President Ojat Darojat of Universitas Terbuka requested YU to teach Saemaul Undong

Impressions on the cases of YU’s Saemaul academic systemization and talent cultivation

Discussions on educational programs, including establishment of Department of Saemaul and support of remote education

[May 03, 2024]

<Universitas Terbuka (UT) Delegation of Indonesia visited YU and signed an academic exchange agreement>

In the morning of April 30, Universitas Terbuka (UT) Delegation of Indonesia visited YU (President CHOI Oe-chool). The purpose was to have discussions on the ways to cooperate between the two universities, including cooperation in Saemaul Studies education with Universitas Terbuka, an academic exchange agreement (MOU) between the two universities, and an exchange agreement (MOA) between the colleges of administration.

Universitas Terbuka is the only four-year university in Indonesia which has received international accreditation in the field of remote education and has approximately 550,000 students and 2.5 million alumni. Through remote education, we intend to overcome limitations in access to education based on geography, time, and social structure and provide all Indonesians with educational opportunities.

 Officials from both universities, including President Ojat Darojat of Universitas Terbuka, Dean Meirani Harsasi of College of Administration, President CHOI Oe-chool of YU, Vice-President HEO Chang-deok for International Education, and Vice-President PARK Seung-woo for Education and Innovation, attended the event.

<From the left, President Ojat Darojat and President CHOI Oe-chool>

After listening to President CHOI's explanation of the characteristics of YU, President Ojat Darojat said, "I was impressed by the explanation of YU's founding spirit, social role, educational philosophy, and Saemaul Studies education, etc. The goal is to enable people to get quality education and the vision of eradicating poverty through such education are in the same line with the values pursued by Universitas Terbuka and with Saemaul Studies and talent cultivation promoted by YU. I look forward to learning the value of Saemaul development based on cooperation with YU.”

 In response, President CHOI Oe-chool of YU said, “I hope that today’s meeting with Universitas Terbuka will serve as an opportunity for exchanges between Korea and Indonesia and between the two universities. If the Department of Saemaul Economic Development is opened at Universitas Terbuka, various kinds of cooperation will be made in education in Indonesia, including transfer of educational know-how of YU that is currently conducting remote Saemaul education for overseas countries. YU systematized Korea’s development experience and Saemaul Undong into Saemaul Studies and will continue to do the best to cultivate talents to contribute in common development of the global community.”

 At the subsequent business agreement ceremony with Universitas Terbuka (UT) of Indonesia, it was agreed to pool capabilities for mutual development of universities, including ▲ Exchange of professors, researchers, and students, ▲ Exchange of academic information and materials, and ▲ Academic exchange in research, education, and seminars, etc.

 Meanwhile, this is not the first exchange between YU and Indonesia. YU is already collaborating with Saemaul Research Institute of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) of Indonesia and has also provided IPDN (Institute Governance of Home Affairs), which is also called Indonesian Civil Service Academy, with Saemaul education. In September last year, the delegation of National Assembly, including the President Bambang Soesatyo of Indonesian Senate and the President of Universitas Perwira Purbalingga visited YU to share YU's Saemaul education know-how in order to cultivate the talents that are the key for national development.