national funding for the advancement of undergraduate education for four years. In this project, 65 four-year national and private universities applied and only 3 were selected after fierce 21 to 1 competition. Based on the undergraduate education advancement capacities and advancement plans, MEST made close and strict evaluations through a two-phase screening on the level of advancement such as the education conditions and achievements of each university, education differentiation, curriculum, education support system, etc. In result, Yeungnam University was selected as the Good Teaching University. Since 2009, YU conducted the Yeungnam Aptitude Test (YAT) on all students, while providing a student the career management system (YU CAN) in order to construct a systematic and scientific educational system in which 93% of all students can receive benefits of self-motivated career management and customized student guidance by counseling professors. In addition, it became the nation's first university to designate 'Reading the Great Books and Writing' as a mandatory general education course to develop a curriculum to foster Y-type human resources. Meanwhile, it also founded 'Creative Teaching Methods' and 'Teaching Method Research Groups' in which 936 professors participated in last year. Also, a total of 2,523 students attended the 'Creative Learning Method' seminar last year, and thus received high ratings for its considerable level of achievements made already. 936 professors participated in the 'Creative Teaching Method' last year Thus, YU will receive about 10 billion won to 2015 in national funding and is planning to further promote the fostering of 'Y-type human resources', which has been consistently pursued since the appointment of Lee, Hyo-soo as president of the university in 2009. In order to establish the 'Y Plan', which is a human resource fostering system that spans across admission, education, graduation, employment, and reeducation, it is planning to accelerate the 'Y plan' that has been conducted for the past three years, by completing revising the curriculum for the balanced development of Humanity, Creativity, Initiative, and Specialty, which are the 4 major capacities of the Y-type human resources, systemizating the non-curricula through the development of curriculum, promotion of convergence and integrated diploma systems, and construction of road maps by key capacities and school year, and conducting the accreditation of 'Y-type human resources'. In addition, it is planning to compose the 'Y-type human resources fostering committee', in which the president of the university will also serve as the committee chair so that the entire process of the 'Y Plan' will be supervised and commanded, while its achievements can be systematically managed. Lee, Hyo-soo, president of YU, stated, "It is quite meaningful that Yeungnam University's educational capacities is receiving the high marks by the government." while adding, "YU's research and industry-academic cooperation capacities were recognized recently with the WCU project and the Technology-Innovative LINC project. With this selection, we are also assessed to have the good undergraduate education capacities as well. We will flexibly integrate the best education, research, and industry-academy cooperation capacities and present and advanced educational model that can create synergy effects."
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Pham Ho Mai Anh, an international student from Vietnam in PhD course at Yeungnam University Exhibit on 27 neckties using the traditional patterns of Korea and Vietnam [May 10, 2012] Ao dai textile design using the Taegeuk pattern of Korea and the star pattern of Vietnam (from left to right, Pham Ho Mai Anh, Professor Lee, Youn-soon) "I hope that Vietnam will also become more interested in its traditional patterns and rediscover its values, utilize it, and further develop it like Korea. I hope to be the pioneer for this. That is why I am putting on my first solo exhibit under my name. I ask for your interest and encouragement." An exotic exhibit was held at the YU Chunma Arts Center Gallery from the 9th to 11th. The 27 unique neckties using the traditional patterns of Korea and Vietnam as the motif attracted much attention. This exhibit was held by Pham Ho Mai Anh (32), who is currently in a PhD program at the YU Graduate School (major in Clothing and Fashion). After working as an instructor at the University of Technology Education Ho Chi Minh City, Pham came to YU in 2004 and received a master's degree in 2006 in Visual Design. Pham is now enrolled in a PhD program for Clothing and Fashion and displayed the textile design works made for the PhD diploma thesis. The theme of the thesis was 'Finding and Collecting data on the traditional patterns of Vietnam, and constructing and utilizing a database'. After majoring in Visual Design for a master's degree, Pham chose textile designs using the traditional patterns of Vietnam as the topic because Professor Lee, Youn-soon (Department of Clothing and Fashion), who is known as a master of textile design using the traditional patterns of Korea, was Pham's advising professor. However, Pham stated that the research process was no easy task. Unlike in Korea, there is almost no research and literary materials on the traditional patterns of Vietnam. Therefore, Pham had to fly to Vietnam whenever time permitted to take photos at museums, temples, and historic sites, then rearrange the collected data and enter them in a database. Thanks to these, it was possible to create new unique textile design works by comparing, analyzing, and applying the similarities and differences, as well as the features of the traditional patterns of Korea and Vietnam. 9 of the 27 neckties on display used only the traditional patterns of Korea, 8 used only the traditional patterns of Vietnam, while 10 combined the traditional patterns of both Korea and Vietnam. It also attracted visitors by displaying the Ao dai design that was awarded the 2009 Korea-Azerbaijan International Invitational Fashion Exhibit for its design that integrated Korea's unique Taegeuk pattern with the unique star pattern of Vietnam. Professor Lee, Youn-soon (Department of Clothing and Fashion), who guided Pham Ho Mai Anh in the PhD course, stated, "They are textile design works that not only have brilliant and unique artistic value, but also commercial possibilities," while adding, "I would like to applaud Mai Anh for the passion and efforts made to find and develop the values of traditional patterns." In August, Pham Ho Mai Anh, who received her PhD, will return to the University of Technology Education Ho Chi Minh City. However, she will now stand on the podium not as an instructor, but as a professor. She is also planning to open a website that will provide a database on traditional Vietnamese patterns that she painstakingly constructed so that people who need it can utilize it. "I was able to continue my research despite the difficulties with marriage and childbirth and complete my PhD program, while being awarded at 9 domestic and international design contests, thanks to my advising professor who always took care of me." She also added, "One of the first things I want to do is to translate and publish Professor Lee's book 'Textile Design' in Vietnamese, and then , I would like to write a book on textile design together with Professor Lee and publish it. For this, I must work much harder on my research on traditional Vietnamese patterns. I don't want to hurt my teacher's reputation," she said with a smile. On another note, Professor Lee, Youn-soon, the advising professor of Pham Ho Mai Ahn, won the author's award and a prize of five million won at the '2012 Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles General Assembly and Academic Conference' recently, with her book that was first published in 1997 and has three issues as of current titled 'Textile Design' (304 pages). The entire winning was donated as funding for the development of the department. When she served as the dean of the department, she personally gave millions of won in scholarships to students who were awarded in various contests and extracurricular activities. Professor Lee said, "The biggest joy in teaching is watching students grow" and added, "It is nice to give scholarships to students with good grades, but I also hope to see students who bring glory to our university and department through various activities also receive scholarships as a token of encouragement."
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Construction of first international student alumni network among Korean universities Chinese graduates makes YU Alumni Association in Beijing YU Alumni Power, from Vietnam to China [May 21, 2012] Foundering members of the YU China Alumni Association pose for a photo in downtown Beijing. "Right after my wedding yesterday, I drove 12 hours to get to Beijing. Of course I had to come since the president and teachers from my university are visiting. I thank them for being so welcoming to my wife as well." Huzewei (30) is an instructor at a technical college in downtown Harbin, Heilongjiang Province in China. He graduated from YU in February 2009 and right after his wedding, he and his wife rushed to arrive at the founding ceremony of the 'YU China Alumni Association'. Lee, Hyo-soo, president of YU, gives a congratulatory address at the YU China Alumni Association's founding ceremony. For the first time for a Korean university, YU (president Lee, Hyo-soo) founded an alumni association in Beijing, the heart of China. The alumni power of YU has spread from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in December of last year to Beijing, China. At 11 a.m. last Sunday (May 20), the founding ceremony of the 'YU China Alumni Association' was held at a restaurant in downtown Beijin. About 40 Chinese graduates who are working hard in their home countries after receiving a diploma at YU attended this ceremony. The age group ranged from those in their 20s who just graduated from undergraduate studies last year to those in their 50s who received PhDs in the late 1990s. However, they share a common trait that they are or will soon take important positions in various sectors of China such as public officials of provincial governments such as the Jiangsu Province Economic Development Bureau, a professor at the pharmaceutical department of the Tianjin College of Medical Sciences, professor of psychology at Yianbian University, as well as employees of large Korean conglomerates that extended out to China such as the HR manage for Samsung Group's China office, as well as for Hyuna Motors, SK, STX, E-mart, and Taepyeongyang, and persons in finance such as the Korea Exchange Bank Beijing branch and the Bank of Tianjin. In addition, despite it being a day of rest for most, they all shared a common trait that they had much passion and esteem for their school in that they invested 3~4 hours or even up to over 10 hours from all over China including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Tsingtao, Yanji, Harbin, Dalian, Suzhou, Xinxiang, Liaoxiang, Nanchang and Szechuan. Jiayuxian (26), who graduated from the YU Department of International Commerce in February of last year and currently works for the Korea Exchange Bank, Tianjin branch, stated, "I was excited at the thought of meeting YU alumni for the entire four hours on the high speed train. Today will be remembered even more than my wedding." Professor Chuixun (53, left on photo) of Nankai University was appointed as the first president of the alumni association. Professor Chu, who was the first Chinese international student to graduate from YU, enrolled in the YU Graduate School PhD program in August 1992 and received his PhD in economics in February 1999, just before the beginning of diplomacy between Korea and China. Since February of the same year for over ten years, he worked as a professor at Nankai University and has become one of the top scholars in the labor-management economics sector. After receiving the China Alumni Association flag from Lee, Hyo-soo, president of YU, who was also his counseling professor during his PhD program, Professor Chu made a statement saying, "Let us not forget our role as a bridge between Korea and China, and our pride as YU alumni." A total of 10 alumni including Professor Shuminglu (40), who earned his master's and PhD at the YU College of Pharmacology and is currently lecturing at the Henan University of Science and Technology, were appointed as regional directors to lead the alumni association in different parts of China. Lee, Hyo-soo, president of YU, who was present to congratulate the founding of the alumni association, brought a muffler with a YU logo from Korea and placed them on each of the founding members. He stated, "There are currently 960 Chinese students studying at our university. Once they join the China alumni association in the future, it will become a vast alumni organization with over a thousand members." He also added, "Alumni associations were made in Vietnam, China and will soon be established in Indonesia. I hope that the YU alumni associations in each country will act as a hub for constructing a global alumni network and develop a strong alumni power." Meanwhile, YU currently has exchange programs with 49 universities of China including Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, Nankai University, Huazhong University of Science Technology, and Xi'an Jiaotong University. Furthermore, it participated in the '2012 Study in Korea Exhibition' held in Beijing from the 17th to the 19th to take the initiative to attract Chinese students and engage in exchange with China. In result, over 1,000 Chinese students have graduated from YU and about 960 Chinese students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate school courses as of the first semester of 2012.
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6 universities such as Yeungnam University, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Chonbuk National University, and Pusan National University selected Another achievement after being selected as 'Hub' for HRD project, established itself as 'local hub university' [May 3, 2012] Exhibits on creative engineering projects submitted in the Engineering Education Festival Yeungnam University (president Lee, Hyo-soo) was selected again as a hub university for government supported projects, thus reconfirming its position as a local hub university. After being selected for the 'Yeungnam Region Hub' for the HRD Project of the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 25th of last month, it was selected this month as the 'Technological Education Hub' by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology(MEST). Recently, MEST (Minister Lee, Ju-ho) and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (director Kim, Yong-geun) selected and announced the 'Technological Education Hub', who will play a leading role among the 65 nationwide universities selected in the phase 2 technological education and innovation centers support project (2012-2021). According to this, 6 universities such as Yeungnam University, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Chonbuk National University and Pusan National University were selected as 'Technological Education Hubs', and the 65 technological education and innovation centers will be reorganized focusing on these 6 hub universities. YU will play a leading role for innovating engineering education for a total of 10 universities such as Keimyung University, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Daegu University, Andong National University, Kyungil University (for the Daegu-Gyeongbuk regions), Kunsan National University, Korea National University of Transportation (for the Chungcheong regions), Gangneung-Wonju National University, Halla University (for the Gangwon regions), and Changwon National University (for the southeaster region). Thus, with the ultimate goal of innovating engineering education with the '4Cs' of Creativity, Convergence, Communication, and Culture, YU will focus on the following: ▲ Creative/Convergence technological education innovation programs ▲ Good engineer fostering programs and ▲ Hub for technological education and innovation center. As part of these efforts, it will host inter-disciplinary capstone design contests, creative problem-solving skills contests, and 'best local small & medium business' contests to spread creative/convergence technological education through good-hearted competition among the participating universities. In addition, it will also focus on fostering 'good engineers' with excellent character through 'backwoods science concerts', where they will visit elementary schools in remote areas that have relatively less opportunities to learn about science, '1 night/2 days with humanities', and engineering ethics workshops. Furthermore, it is planning to organize an technological education innovation council, hold international exchange with advanced technological education universities overseas, provide texts and materials to measure the basic academic of engineering students, and spread outstanding case studies and accomplishments of the certification of engineering education, in order to fulfill its functions as the hub for leading and spreading technological education innovation. Professor Song, Dong-joo (58, School of Mechanical Engineering), who was appointed as the director of the YU Center for Innovation of Engineering Education and the general supervisor of the Technological Education and Innovation Centers of the 10 participating universities for the next three years, said, "The goal of technological education innovation is to train highly-adaptable engineers that can be immediately stationed in industrial sites based on creative problem-solving skills, admirable character and knowledge of the humanities," and added with emphasis, "We will assertively respond to the demands of participating universities and the industries to become a global top technological education hub that leads innovation."
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YU receives attention from LG Siltron and LG Innotek Operating industry-academic scholarship programs linked to employment to procure high-quality human resources in the solar cell sector in advance [May 1, 2012] 2 graduate students of the YU School of Chemical Engineering selected as industry-academic scholarship students of LG Siltron, advising professor, and people from participating companies (Front row, left to right: Kong, Soon-hyun of LG Siltron, Jung, Ho-seob, Jung, Seong-woo, Jung, Jae-hak (professor)) For the past several years, Yeungnam University (president Lee, Hyo-soo) has been receiving calls from companies in the solar cell sector. Companies are keeping an eye on YU to procure high-quality human resources in the solar cell sector who completed education and research programs in the green energy sector, such as the Green Energy Education & Research Center, Solar Cell Materials and Process R&D Advanced Track, and the Major of Green Energy. Jung, Seong-woo (26, 2nd term in master's degree program, advising professor Ahn, Kwang-Soon) and Jung, Ho-seob (28, 3rd term in master's degree program, advising professor Kim, Woo-kyoung), who are enrolled in the YU Graduate School of Chemical Engineering were recently selected as an industry-academic scholarship student for LG Siltron. They will receive full scholarships for graduate school and also land a job immediately after graduating. What is in common between the two is that they are both completing the Solar Cell Materials and Process R&D Advanced Track (hereinafter called 'Advanced Track') that has been offered by the YU Center for Solar Cell Materials and Process R&D Workforce Cultivation Program. This Advanced Track, in which a total sum of 3.55 billion won, including 2.3 billion won in national funding will be invested in until 2015 with the goal of fostering high-quality human resources customized to the solar cell sector, is an industry-academic collaboration education and research course operated by 14 professors in the YU School of Chemical Engineering and Department of Physics, as well as 20 companies including LG Innotek, LG Siltron, STX Solar, OCI Materials, and Bexel. Currently, 52 undergraduate and graduate school students are taking this track. Through concrete and clear goals, such as offering employment-linked education via special agreements between the university and companies, making it mandatory to select degree theses topics for corporate projects, visible achievements are being made in a short period of time. For one example, 3 students who completed their undergraduate education and completed the Advanced Track have already landed a job with LG Siltron, and Jung, Seong-woo and Jung, Sung-ho, who are selected as industry-academic scholarship students, have also confirmed employment as a researcher in the company's R&D center as soon as they complete their graduate school program. Earlier in February of last year, Kim, Woo-nam (27), Kim, Sung-cheol (27), and Lee, Jung-eun (24), who were in the second term of their master's degree program at the YU Graduate School of Chemical Engineering, and Park, Joon-seong (27), who was in his first term of his master's degree program, were also selected as industry-academic scholarship students of LG Innotek, and have thus received scholarship and were guaranteed employment after their graduation. LG Siltron and LG Innotek, who have procured the green talents of YU on the best conditions, are the two major electronic parts subsidiary companies of the LG Group. In particular, LG Siltron is a manufacturer that specializes in wafers to be used in semiconductors, which are core parts for solar cells, and achieved sales of 1.1027 trillion won and operating profits of 147 billion won based on the international financial reporting standards (IFRS) last year. It is currently producing polished water, EPI wafer (Epitaxial wafer), and solar substrates. It is also accelerating growth through the enhancement of production yields and extending the 300mm wafer plant, and is showing rapid progress in the solar cell materials process sector as well. LG Innotek recorded sales of 4.1035 trillion won and 156.5 billion won in operating profits based on the IFRS last year. Recently, it has constructed a pilot line for the development and mass production of CIGS (copper, indium, gallium, selenium) thin film solar cells, and is aggressively investing solar cell R&D to develop into a global electronic parts company. In addition, the 'Major of Green Energy', which received its first batch of new students in 2010, also signed the special employment-linked agreements with LG subsidiaries such as LG Electronics, LG Display and LG Siltron, thus ensuring their employment if the graduating students desire employment there. On such love calls of conglomerates for green talents of YU, Professor Jung, Jae-hak (50, School of Chemical Engineering), the director of the YU Center for Solar Cell Materials and Process R&D Workforce Cultivation Program, stated, "Despite recent issues of students avoiding to enroll in graduate schools due to the difficulties of finding employment for highly educated persons, six graduate students received not only scholarships, but guarantees for employment. This makes us very happy." He also added, "This is the result of YU becoming renown nationwide by concentrating on education and research in green energy, and particularly solar cells." The company officials said, "Students who received industry-customized education in the solar cell sector at YU have sufficient expertise and outstanding adaptability so that they could be utilized on site as soon as they graduate. Another strength is that they have a special sense of mission on green energy development and research for solar cells." Meanwhile, YU won national projects in the green energy sector such as 'Center for Solar Cell Materials and Process R&D Workforce Cultivation Program' that fosters master's and PhDs in the solar cell materials processing field, 'Daegyeong Economic Belt Green Energy Education & Research Center' (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology), and 'Daegyeong Regional Innovation Center for Solar Cell&Module' (Ministry of Knowledge Economy). Through these projects, it has concentrated efforts on fostering expert personnel and R&D, and recently, it was also selected for LINC project (technology innovation type) to establish its position as a regional hub university.
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Agreement signed among the Korea Foundation for the Promotion of Private School, Gyeongbuk Province and 5 Universities in the Gyeongsan including YU Dormitory for 300 international students and General support center to be opened in September of next year [April 23, 2012] Nation's first Global Exchange Center will be built at YU through government-academic cooperation. At 11:30 on the 23rd, a signing ceremony was held for the establishment of the 'Gyeongbuk Global Exchange Center' (hereinafter called 'Center') at the first conference room of the Provincial Office of Gyeongsangbuk-do. At the ceremony, the Korea Foundation for the Promotion of Private School (KFPPS, director Lee, Won-hee), Gyeongsangbuk-do (governor Kim, Kwan-yong), Gyeongsan City (Vice-mayor Jung, Byung-yoon representing the mayor), and five universities of the Gyeongsan such as Yeungnam University (president Lee, Hyo-soo), Kyungil University (president Chung, Hyun-tae), Catholic University of Daegu (president So, Byeong-uk), Daegu Haany University (president Lee, Joon-koo), and Daeshin University (president Jeon, Jae-gyu) agreed on administrative and financial support and cooperation for the establishment and operation of the Center in which a total of 7 billion won, including 2.5 billion on national funding and provincial funding of 500 million won, will be invested in. In particular, the special purpose company (SPC) will be established for the operation of the Center. For this, the KFPPS and Yeungnam Academy agreed to pay 50% each of the total 20 million won SPC capital, and after giving the operation rights to SPC for 20 years, it will be returned to Yeungnam Academy. The Center, which will begin construction later this year is scheduled to open its five story building on a lot 1,983㎡ in area for a total floor space of 7,000㎡ at the south end (112 Gyeyang-dong) of the YU Gyeongsan Campus Hyangtogwan(Dorm) in September of next year. In the 300 capacity dormitory, 200 international students at YU, and 25 international students each from Kyungil University, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu Haany University, and Daeshin University will reside here. It will also offer cafeterias, cultural exchange facilities, conference rooms and support centers in order to improve the residential conditions of foreign students in the region. On this, Lee, Hyo-soo, president of YU, said, "In the global area, there is no meaning in differentiating the capitol area and provinces. From a pan-global perspective, it is just one region. Therefore, it is necessary for each region to procure channels to communicate directly with the world." He added, "The Gyeongbuk Global Exchange Center that will open its doors at YU will act as such channel later next year." Meanwhile, the 5 universities of the Gyeongsan region, including YU, that signed this agreement has a combined 2,780 international students as of April 2012. YU accounts for over 44% of the total with 1,230 international students.
