Request for transfer by Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister, Achievement of “Department of Saemaul Economic Development and dual-degree system”

Studying for two years after incorporation into Department of Saemaul International Development of YU in 2024 … Conferment of dual-degree

2+2 Dual-degree system is expected to be expanded in various academic areas

[June 30, 2022]

<Opening ceremony of Korean Language Education & Culture Center in Western University of Cambodia>

(From the left, Chairman Te Laurent, President CHOI Oe-chool, and President Kieng Rotana)

The seed of Saemaul Educational & Cultural Korean Wave sowed by YU (President CHOI Oe-chool) started to bear fruits.

 Recently, President CHOI Oe-chool of YU visited Cambodia on a business trip with a schedule of five days and four nights. As the exchange & cooperation project implemented by YU with Cambodia showed visible performance, he intended to confirm the performance and check successive work.

 President CHOI visited high-level Cambodian high-level officials such as Cambodia Deputy Prime Minister, chairmen and presidents of main universities, and chairman of international NGO, etc. and had discussions on development of Cambodia through international exchange with YU during as short as four days of schedule.

 On the 13th of last month, President CHOI visited Western University of Cambodia as his first schedule.He attended opening ceremonies of Department of Saemaul Economic Development of Western University and Korean Language Education & Culture Center. In 2022, YU concluded an agreement on execution of “Saemaul Studies” and “Dual-degree system” with Western University and, in May 2022, the first 36 freshmen entered Department of Saemaul Economic Development of Western University. They will study in Western University for two years and then be incorporated into Department of Saemaul International Development of YU and study Saemaul in Korea for two years. This is the first case that a native subject created in Korea generates Saemaul scholars in both countries through a dual-degree system.

 In the historical ceremony, President Kieng Rotana of Western University said, “It will be a great help for development of Western University to learn about Korean culture & language as well as Saemaul Studies through exchange with YU, a prestigious private university of Korea. Department of Saemaul Economic Development and Korean Language Education & Culture Center will play an important role for globalization of Western University. I hope that graduates from Department of Saemaul Economic Development will have the opportunities to study abroad in Graduate School of YU by the dual-degree system.”

 President CHOI Oe-chool commented, “The role of Korea as a developed country is important. Especially, YU will play a role in international society to cultivate talents for contribution in human society in the aspect of education. The educational & research performances in Saemaul international development area achieved by YU are accepted by international society. I am convinced that 2+2 dual-degree system of YU and Western University will be a global success model in education area. I hope that 2+2 dual-degree system will be expanded in various competitive areas.”

<Interview with President CHOI Oe-chool by the local national broadcasting company of Cambodia>

The interest of the local media was hot. The local national broadcasting company of Cambodia broadcasted the opening ceremonies of Department of Saemaul Economic Development of Western University and Korean Language Education & Culture Center including the interview with President CHOI Oe-chool to whole Cambodia.

 In fact, the person who sowed the seed for rooting Saemaul Studies in Cambodia was President CHOI. In May 2019, President CHOI, who was a professor of Department of Saemaul International Development of YU at that time, visited Cambodia on the request by Cambodian government and the university and had discussions on opening of Department of Saemaul International Development. President CHOI was a consultant for Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia and was requested by Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly of Cambodia to transfer Saemaul Studies. At that time, President CHOI had discussions on opening of the department and execution of dual-degree system with Western University and the fruit was made. This is the reason why President CHOI visited Cambodia this time.

 Chairman Te Laurent of Western University said, “The purpose of foundation of Western University is cultivation of talents for national development. This is connected with the educational ideology of YU. Particularly, Korea has become an advanced country today with economic revival through cultivation of talents and Saemaul Undong in spite of past war and economic difficulty. The experiences in Korean development and expert of Saemaul Undong are essentially required to Cambodia. In this respect, opening of Department of Saemaul Economic Development of Western University is the most meaningful and important event since foundation of the university. Talents from Department of Saemaul Economic Development will lead settlement of Korean development model in Cambodia.

<President CHOI Oe-chool had a meeting with the students of Department of Saemaul Economic Development of Western University.>

YU intends to expand exchange with main Cambodian universities with the start with Western University.President CHOI met President CHET Chealy of Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) of Cambodia on the recommendations by Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly and Minister of Education and Youth and had a discussion on Department of Saemaul Economic Development. Presidents of both universities had an inclusive discussion on opening and operation of a faculty course focused in Saemaul Studies and cooperation in a graduate school course and in relation to exchange in human and material infrastructure, etc. with each college, 

 This performance of YU is the result of leading endeavors which have been made for construction of educational & research infrastructure and global network in Saemaul international development area. YU has been continuing researches and education in relation to Saemaul Undong for more than 40 years and has been accumulating expert in global talent cultivation and education with operation of Saemaul master’s degree course for cultivation of Saemaul leaders of developing countries for the first time in Korea after establishment of Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (PSPS) in 2011. Until now, 808 students have been admitted from 71 countries around the world, and 682 of them have received a master’s degree in Saemaul Studies. They are working as major policy makers, international development experts, and Saemaul Undong leaders in public agencies and international development NGO, etc. as well as high-level public officials in central ministries of each country. Those who are looking forward to opening of Department of Saemaul Economic Development in Western University in Cambodia are local alumni of YU PSPS in Cambodia. They heard that President CHOI would visit Cambodia on business trip and gathered and had a meeting with President CHOI. The alumni are expected to voluntarily organize a local alumnus association and play their roles of Saemaul-related projects to be implemented in Cambodia.