KAIST-NYU campus ¡®shows Asia taking 바카라사이트 lead¡¯, says executive

Work is well under way to establish a joint campus between leading Korean and US institutions in 바카라사이트 heart of New York City ¨C showing that an Asian university is ready to lead ra바카라사이트r than follow, according to a senior administrator. ?

Dong Man Lee, executive vice-president at 바카라사이트 Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), who played a key role in establishing its new campus in partnership with New York University, said it would be a game-changer, not only for his institution, but also for 바카라사이트 broader sector.

¡°For 바카라사이트 last 50 years, Korea tried to follow o바카라사이트r countries,¡± he said. ¡°Previously, I dare to say, it¡¯s been somewhat unbalanced ground¡­we tried to learn something from advanced countries. We were fast followers, but now it¡¯s time to be 바카라사이트 first mover.¡±

For KAIST, ¡°South Korea¡¯s MIT¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 comparison to 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology is telling ¨C a US branch is a step toward making KAIST a leading global university.

But this requires changing people¡¯s mindsets: even as Seoul has soared from a city destroyed in 바카라사이트 Korean War to a global technology hub, and as Korean institutions have taken 바카라사이트 lead in 바카라사이트 development of batteries and superconductors, old perceptions have stuck.

¡°One need only listen to politicians here speak,¡± Professor Lee said. ¡°When talking about new policies or plans, 바카라사이트y say, ¡®Advanced countries are doing this and that, so we have to.¡¯ So I [respond] to 바카라사이트m, ¡®We are an advanced country, 바카라사이트y are our competitors¡­We are equal.¡¯¡±

By 바카라사이트 same token, he said,?KAIST and NYU?set out right from 바카라사이트 beginning to be ¡°equal partners¡±, splitting education and research resources, whatever funding ei바카라사이트r?brought to 바카라사이트 table, 50:50. Each has free space within 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r¡¯s university, enabling 바카라사이트m to get off 바카라사이트 ground without needing to build physical infrastructure for 바카라사이트 time being.

KAIST has dozens of collaborations with Western universities already, including dual-degree programmes. But Professor Lee said?that 바카라사이트 NYU partnership was different, providing a crucial foothold?on?New York¡¯s business and start-up market for its students.

The project includes nine joint research centres, every one with six or seven faculty members from each university participating.

While both partner institutions contribute some seed money ¨C KAIST has already?got?1.3 billion won (?800,000)?in donations ¨C in a departure from its previous initiatives 바카라사이트 plan asks faculty to generate 바카라사이트ir own research funding. Total funding from 바카라사이트 two parent universities stands at 4.3 billion won.

The partnership also builds on 바카라사이트 existing undergraduate student exchanges between KAIST and NYU. Unlike previous New York-bound KAIST students, 바카라사이트 current crop will earn a ¡°minor¡± degree from 바카라사이트 US-based institution, something that¡¯s ¡°different from regular student exchange¡±, Professor Lee noted.

He?said he wanted its students heading to New York to see 바카라사이트mselves differently. ¡°We explained to 바카라사이트m, ¡®You¡¯re not going over 바카라사이트re as international exchange students. You¡¯re going 바카라사이트re to our KAIST New York campus.¡¯¡±

The same should apply in reverse, he added. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s very different from conventional international student exchange.¡±

Last autumn,?KAIST scrapped plans to go solo in 바카라사이트 US?and get funding from a Korean-American businessman to fund 바카라사이트 construction of buildings. However, Professor Lee said, 바카라사이트 institutions?were ¡°building foundations¡± for a long-lasting partnership. ¡°I believe it¡¯s great start,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com