KAIST

KAIST, Korea"s premier science and technology research university, will hold the 1st International Presidential Forum on Global Research Universities at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul on Sept. 8, 2008. Presidents of research universities in all regions of the world have been invited to the conference aimed primarily at identifying common issues and opportunities in strengthening globalization of higher education and research.

Participants in the forum will exchange views and ideas on how to build and utilize global research network to promote the sharing of expertise and facilities, conduct joint researches and effectively implement dual degree and roaming professorship programs.

KAIST President Dr. Nam P. Suh said of the purpose of the conference: "Research universities have become global enterprises. Collaborations that were once primarily between individual researchers are now increasingly occurring at institutional and international levels. Similarly, educating students which used to be the responsibility of a single university has now become a multi-institutional undertaking, involving many universities in different countries.

"Now leading research universities in many countries depend on the continuous supply of outstanding graduate students form the "feeder" schools of developing nations. There are concerns that the current system may not be serving the interest and need of some institutions, especially those in developing nations. This should be examined and understood to devise international mechanisms that can accentuate the positive aspects of globalization.

"Through this forum, we hope to forge an international network of universities that will strengthen the effort of individual universities and create alliances for research and education that can become a new paradigm for global collaboration."

Keynote presentations will be made on the following five major subjects:
-- Roaming Professorship
-- Dual Degree Program
-- Sharing Facilities and Expertise
-- Joint Research, and
-- Globalization through Interfacing with Existing Networking

Leaders of the world"s major education and research institutions have been asked to lead panel discussions with their rich experiences in globalization programs.

Following the conference in Seoul, participants are invited to come to the KAIST campus in Daejeon, about 150 kilometers from Seoul, where a symposium on EEWS (environment, energy, water and sustainability) will be held to examine the progress in interdisciplinary research activities in these vital problems facing the mankind and look for a new direction in international collaboration.

Co-sponsors of the International Presidential Forum include the Dong-A Ilbo, a major national daily, and the Dong-A Science Magazine.

Message from KAIST President Suh:

Research universities have become global enterprises. Collaborations that were once primarily between individual researchers are now increasingly occurring at institutional and international levels. Similarly, educating students used to be the responsibility of a single university but has now become a multiinstitutional undertaking, involving many universities in different countries.

These changes are a consequence of globalization and integration of the world’s economy. Temporal andgeographical separations are no longer barriers to the collective generation and transfer of knowledge andenlightened education. It is also a natural response to the demand for educated workforce who can functionin any country.

Current globalization was preceded by the migration of graduate students who were seeking to fulfill theiraspirations for better education at the world’s leading universities. This international movement of studentshas benefited not only students but research universities as well. Now leading research universities in manycountries depend on the continuous supply of outstanding graduate students from the “feeder” schools ofdeveloping nations.

There are some concerns that the current system may not be serving the interest and need of some institutions,especially those in developing nations. This should be examined and understood to devise institutionalmechanisms that can accentuate the positive aspects of globalization.

The purpose of the International Forum of Research University Presidents, which will be held on Sept. 8 inSeoul, Korea, is to identify common issues and opportunities for research universities that further strengthenglobalization of higher education and research. Participants will hear diverse views and ideas and will learnfrom those who have been active in global education and research. Participants also will examine dualdegree programs that are already in place among many universities and the effective implementation of aglobal research network.

Through this process, we hope to forge an international network of universities that will strengthen the effortof individual universities and create alliances for research and education that can become a new paradigm forglobal collaboration.

Looking forward to meeting you in Seoul,

Prof. Nam P. Suh
President
KAIST

Tentative Program
(Theme: Global Science and Technology Networking)

Sept. 7, 2008, Sunday
17:00 - 18:30 Registration
Sept. 8, 2008, Monday
09:00 - 09:10 Opening Ceremony
09:10 - 09:40 I. Keynote Presentation: Roaming Professorship
09:40 - 10:20 Panel Presentations:
- Improving the competitiveness of global university education
- Sharing differences in culture and environment for sustainable education for the future generation
- Promoting science and engineering education among secondary students
- Preserving and utilizing expert knowledge for better education
10:20 - 10:40 Open Discussion
10:40 - 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:30 II. Keynote Presentation: Dual Degree Program
11:30 - 12:10 Panel Presentations:
- Benefits of dual degree program
- The role of dual degree program easing brain drain
- Global branch campus or dual degree program?
- Raising international IQs of scientists and engineers for global enterprises
12:10 - 12:30 Open Discussion
12:30 - 14:00 Luncheon
14:00 - 14:30 III. Keynote Presentation: Sharing Facilities and Expertise
14:30 - 15:10 Panel presentations:
- How to spin off international joint ventures from the sharing of research facilities and expertise
- Economic benefits of sharing research facilities and expertise
- How to communicate science and technology agenda to political leaders
- Easing the gap between the developed and less developed regions through science and technology cooperation
15:10 - 15:30 Open Discussion
15:30 - 16:00 IV. Keynote Presentation: Joint Research
16:00 - 16:40 Panel Presentations:
- Benefits of international joint project
- Ways to formulate the international joint projects
- Sharing intellectual property rights
- Global economic and social contributions of international joint project cooperation
16:40 - 17:00 Open Discussion
17:00 - 17:30 Coffee Break
17:30 - 18:00 V. Keynote Presentation: Globalization through Interfacing with Existing Networking
18:00 - 18:40 Panel Presentations:
- Establishing global science and technology networking
- The role of global science and technology networking for the higher education of the next century
- Regionalized or globalized science and technology networking
- Connecting regional science and technology networks for the global networking
18:40 - 19:00 Open Discussion
19:00 - 19:15 Closing Remarks by President Suh
19:15 - 21:30 Banquet

Venue: Westin Chosun Hotel, Seoul