Oxford, Korea U. exchange MOU

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Oxford, Korea U. exchange MOU

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John Hood of England’s University of Oxford, left, and Lee Ki-su, chancellor of Korea University, shake on their memorandum of understanding. [YONHAP]

John Hood, the CEO-turned-vice-chancellor of England’s University of Oxford, visited Korea University April 10 to sign a memorandum of understanding to increase student exchange between the two private universities.
“Korean students are the third largest group internationally studying outside their country,” Hood said at a press briefing at Korea University. “It is true that a significant proportion of Korean students go to the United States. I want to encourage all the most talented students to look very carefully and closely at what Oxford can offer.”
Currently, there are 95 Korean students at Oxford and the majority are graduate students studying for doctoral degrees, Hood said. The 56-year-old New Zealander is the first foreign vice-chancellor of Oxford since it opened 900 years ago. Korea University awarded Hood an honorary doctoral degree in management yesterday for his leadership in the university’s financial and administrative reform. Hood was in Korea to express gratitude to the Korea Foundation for providing donations to Oxford’s Korean studies program that was on the verge of closure last year due to a lack of funds.
“I am also here to talk with the foundation and its supporters about how to continue to develop the Korean studies program,” Hood said. Currently, Oxford’s Korean studies program provides classes in Korean history, language and linguistics. The school hopes to offer classes in Korean literature, Korean economics and political relations with financial support from local sponsors.
Hood earned his Ph.D. in engineering at Auckland University in New Zealand and his master’s in management at Oxford. He had worked as a businessman for 19 years, and as the CEO of Fletcher Challenge Paper, a New Zealand-based company. In 1999 he was named vice-chancellor of Auckland University and in 2004 was invited to lead Oxford because of his successes at Auckland.
Regarding his background of being a CEO-turned vice-chancellor, Hood said, “having been a leader in a complex organization” helped him lead educational institutions.


By Kim Soe-jung Staff Reporter [soejung@joongang.co.kr]
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