FEU and SNUAC’s courtesy visit at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Manila
(L-R) Dr. Cho Joonhwa, Prof. Kim Taekyoon, H.E. Amb. Lee Sanghwa, IAS Associate Dean Francis Esteban, Department Chair Agnes Silva, URC Director Aisa Arlos, URC Coordinator Errol Garcia
The Institute of Arts and Sciences-Department of International Studies (IS) hosted Seoul National University Asia Center (SNUAC)’s Asia-Africa Center represented by Prof. Kim Taekyoon, Asia-Africa Center Director and Professor of International Development at SNU Graduate School of International Studies, together with Dr. Cho Joonhwa, Asia-Africa Center’s Research Fellow.
The two-day engagement revolved around the value of Sustainable Development Goads (SDGs) and Environment, Social, Governance (ESG) in research, research focus of SNUAC, and a special lecture for undergraduate students of Far Eastern University. The engagement started with a courtesy visit at the Korean Embassy in the Philippines with H.E. Amb. Lee Sang-hwa and First Secretary Cho Seonghyeon. It was discussed in the visit how various cooperation between FEU and the Korean Embassy can further colloborate in terms of special lectures, student and faculy mobility, and exchange programs, among others.
The focus on sustainability practices was discussed by Prof. Kim, highlighting the value of SDGs and ESG in the process of academic research. The workshop was attended by various faculty members from the different institutes of the university. Some of the shared insights during the workshop included providing sustainable housing solutions that are gender-sensitive for Indigenous Peoples in transit as well as providing better training opportunities using sustainable technology for Institute of Health Sciences and Nursing students.
In the same manner, Dr. Cho Joonhwa shared SNUAC’s best practices, research agenda and innovations on which FEU can benchmark.
Attended by deans, associate deans, department chairs, and others from different institutes, an exchange of query was facilitated by both Dr. Cho and Prof. Kim, sparking discussions on identifying possible academic collaborations and enhancing research opportunities in FEU’s academic landscape.
As a closing activity, Prof. Kim engaged students with a special lecture on Sustainability, Resilience, and Development. The special lecture is part of the Department of International Studies’ Development Lecture Series wherein it aims to create active discussion on international and domestic concerns on pressing issues such as poverty, human rights, the environment, disaster risk management, economic welfare, gender, and public health, and the SDGs, amongst others.
Prof. Kim focused on various SDG approaches and the global challenges it faces, following a panel discussion with Dr. Cho, Agnes, and IS student Jillian Capariño.
The engagement of SNUAC in FEU is one of the activities in prepartion for the Memorandum of Agreement to be finalized next year.
