Speeches

2013 New Year’s Message 2013.01.04: January 4, 2013

Respected Yonseians,

The bright morning light of the New Year is shining over the world. Each time I face the sun on New Year’s Day, I feel a renewed sense of faith that stems from my resolution to create a better future.

Looking back, 2012 proved to be an overwhelmingly joyous and inspiring year for me. Upon my inauguration as the 17th President of Yonsei University, I proposed the new vision of the “Third Founding” to remake the history of Yonsei. For Yonsei to strive towards “excellence with dignity” and to take a leap forward as a world-class university, it was essential to respond with a new paradigm for higher education.

In the midst of an ever-challenging environment, the initial process of making a change for the better was not without its obstacles. We fully demonstrated the Yonsei spirit to mark the successful inaugural year of the “Third Founding,” however. The year of 2012 unfolded the opportunity to make new history, bringing the Yonsei community together in harmony and cooperation to overcome internal conflict surrounding the new building construction, as well as concern over the future of the International Campus in Songdo.

First of all, Yonsei strived to go “Back to Basics” to ensure high-quality education by fully implementing the Residential College (RC) system in 2013 and reforming the course retake system. In addition, we prepared the foundations for campus infrastructure development by launching the Baekyang-ro reconstruction project and construction plans that will create more teaching and research space. Moreover, in order successfully to carry out major policies, we established special committees focusing on strategic initiatives, international affairs, public relations and academic-industry cooperation, and strived to reform and sustain the overall university governance system.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude for the commitment you have all shown throughout the past year, as our collective efforts advanced Yonsei’s standing in various rankings. As a result of our outstanding performance in the areas of internationalization, research, reputation and innovation, Yonsei was able to elevate its status and bring us one step closer to fulfilling the vision of becoming Asia’s World University.

The new year of 2013 will bring forth dynamic changes, both internally and externally. Political changes and power transfers have already begun in major countries, and Korea will also witness rapid changes in society and among universities upon the inauguration of the new government. The social ideal of balance and distribution has already changed higher education policies, and the fundamental values and mission of the university to achieve academic and educational excellence are also being challenged.

We are faced with the difficult task of maintaining our intrinsic character of autonomy and excellence, while also respecting the government’s policy on higher education that emphasizes standardized regulations and universal equality. Even in the midst of changes and challenges, we must remember our calling to lead social development and reforms by keeping Yonsei’s founding spirit and historical teachings close to heart. The time has come for Yonsei to reaffirm its identity in response to external pressure and standardized policymaking.

For this very purpose, Yonsei University must revamp its teaching and research system to exceed global standards while overcoming the financial pressure caused by the government’s tuition policy. Based on autonomy, we shall strive to achieve academic excellence and fulfill our social responsibilities as a world-class university. Since Yonsei’s founding, Yonsei has always accomplished its duty as a historical pioneer of change and reform despite challenges. Inheriting such a tradition is an important part of attaining our vision for the “Third Founding”.

Historic Launch of the Residential College at the International Campus

The year 2013 will be an important year for us to fulfill our goals one at a time. This April, we will be opening the 314,049m² state-of-the-art facilities at the Songdo Campus to announce Yonsei’s new takeoff. The grand scale of the new facilities, which amount to 60% of the Sinchon Campus in size, will become a valuable asset for Yonsei’s globalization. The buildings will be put into immediate use to implement the RC system for all first-year students. Our new history of a prestigious undergraduate education system will take place in Incheon, the soil upon which Dr. Horace Underwood first set foot 128 years ago when he arrived in Chosun.

Through the RC system, which integrates living and learning and provides international, holistic and creative teaching, Yonsei will foster global talent with communication and convergence skills, as well as creativity, cultural diversity and leadership. The RC system will become yet another leading model of education for Korean universities. In 2013, the International Campus will transform into the promised land of Yonsei’s dreams and visions, and a cornerstone for Yonsei’s ascent as Asia’s World University.

Baekyang-ro Reconstruction Project and

Campus Infrastructure Advancement

2013 will also be a year of reform for the infrastructure at Yonsei’s Sinchon campus. First, a project will be launched to reconstruct Baekyang-ro, the place of memories and romance for our 300,000 Yonsei alumni. This historical project will transform Yonsei’s symbol, Baekyang-ro, into an eco-friendly green space. Moreover, the long-delayed construction and extension work for the buildings of the College of Engineering and School of Business will finally begin. Residence buildings for the College of Medicine and College of Law, namely Chejung Dormitory and Beobhyeon Dormitory, will also undergo reconstruction. At the Yonsei University Health System, the Avison Research Unit will be completed soon, while construction of the Cancer Center will proceed according to plan. In Wonju campus, a trauma center and an outpatient care center will be under construction.

I am pleased to add that we have secured enough funds to expand the research space for science and engineering by constructing 13,000m² of new facilities. The extreme shortage of space in science and engineering departments will see a dramatic improvement this year.

The reconstruction of Baekyang-ro and Chejung Dormitory represents more than just advancement in facilities infrastructure. The project will enable convergence between the main campus and the health system, since the longstanding and inflexible customs still remain even after the merger into one Yonsei. By sharing space and facilities and maximizing synergy between the two institutions, the project will dynamically improve Yonsei as a whole. Of course, inconveniences will be experienced throughout the course of the projects but please remain patient, as the harvest will be plentiful once these constructions are complete.

Full-fledged Merger of Campuses

Drastic improvements will also be implemented in education and research. Early this year, we will establish a convergence research center to engage all campuses and a research map will be completed to vitalize interdisciplinary research. We will strengthen our research capacities by responding to the needs and potential of various convergence research initiatives and actively engaging in convergence research projects. The committee for convergence development between campuses has already begun activities to present policies to stimulate the merger between all campuses in academic affairs, colleges and research.

Yonsei is the only university in Korea to operate a multi-campus system. The capability of Yonsei will double once we establish a competitive operating system based on the spirit of autonomy and integration for the Sinchon, Wonju and Songdo campuses and the Yonsei University Health System. Underwood International College (UIC) will further consolidate its foundations to enable us to take a leap toward becoming a leading global university by establishing various interdisciplinary majors at the International Campus in Songdo. In particular, UIC will combine the holistic RC program with convergence education to cultivate global talents who are experts in their respective fields and also have exceptional intellectual, moral, and physical capabilities.

Enhancing University Autonomy and Social Responsibility

Universities in Korea are now facing a “perfect storm” of several risks, such as intensified global competition, a decreased school age population and attenuated institutional autonomy. Yonsei shall make its greatest effort to affirm its historical identity. In particular, we will establish a sound financial base to support world-class competitiveness and further enhance the model of an autonomous private university striving for academic excellence. Thankfully, Songdo was designated as a special international education zone last year. The area has also been selected to accommodate the secretariat of the Green Climate Fund (GFC), thus creating a supportive environment for us to develop the autonomy and internationalization of Yonsei University.

Moreover, as a leading university, Yonsei shall actively assume its public and social responsibilities. Over the past year, Yonsei reformed the scholarship policy to benefit students from disadvantaged groups. For the first time in Korea, Yonsei implemented a scholarship program that covers full tuition and a living stipend for recipients of public assistance and low-income families. In addition, we launched local community-based social responsibility programs, including the “Dream Start” program at Sinchon, relief and donation programs at the Yonsei University Health System, “Murray Camp” at Wonju and “Couple Project” at Songdo. Yonsei has been enabling students to experience community, servant leadership, and cultural diversity, whilst fulfilling our own social duties.

In the New Year, Yonsei’s social responsibility programs will continue to expand in more diverse areas, including admissions and scholarship policies, talent donation, social education and employment training. We will open a new screening process for the Hanmaum program that will select students from low-income families based solely on their potential and tenaciousness, regardless of their college entrance exam scores. I believe that universities must establish a system that can admit more students from disadvantaged groups to enable personal growth and development and thus lead dynamic change to create an advanced society. Yonsei will continue to exercise servant leadership by actively participating and communicating as a member of society.

Creating a Happy Campus Together

I introduced the slogan of “Yonsei, where we make history” as I took office as president. This phrase is not to be used exclusively during my term only, though. It is an expression of Yonsei’s boundless possibilities, potential and raison d’être. Yonsei is now facing new competition on a global level. The time has come to concentrate all our capabilities on qualitative, not quantitative growth, to leap toward becoming an internationally prestigious university.

My beloved Yonseians,

I look forward to the new year of 2013, where we will create a happy campus by accomplishing these missions together. Yonsei’s future will shine brightly when our colleagues are satisfied and pursue common values with confidence. Instead of focusing on short-term accomplishments and evaluations, I propose that each and every individual openly share and fulfill common goals to create a happy campus. We can make a new history together when we join our minds and hearts whole-heartedly.

I sincerely hope that the New Year will bring us together as a true family that is understanding, considerate and thankful. May the grace and guidance of God be with you throughout the year.

Thank you.

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