A delegation of Merrimack College faculty and senior leaders participated in a higher education innovation summit in South Korea at the end of December, presenting on the College’s successes in research and student experience.
The International Symposium on Disruptive Innovation in Higher Education Institutions, hosted by Hanbat National University in Daejeon, South Korea, brought together nearly 100 faculty and administrators from higher education institutions from across the world including the U.S., Taiwan, Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan. Merrimack College was one of just two U.S. schools in attendance.
“This was a great opportunity and a coming out of sorts for Merrimack College on the international stage,” said Darren Conine, senior vice provost for enrollment management and student success. “I am extremely proud of our delegation.”
Conine was joined by April Bowling, vice president of research, Tahir Hameed, assistant professor in the Girard School of Business, School of Engineering and Computational Sciences professors Marc Veletzos, Rickey Caldwell and Christopher Stuetzle, and Simona Sharoni, dean of international initiatives and global engagement.
The symposium featured keynote presentations, including one by Bowling on diversifying the research and development landscape in higher education to increase faculty opportunities, generate a greater diversity of ideas and provide students more opportunities to engage with the industries they plan to pursue.
There were also faculty presentations which Bowling said helped to identify mutual partnership opportunities between Merrimack College and Hanbat National University. The two institutions last year agreed to a partnership that will provide opportunities to collaborate across faculty research, student enrollment and academics.
Founded in 1927, Hanbat National University specializes in industrial and academic cooperation in Korea, according to its website. It has six colleges and more than 10,000 students.
“This symposium was an important step forward as Merrimack College seeks to build various diverse research partnerships,” said Bowling. “This visit set the groundwork for multiple avenues of engagement and collaboration particularly in engineering, computational sciences, robotics, AI, the life sciences, chemistry and international finance. We hope to see this partnership grow over time.”
Bowling said Merrimack was appreciative of their hosts for the symposium: Hanbat National University President Oh Yong-Jun and Vice President in Charge of International Cooperation and Public Policy Kwon Ki-Seok.
