Fourth QS-APPLE Conference 2008 to be Held at Yonsei The 4th QS-APPLE Conference 2008 will be held at Yonsei University for five days starting on July 8. From around the world, people working in the field of education will visit Yonsei to exchange information and build networks. APPLE, which stands for Asia Pacific Professional Leaders in Education, is an international educators’ conference established by the QS Trust based in the U.K. It serves as the host bringing together bodies of educators, such as the NAFSA of the U.S. and the EAIE of Europe. Exhibits and discussion regarding higher education are held during the conference to exchange information and strengthen networks. The APPLE Conference is especially significant in that it is the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, which had recently become the most active and quickly developing part of the world in the international education market. The phenomenon of breaking down national boundaries and competing on a global level is an unstoppable trend in education as in every other field. Consequently, international consortiums and networks are becoming increasingly important in the region. The reasons for Yonsei’s being chosen as the host of the APPLE Conference have to do primarily with Yonsei’s prominent position as the first university to make globalization efforts among Korean universities, as well as its long history of excellence through which the university has received international recognition as a top academic institution. Yonsei is especially known for its achievements and expertise in Chemistry, Physics, and Astronomy, which rank high internationally and has produced highly -qualified individuals who lead the development of the cutting-edge industries of IT and BT. Yonsei’s “Global 5-5-10 Project” has also garnered much attention due to its strongly motivated policy of concentrated research support, and is being benchmarked by many universities. The conference will certainly serve as a chance for Yonsei to secure a place among the global leaders in education, aiding its effort to rank among the international top 10 group. Yonsei University applied for the hosting of this conference in 2006 and was selected by unanimous vote of the conference committee. Given the fact that this event is the first international education event to be held in Korea with international educators and government officials from all around the world participating, it is bound to be a great productive event in which important agendas will be shared between university presidents, HR professionals, and other concerned parties. Event Summary -Title: 4th QS-APPLE Conference 2008 -Date: July 8 – 12, 2008 -Venue: Engineering Research Park and Engineering Hall 3 Auditorium -Expected Number of Participants: 700-800 Expected Effects - Enhancement of global presence of Yonsei in The Times, Newsweek, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University rankings. - Upgraded exchange activity for the future of global education among international education personnel. - Strengthening Korea’s status as the center of the East Asian Belt (Korea, Japan, and China) - Proposing policies for reinforcing higher education in Korea in order to become a top international force in global education.