18th President, Kim Yoon-soo Leads CNU
By Gim Ye-seul, Guest Reporter
August 20, 2008 was the inaugural ceremony of Kim Yoon-soo, the 18th President of Chonnam National University (CNU). It was held in the University Auditorium. President Kim addressed that the newly formed Administration will endeavor to make CNU into a global and dynamic institution and embrace regional society.
Through this address, he indicated three problems at CNU. He said CNU has had regional boundaries and limitations, sat back its fame as a primary institution in its region and destroyed traditional society’s faith. For improving problem solving strategies, he stressed that he would not show its solutions but pave the way for the development of CNU through establishing some principles. First of all, the Administration will change its vertical organization into a more horizontal one and promote active communication between the members of education, research and service communities to become one of leading universities in the world.
Furthermore, he emphasized that by providing public service, CNU ought to make a commitment to its surrounding community and strive to constantly give hope and expectations to the residents of the local society. He added that he would provide active support for professors’ research in order to enhance the quality of educational programs and cultivate students as sources of global talent. He requested that students should think about how to study actively to strengthen their competitiveness.
He started his duty as the President through reorganizing the University Administration. He plans to create a Division of Financial Affairs which will integrate and manage finance of the university to avoid wasting the tight budget, and separate the Division of External Cooperation from the Office of Planning and Cooperation to reinforce efforts to bring international students to campus and give more weight to out-bound students rather than in-bound students. The reorganization of the Administration will be undertaken after being approved by the CNU Faculty Council.
The Best Content,
'May 18, Democracy and Human Rights'
By Lee Min-young, Tribune Reporter
Among the 55 on-line courses operated by national universities last semester CNU’s self-developed course, the May 18, Democracy and Human Rights received the Best Contents Award from Korea Virtual Campus. CNU’s Virtual Campus has operated this course as part of its regular curriculum. It was produced by Choi Young-kwan (Professor, Department of Political Science & International Relations) and Park Goo-yong (Professor, Department of Philosophy) and supported by the Education Development Research Institute. Chang Min-seock (Junior, Faculty of Business Administration), who took the course last semester said, "Even though this course was shorter than general ones, it was easier to understand because it provided lots of image data and writing on the blackboard during the lecture." CNU stands high in esteem in that it not only makes CNU-ians, but also other university students learn about the spirit of the May 18 Uprising by offering the on-line course.
ISCCC for Marginalized Groups Opened
By, Lee Min-young, Tribune Reporter
Incorporated Association International Science & Culture Collaboration Center (ISCCC) at CNU opened on August 29. It was established to supplement the Gwangju and Jeonnam Institute for Supporting Women in Science and Technology that has operated various programs for women. The women have educational achievements equal to and higher those of college of science and engineering graduates, such as science education programs and helping students to find a job. The ISCCC will make an effort to contribute to cultural education for multicultural families, foreign students in Gwangju and even juveniles in developing countries. It will also hold international conferences and revitalize international academic exchange in the area of science. Park Haeng-soon (Professor, College of Pharmacy), President of the ISCCC, said, " I want to forge a relationship with multicultural families or foreign students and assist them adapt themselves to their new environment. I think science would be good way because it is restricted less by language. Whoever needs our help can contact us anytime."
New Building of
Yeosu Campus University Administration
By Lee Min-young, Tribune Reporter
The University Administration at Yeosu campus moved to a newly-constructing building on August 25th. The building has six stories above ground and one below. As the former Administration was located in the library building, it was not enough space to conveniently carry out administrative tasks. Now it has the necessary and sufficient facilities including Conference room where CNU’s president in Gwangju and vice president in Yeosu can have a long-distance video conference and executive meeting. “We are glad to work in good work environment thanks to the new building of the Administration at Yeosu Campus. In addition, students are also pleased that they will be study in comfortable surroundings after remodeling the library building.” said Park Jong-bok, a staff member of the Division of Administrative Support.
