On Thursday April 4th, Professor Andrew Hamilton, vice chancellor of the University of Oxford, received an honorary PhD from Yonsei University at a ceremony held at Chang Ki Won International Conference Hall in the Yonsei-Samsung Library. Professor Paul Tonks, associate dean of Yonsei’s Office of International Affairs and an Oxford alumus, presided over the ceremony. In addition to Yonsei President Kap-young Jeong and distinguished Yonsei faculty and administrators, British ambassador to the Republic of Korea Scott Wightman and Director of the British Council Roland Davies were also in attendance. During his acceptance speech, entitled “Broad Horizons: How Universities can Survive and Thrive in an Interconnected World,” Professor Hamilton discussed the importance of globalization in higher education, a subject of great import to Yonsei’s drive to become a world-class university. “The most important benefit of globalization to higher education,” said Professor Hamilton, “is not the chance for universities to do something fundamentally new or different, but the chance to do better the things we have always done, the things that are core to educating you and the other leaders of tomorrow in classrooms and lecture theatres around the world.” Professor Hamilton believes that a university serves three core functions: research (the generation of new knowledge), education (to teach and attract outstanding students), and impact (making a contribution to society beyond the classroom). Each of these core functions, noted Professor Hamilton, “can be fulfilled much more effectively in a university with broad and deep international engagement.” The Vice Chancellor made special mention of Yonsei’s own efforts to bring globalization to the campus and to enhance Yonsei’s interconnectedness with the world. He specifically mentioned the SAURON team, which brings together astronomers from both Oxford and Yonsei to study the evolution of galaxies, and Yonsei’s all-English liberal arts program, Underwood International College (UIC). “[S]peaking from Oxford’s perspective of experience in the area, I know that this method of teaching can vastly enhance a student’s experience of University,” said Professor Hamilton of UIC’s residential college program. However, although he advocated strongly for an internationalized student body, taking advantage of opportunities to work and study abroad, promoting cross-cultural literacy, and enhancing global links to conduct outstanding research and provide outstanding education, Professor Hamilton also cautioned against the challenges posed by globalization. In particular, he warned that “while international links are a powerful tool to strengthen a university, their single-minded pursuit can weaken it if as university leaders we shirk the less-glamorous but central job of cultivating excellence in research and education.” Professor Hamilton concluded his address by offering students advice about deciding to go abroad. “Think for yourself,” he advised. “Do not feel bound to make the same choice of country or institution that your friends or siblings or predecessors have made. The important thing is to find the best fit for you - for who you are, for what you want to study, and for what you want to do.”