Selected Speeches
Dr. Leeserved as the President of SNU from 2006 to 2010. These are selected speeches during his presidency.
Welcoming Remarks for 2nd SNU Fair for Foreign Ambassadors (Nov. 3, 2008)
HIT: 11234
Welcoming Remarks
2nd SNU Fair for Foreign Ambassadors
Dr. Jang-Moo Lee
President, Seoul National University
November 3, 2008
Respected ambassadors and diplomats from nineteen countries, international student representatives, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I would like to extend to all of you my warmest welcome to Seoul National University at a time when the campus is filled with beautiful red and golden leaves. We are truly grateful and honored to have your presence here with us. It is with great pleasure that we hold the 2nd SNU Fair for Foreign Ambassadors and diplomats today.
As we know, Seoul National University has played a key role as the leader of higher education in Korea. It ranked 50th in the 2008 world university ranking by the Times Higher Education Supplement, 16th in the 2008 professional ranking of world universities by the Ecole des Mines de Paris in producing global Fortune 500 CEOs, and 24th in the number of SCI publications in 2008. As such, Seoul National University has been internationally recognized for its scientific and academic competence and excellence.
We are very proud that our graduates and members have played central roles, as leaders in all sectors of society, in spearheading the democratization of Korea, prompting the nation?s growth into the 13th largest economy around the world, and producing global leaders such as the UN Secretary-General Ki-Moon Ban.
In the knowledge-based society of today, in this era of unlimited competition, Seoul National University has implemented many educational reforms to develop into a world-class institution of higher learning. One of the key tasks has been the internationalization of Seoul National University, which has been realized through the active recruitment of talented students and distinguished faculty members from around the world, the expansion of lectures in foreign languages, and active academic exchange with our peers abroad. Recently, Dr. Paul Crutzen, the 1995 Nobel laureate in chemistry, joined our University as a distinguished professor. In addition, we are expanding joint lectures and degree programs with renowned universities overseas.
For universities to grow, it is imperative to secure outstanding individuals equipped with creativity and imagination. 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 to international prosperity and peace. Through academic and cultural exchange across national boundaries with talented peers from all around the globe, students at Seoul National University will grow as more competitive individuals and realize the value of diversity, thus becoming open-minded leaders.
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 hindrance or difficulty in Korea. Even after their graduation, we plan 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 global citizenship here at Seoul National University.
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.
2nd SNU Fair for Foreign Ambassadors
Dr. Jang-Moo Lee
President, Seoul National University
November 3, 2008
Respected ambassadors and diplomats from nineteen countries, international student representatives, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I would like to extend to all of you my warmest welcome to Seoul National University at a time when the campus is filled with beautiful red and golden leaves. We are truly grateful and honored to have your presence here with us. It is with great pleasure that we hold the 2nd SNU Fair for Foreign Ambassadors and diplomats today.
As we know, Seoul National University has played a key role as the leader of higher education in Korea. It ranked 50th in the 2008 world university ranking by the Times Higher Education Supplement, 16th in the 2008 professional ranking of world universities by the Ecole des Mines de Paris in producing global Fortune 500 CEOs, and 24th in the number of SCI publications in 2008. As such, Seoul National University has been internationally recognized for its scientific and academic competence and excellence.
We are very proud that our graduates and members have played central roles, as leaders in all sectors of society, in spearheading the democratization of Korea, prompting the nation?s growth into the 13th largest economy around the world, and producing global leaders such as the UN Secretary-General Ki-Moon Ban.
In the knowledge-based society of today, in this era of unlimited competition, Seoul National University has implemented many educational reforms to develop into a world-class institution of higher learning. One of the key tasks has been the internationalization of Seoul National University, which has been realized through the active recruitment of talented students and distinguished faculty members from around the world, the expansion of lectures in foreign languages, and active academic exchange with our peers abroad. Recently, Dr. Paul Crutzen, the 1995 Nobel laureate in chemistry, joined our University as a distinguished professor. In addition, we are expanding joint lectures and degree programs with renowned universities overseas.
For universities to grow, it is imperative to secure outstanding individuals equipped with creativity and imagination. 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 to international prosperity and peace. Through academic and cultural exchange across national boundaries with talented peers from all around the globe, students at Seoul National University will grow as more competitive individuals and realize the value of diversity, thus becoming open-minded leaders.
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 hindrance or difficulty in Korea. Even after their graduation, we plan 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 global citizenship here at Seoul National University.
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.