Selected Speeches
Dr. Leeserved as the President of SNU from 2006 to 2010. These are selected speeches during his presidency.
Scholarship and Cultural Fair for Foreign Students at SNU (Nov. 5, 2007)
HIT: 11571
Welcoming Remarks
Scholarship and Cultural Fair for Foreign Students at SNU
For Foreign Ambassadors
Dr. Jang-Moo Lee
President, Seoul National University
November 5, 2007
Respected ambassadors and diplomats from twenty-one countries, international student representatives, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I would like to extend my warmest welcome all of you to Seoul National University, at a time when the campus is at its most beautiful with red and golden leaves. We are truly grateful and honored to have your presence here with us. It is with great pleasure indeed that we hold the Scholarship and Cultural Fair of Foreign Students at SNU for Foreign Ambassadors today.
Established 61 years ago as the first national university, Seoul National University has amply played its role as the indisputable leader of higher education in Korea. It has been reputed as a research university representative of Asia and is now endeavoring to develop into the world-class university. We are very proud that our graduates and members have played a key role, as leaders in all sectors of society, in spearheading democratization of Korea and in prompting its growth into the 11th largest economy around the globe.
In the knowledge-based society in this era of unlimited competition, Seoul National University has implemented many educational reforms to develop into a world-class institution of higher learning. Upon my inauguration as the President last year, I presented the multidisciplinary approaches to knowledge and the opening up of the university as the basic direction of our growth and have taken measures accordingly. One of the key tasks has been the internationalization of Seoul National University, which has been realized through the active recruitment of talented international students, the expansion of lectures in foreign languages, and active academic exchange with our peers abroad. We are expanding joint lectures and degree programs with renowned universities overseas, proceeding with a plan to build an international campus for the training of global intellectuals and experts, and planning to invite some 50 distinguished faculty members from around the world next year.
For universities to grow, it is imperative that they secure outstanding individuals equipped with creativity and imagination. At this moment, there are over 2,000 students from some 60 nations studying at Seoul National University and in the last decade, over 1,000 students from 69 countries have obtained degrees. By accepting even more students from around the world and educating them as global leaders, we will not only ensure and maintain our academic excellence but also enable our students to contribute toward international prosperity and peace. Through academic and cultural exchange across national boundaries with the outstanding students from all around the globe, the students at Seoul National University will grow as more competitive individuals and realize the value of diversity, thus becoming open-minded to the world.
As the President of Seoul National University, I will do my utmost to improve educational conditions, to expand scholarships, and to ensure comfortable living conditions and various cultural opportunities for our international students so that they may realize their dreams without any hinderance or difficulty in Korea. Even after graduation, we are planning to support our students to form networks of international experts through alumni associations and class reunions. Respected ambassadors and diplomats, please send us as many talented students from your countries as possible. We will do our utmost to ensure that they will grow as true global leaders capable of embracing diverse cultures by providing them with state-of-the-art education and ample opportunities to learn Korean culture and Asian values at here, Seoul National University, which is the educational and research hub of Asia.
Once again, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the respected ambassadors and diplomats and distinguished guests who have shared their valuable time to take part in the Fair. We sincerely hope to see more talented international students on our campus as a fruit of today’s event.
Thank you very much.
Scholarship and Cultural Fair for Foreign Students at SNU
For Foreign Ambassadors
Dr. Jang-Moo Lee
President, Seoul National University
November 5, 2007
Respected ambassadors and diplomats from twenty-one countries, international student representatives, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I would like to extend my warmest welcome all of you to Seoul National University, at a time when the campus is at its most beautiful with red and golden leaves. We are truly grateful and honored to have your presence here with us. It is with great pleasure indeed that we hold the Scholarship and Cultural Fair of Foreign Students at SNU for Foreign Ambassadors today.
Established 61 years ago as the first national university, Seoul National University has amply played its role as the indisputable leader of higher education in Korea. It has been reputed as a research university representative of Asia and is now endeavoring to develop into the world-class university. We are very proud that our graduates and members have played a key role, as leaders in all sectors of society, in spearheading democratization of Korea and in prompting its growth into the 11th largest economy around the globe.
In the knowledge-based society in this era of unlimited competition, Seoul National University has implemented many educational reforms to develop into a world-class institution of higher learning. Upon my inauguration as the President last year, I presented the multidisciplinary approaches to knowledge and the opening up of the university as the basic direction of our growth and have taken measures accordingly. One of the key tasks has been the internationalization of Seoul National University, which has been realized through the active recruitment of talented international students, the expansion of lectures in foreign languages, and active academic exchange with our peers abroad. We are expanding joint lectures and degree programs with renowned universities overseas, proceeding with a plan to build an international campus for the training of global intellectuals and experts, and planning to invite some 50 distinguished faculty members from around the world next year.
For universities to grow, it is imperative that they secure outstanding individuals equipped with creativity and imagination. At this moment, there are over 2,000 students from some 60 nations studying at Seoul National University and in the last decade, over 1,000 students from 69 countries have obtained degrees. By accepting even more students from around the world and educating them as global leaders, we will not only ensure and maintain our academic excellence but also enable our students to contribute toward international prosperity and peace. Through academic and cultural exchange across national boundaries with the outstanding students from all around the globe, the students at Seoul National University will grow as more competitive individuals and realize the value of diversity, thus becoming open-minded to the world.
As the President of Seoul National University, I will do my utmost to improve educational conditions, to expand scholarships, and to ensure comfortable living conditions and various cultural opportunities for our international students so that they may realize their dreams without any hinderance or difficulty in Korea. Even after graduation, we are planning to support our students to form networks of international experts through alumni associations and class reunions. Respected ambassadors and diplomats, please send us as many talented students from your countries as possible. We will do our utmost to ensure that they will grow as true global leaders capable of embracing diverse cultures by providing them with state-of-the-art education and ample opportunities to learn Korean culture and Asian values at here, Seoul National University, which is the educational and research hub of Asia.
Once again, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the respected ambassadors and diplomats and distinguished guests who have shared their valuable time to take part in the Fair. We sincerely hope to see more talented international students on our campus as a fruit of today’s event.
Thank you very much.