Inaugural Address of the 21st President, Dong Ryeol SHIN
- 법학전문대학원
- Hit995
- 2019-03-06
Dear Sungkyun
Family,
Honorable Chairman
Jung Don SEO and former presidents of the university,
President of
Alumni association Yong Taek YUN and distinguished guests!
Today, I stand
solemnly as I am inaugurated as the 21st President of the glorious Sungkyunkwan
University. I am honored to be able to open a new era in our prestigious
university along with everyone seated here.
Sungkyunkwan
University is a national university with 621 years of glorious history and
shining tradition. The university has led the development of higher education
in Korea by challenging and innovating with the mind of sharing and
coexistence. Now as a ‘Global Leading University’, we will contribute towards
the prosperity and development of the humanity along with other prestigious
universities in the world.
Dear Sungkyun
Family!
Recently, the
environment in higher education has reached the turning point. New forms of
technology such as Artificial Intelligence, software, 5G and robotics are
calling for creative values as it aims for a hyper-connected society.
Universities are at the risk of extinction as they face fiscal and demographic
cliff.
But Sungkyunkwan
University has always turned crisis to opportunities. We have actively pushed
for change and innovation without self-contentment. Now we must create new
values in order to overcome crisis and change. It is time for us to gather our
wisdom and show courage to move on to the future.
Today, I would
like to suggest a new vision, “Becoming a Global Leading University that
achieves student success and future value”. The specific actions plans are:
First, we will put
‘Student Success’ as our core value.
Today, our
knowledge and technology has advanced explosively and the world has become
closer than ever. Now our paradigm on the higher education must change.
University should no longer be a medium for the simple transmission of
knowledge but a space for students to develop and manage their values for a
successful life in the future society.
From this
viewpoint, I propose to initiate an educational innovation centered on three
points for “Student Success”. The first point is ‘Less teaching, more
learning’. Second point is to expand ‘creative convergence education’. Lastly,
our university was the first to open a ‘Student Success Center’. We will
establish a solid system of student success support and create a campus
environment that embrace all kinds of students.
Second, we will focus on the ‘Social Impact’
that creates future value.
Our university
will now aim for a qualitative growth in order to rise as a world-renowned
university. We will take the responsibility to create future value and resolve
global issues as we are now a global university.
We will construct
a ‘Convergent R&E Cluster’ and activate convergent/compound research, which
transcends individual majors and campuses. By having a practical cooperation
between the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus, Natural Sciences Campus and
Samsung Medical Center, joint research among the school system will be
activated. Also, we will rise as a ‘Top Global 50 University’ by expanding
global researches using global networks of our researchers.
Third, we will rise as an entrepreneurial
university that leads the new industry.
The university
needs to be an active partner of the company, government and the world to
become a communicative and cooperative platform. We will aid our professors for
research accomplishments to expand technology transfer/commercialization and
contribute in creating added value for our society. We will invite global
companies and research institutes to our campus to achieve smooth
industrial-educational cooperation. Especially, we will create a new
cooperation model with the global company, Samsung.
Fourth, we will do our best to create
university community and campus culture.
For the university
to push ahead a sustainable development, it needs to become a community that
shares vision and objective. During my presidency, I will devote myself to
create campus culture and brand that symbolizes the spirit and traditions of
Sungkyunkwan University. I will try my best to create a brand that contains the
founding philosophy of 修己治人and ‘成均’(Sungkyun) in particular.
Dear Sungkyun
Family!
In order to
realize ‘Student Success’ and create ‘Future Value’, communication and
cooperation among its members are crucial. It is impossible to achieve school’s
vision without the communication and participation of members. I will open a
venue for professors, faculty, students and alumnus to share opinions for the
development of the university. I will offer different channels for
multi-directional interaction and communication. I will take the initiative to
create a single Sungkyunkwan community which values ‘us’ over ‘I’ and shares
the philosophy and value of the university.
There is a phrase
in the Analects which best represents my current feeling: “任重道遠”. It means that “the
responsibility is heavy but there is a long way to go”. But with everyone, I am
not fearful. I will write a new history along with fellow members of the
Sungkyunkwan community. Let’s dream big. I will lead the way.
Thank you.
2019. 01. 08
President of Sungkyunkwan University, Dong Ryeol
SHIN