- 건국대학교

	Konkuk University Strengthens Partnerships in Europe
	관리자		1609		2016.11.17

During November 5-12, 2016, a Konkuk University (KU) delegation led by President Sang-Gi Min visited Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Promoting Student Exchange and Joint Research with University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien
<img style="margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;" alt="" src="ArticleFile.do?id=11678061" /> On November 9, the delegation met with President Fritz Schmöllebec of University of Applied Sciences (UAS) Technikum Wien to discuss matters pertaining to increasing student exchange and conducting joint research.
Dr. Sandra Allmayer, Head of Center for International Relations at the university had invited President Min when she visited him at KU in September. To President Schmöllebec, President Min explained in detail the Konkuk University Institute of Technology (KIT) that is scheduled to be established next year as part of the PRIME project. President Min hoped that the English-track curriculum at KIT would lead to more opportunities to exchange students and cooperate in research. 
<img style="margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;" alt="" src="ArticleFile.do?id=11678062" /> The delegation also visited the UAS Technikum Wien’s Digital Factory, through which it partners with companies, such as ABB, Festo, Kuka, Siemens, SMC, and Wittman, in the areas of industrial automation and robotics. With the Digital Factory, the university was able to become the first to participate in the Industry 4.0 project initiated by the Austrian government. For the delegation, Professor Erich Markle of the Department of Advanced Engineering Technologies also delivered a presentation on how companies with different manufacturing process came together using an a 3-D printer to build prototypes. He also expressed interest in creating a joint degree program with KU.
Established in 1994, UAS Technikum Wein currently has 13 undergraduate programs and 17 master’s programs. In 2015, it ranked first and fifth in engineering-centered programs and research, respectively, among Austrian universities. Since KU and UAS Technikum Wein entered into a partnership agreement in 2008, 44 Konkuk students and 14 UAS Technikum Wein students participated in exchange programs. The two universities were also selected for the ASEM-DUO Fellowship Programme, which promote exchanges between European and Asian ASEM member countries. As a result, exchange students receive approximately €4,000 in scholarships per semester. During the meeting, the universities also agreed to apply for the 2017-2018 ERASMUS+ program.
Visiting President Min’s Alma Mater 
<img style="margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;" alt="" src="ArticleFile.do?id=11678063" /> The delegation then visited the University of Hohenheim, from which President Min received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. The university offers 11 undergraduate, 25 masters’, and 6 doctorate programs and has more than 90,000 students enrolled. With large-scale research facilities, the university puts a strong emphasis on integrating the research capacity of its Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, and Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, and most students receive offers of employment prior to graduation.
In welcoming the delegation, Vice President of Research Jochen Weiss explained that the University of Hohenheim was established in 1818 in response to a widespread famine in Europe. At the time Stuttgart was the least developed region in Germany, and a local aristocrat donated his assets with the goal of promoting regional development through education and research in agriculture. As such, the university is “the oldest university in Stuttgart and traditionally known for agricultural and natural sciences.”
The University of Hohenheim was a popular among Konkuk graduates to study abroad in the early 1980s and Konkuk’s College of Agriculture and College of Animal Husbandry entered into partnership agreements with the university in 1982. However, exchange between two universities have been limited, and at the moment, the University of Hohenheim does not have active exchanges with universities in Korea, with the exception of conducting research with Seoul National University. <img style="margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;" alt="" src="ArticleFile.do?id=11678064" /> The delegation toured research labs on food processing and dairy products to benchmark German universities’ education focusing on experiments and practical skills. Professor Manfred Huss, who leads the Dairy for Research and Training research lab, introduced his studies of dairy processing and discussed potential projects in partnership with Konkuk.
Benchmarking the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology <img style="margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;" alt="" src="ArticleFile.do?id=11678065" /> 
The delegation also visited the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany in light of opening the Konkuk Institute of Technology next year. Established in 1825 as Universität Karlsruhe, a polytechnical school, the institute was created through a merger with Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH in 2009. Today, it has more than 25,000 students and close to 6,000 researchers, and is a member of TU9, an alliance of leading institutes of technologies in the country.
In a meeting with the Konkuk delegation, faculty and staff at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology introduced its Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Business Club, and Hightech Incubator, and shared recent developments in technology transfer, cloud funding, and innovation. In partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the institute is also involved in joint research with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Nanjing University, and Soochow University.
The delegation toured many research facilities at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, including the Light Technology Institute which conducted joint research with the Next Generation Solar Cell Research Center led by Konkuk’s chemistry professor Chan Im in 2013. Professor Alexander Colsmann of the Center of Material Science and Energy introduced new technologies related to batteries using solar energy and suggested joint research with KU. According to the professor, Europe’s largest research center on energy is located at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The delegation then visited the Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal, where Professor Sungjun Bae of Konkuk’s Department of Environmental Engineering conducted research as a postdoctoral fellow. Professor Thorsten Schafer gave a tour of the facilities and talked about research related to disposal of nuclear waste in detail. The delegation also visited the Institute for Applied Materials – Material and Biomechanics where Professor Ruth Schwainger also expressed strong interest in joint research with Konkuk University.
Symposium on Living Labs and New Agreements with Dutch Universities 
<img style="margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;" alt="" src="ArticleFile.do?id=11678066" /> On November 10, the delegation attended a symposium co-hosted by Konkuk University and EP-Nuffice of the Netherlands to promote the Living Labs project, through which universities conduct research on social issues and propose solutions in partnership with government agencies and the private sector. Introduced to Dutch universities early on, the project facilitates practical training, which in turn increases employment and entrepreneurship of students.
In a symposium held in late September by KU and EP-Nuffic under the theme of ‘smart aging,’ participants discussed various ICT-based solutions to improve the quality of life of senior citizens. The symposium this time presented case studies that have applied a new paradigm of focusing on practical training and problem-solving skills, and participants from Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, and Windesheim University of Applied Sciences discussed how to facilitate Living Lab activities among universities through research funding from the Korean and Holland governments.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Arjan Koeslag, Living Lab’s Program Manager, mentioned that Konkuk University’s strong interest and research capacity led to the event. He was convinced of the success of the pilot project with Konkuk and hoped that Living Labs would expand to other Korean and Holland universities.
Dr. Dong-Eun Kim of Konkuk’s Office of Career Development and Placement gave a presentation on how the university could carry out Living Lab’s smart aging-related activities during the symposium. He said that the PRIME project implemented by the university aims to forge close ties with the industry and the focus is on innovation in higher education, especially in biotechnology and ICT, to encourage career development while taking into account potential demands.
Professor Monica Veeger of the Fontys University of Applied Sciences said that core capacities of creative entrepreneurs include trend analysis and developing lifestyle concepts as well as products and services. She announced that students from her university and the Windesheim University of Applied Sciences will visit Korea to investigate the environment for Living Labs in the country. Fontys University of Applied Sciences offers programs in business, communication, and lifestyle studies with an emphasis on practical training. During the symposium, Konkuk University also signed an agreement to exchange students with Fontys Academy for Creative Industries, which is part of the university.
Mr. Theo Hooghiemstra, Director of EP-Nuffic, said that the organization will hold a meeting with Dutch universities on December 14 to support Living Labs with Konkuk. He emphasized the importance of mutual cooperation and sharing research capacity and suggested that Konkuk University and EP-Nuffic work closely to receive research funding from both Korea and the Netherlands. In response, President Min thanked participants at the symposium and expressed that he hopes Konkuk could strengthen partnerships with the universities through Living Labs as well as exchange students and conduct joint research.
Meanwhile, Vice President of International Affairs MinKyoung Kim also visited the Hague University of Applied Science to discuss further collaboration. The university offers 42 undergraduate programs and 27 master’s program with more than 25,000 students. Since signing an agreement with the university in 2009, Konkuk has sent 44 exchange students. <img style="margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;" alt="" src="ArticleFile.do?id=11678067" /> Furthermore, the delegation had an opportunity to witness Living Labs in action. At a community center named De Enk in Assendorp, which is supported by the Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Professor Mieke Veerman said that continued interests and dedication by local university students was key to the Living Labs becoming a new paradigm for education. Students who will be visiting Korea at the end of November gave a presentation on their experience with the senior citizens in the local community.
During the trip, President Sang-Gi Min also signed agreements with President Henk Hagoort of Windesheim University of Applied Sciences and President H.J. Pijlman of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences to exchange students and conduct joint research.

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