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Jeon, Jin-hwa won the top prize at ‘2012 Seoul Modelist Contest’ The contest is the 'Nation's only' contest in the basic fashion pattern sector, and has a competition of 37 to 1, 3 separate tests over 3 months [October 24, 201] "After winning the bronze medal at the 2009 World Skills Competition my burden to do better grew because of both people around me and myself, but I took on this challenge as a fresh start. It was a great opportunity to think about what exactly are good clothes and that I should learn, experience, and strive more to create such better clothes." Jeon, Jin-hwa (24), a senior in the Department of Clothing and Fashion, won the highest award at the '2012 Seoul Modelist Contest'. She also won a 5 million won cash prize. Jeon, Jin-hwa of YU who won the highest award at the 2012 Seoul Modelist Contest 'Modelists' are experts who create patterns based on sketches made by designers reflecting the features of the materials and designs. Depending on the direction of the pattern that the modelist takes, the fit, style, and material costs of the clothes are determined, and thus, they play a pivotal role in clothing production. The Modelist Contest, which is held every year as part of Seoul City's efforts to foster next generation fashion industry leaders since 2001, is the nation's only contest for patterns in the basic fashions sector. This year, 262 took part in the contest, recording a high competition rate of 37 to 1. The contestants underwent the first stage in 'jacket pattern design', second stage in 'coat pattern design and fitting', and third stage in 'interviews' over a period of three months from August to October. In result, only the top seven were selected as 'Best Modelists'. Jeon came in second overall and first among students, winning the highest award. She said, "During the contest period, my heart rate doubled. Because I wanted to be judged only with my skills, I did not mention winning at other international contests in my application. I went all-in for this contest and I am happy to have such great results. I would like to especially thank Professor Park, Soon-jee who helped me both materially and spiritually, and also providing me with a studio and resources." She added, "I would like to become a skilled modelist who can make patterns regardless of the clothes given to me and eventually contribute in the globalization of the Korean clothing fashion industry." This award was especially meaningful for Jeon who dreams of becoming a modelist. This is because she was recognized for her talent by the ten pattern expert judges, made up of 2 designers and 8 current modelists. She has already won many awards such as the bronze medal at the 2009 World Skills Competition in the clothing skills sector, first place in the 2009 World Skills Competition preliminaries to represent Korea, gold medal in the 2009 Gyeongsangbuk-do Skills Competition 'dressmaking' sector, fourth place in the 2008 National Skills Competition of Korea, and the silver medal in the 2008 Local Skills Competition of Korea, but this award was even more significant. A spokesperson for the Korea Fashion Association that oversaw this contest said, "Miss Jeon, Jin-hwa has patterning skills that even takes into consideration the sewing, and that is why she especially stood out to veteran judges." The awards ceremony will be held at the Seoul Fashion Art Hall at 5pm on the 26th. Past winners will also attend the event, which will be a place of exchange with the hosting of clothing exhibits and special seminars.
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The Team studies acrylamide's induction of arteriosclerosis and aging effects for the first time in the world Female college student + Female high school student team are working on the project supported by WISET (Center for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology) [October 18, 2012] 'Marie Curie' Team (team leader Kim, Sung-min, front row, right) and Advising Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun (front low, center) became the first in the world to investigate the induction of arteriosclerosis and skin aging acceleration effects of acrylamide The 'Marie Curie' Team (Advising Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun), made up of female college students of YU and high school girls in a local high school, recently won the Poster Award at the 2012 academic conference of the Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul. The team was made up of 3 female college students including team leader Kim, Sung-min (24, 3rd term in Master's and PhD course) of the YU School of Biotechnology, Lim, So-mang (21, junior), and Jung, Hye-ji (20, sophomore), and 4 high school girls - Lee, Hyun-jung (16) and Hwang, Ah-reum (16) who are second year students at Sunhwa Girl's High School (Yeongcheon), and Park, So-yun (16) and Han, Hye-jung (16), who are first year students at Daegu Il Science High School (Gaksan-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu). In May, the 'Marie Curie' team was selected for the 'Research Support Project for Female College Student Team' by WISET (Center for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology) and began research on 'Observation of acrylamide's induction of arteriosclerosis and aging effects' receiving scholarships of 5 million won. 'Acrylamide' is a chemical substance used for leak stops and synthetic fiber adhesives. Recently consumption of this has grown rapidly due to the high content of carbohydrate food that are heated like fast food and french fries. It has been reported that when absorbed by the body through the respiratory system or the skin, it can cause speech disorders, peripheral neuritis and other nervous system related diseases, as well as genetic modification and cancer. However, no research has been conducted on its induction of arteriosclerosis and aging effects. Thus, the 'Marie Curie' team raised zebrafish at Professor Cho, Kyung-hyun's lab of the YU School of Biotechnology in acrylamide solvents of different concentrations and conducted tests to be the first in the world to study the effects that it has on causing arteriosclerosis and aging through dissection and analysis. For this, team members not only shared research information through the WISET online mentoring site, e-mail and SNS, but also met on the weekends or holidays twice a month during the semester, and every other week during vacation periods at the YU School of Biotechnology 'Biochemical Molecular Medical Lab' to conduct tests, check progress, and hold discussions. In result, the 'Marie Curie' team discovered that acrylamide causes lipoprotein to transform and accelerate arteriosclerosis, while promoting aging of skin fiber cells. In this conference, they presented a poster titled 'Observation of the induction of arteriosclerosis and aging by acrylamide using human cells and zebrafish models'. The results of this research are scheduled to be presented at The Gerontological Society of America Conference that will be held in San Diego in the US in November. On such achievements, Park, So-yun (16) a first year student of Daegu Il Science High School, said, "I dreamed of becoming a scientist. So I attended various science camps since middle school. While working on upgraded tests and research with my teammates in college and graduate school at the university lab for the past several months made me feel like I actually became a scientist." She added with a smile, "I am happy to hear that the results of the research will be presented in overseas conferences as well, and I am really excited with hopes that it might be published on prominent SCI-level international academic journals as well." Kim, Sung-min, who was the leader of the 'Marie Curie' team said, "Though there is still a lot of learning and research to do, I am very happy because it feels as though we have been recognized for our potential," while adding, "There should be many Korean female scientists who win the Nobel Award in the future. Our team will continue to work even harder so that we can partake in such honor." ※ WISET Research Support Project for Female College Student Team : The Project provides support for research of teams in which a female student in her master's or PhD course at a science and engineering graduate school in order to enhance their research capacity and leadership, and to foster outstanding research & development human resources in the science technology sector. Meanwhile, it aims at giving high school students the opportunity to experience science & engineering programs and college students the chance to participate in in-depth research in their major.
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For past 6 years, the team has shown outstanding performance, such as 164 SCI theses, 15 registered patents, 2 technology transfers. The Team developed anti-high blood pressure, anti-aging, and anti-cancer improved new drugs, and prepared for their commercialization. [October 17, 2012] YU (president Lee, Hyo-soo) received 'very good' rating for the overall evaluations of the 2nd phase 'Research-oriented University Fostering Project' (Brain Korea 21, hereinafter 'BK21') Recently, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology(MEST), and the National Research Foundation of Korea announced the results of analyzing and assessing the performance of the 500 project units (teams) of 65 universities nationwide that received support for the 2nd phase BK 21 project from 2006 to 2012. According to the results, the YU College of Pharmacy's 'Improved New Drug Development and Efficacy Evaluation Human Resource Fostering Team' (team leader Yong, Chul-soon, hereinafter 'Improved New Drug Team' received the highest rating. 4 professors such as Yong, Chul-soon and Kim, Jong-oh (improved new drug development) and Kim, Jung-ae and Park, Pil-hoon (efficacy evaluation) and 91 graduate school students (average 12 students per year) participated in YU's 'New Improved Drug Team' and published 164 SCI-level theses in the past 6 years. Basically, 27.3 SCI-level theses were published a year and 2.3 a month. In addition, the graduate school was specialized in order to foster and supply outstanding researchers customized to local companies. Thus, it was assessed to be a successful case that offered a systematic cornerstone and stable establishment of the research-oriented university fostering project by newly graduating 5 doctorates and 33 masters. The YU Improved New Drug Team displayed outstanding performance in the new technology development and technology transfer sector as well. For the past 6 years, it applied for 27 domestic patents and registered 15, while also transferring technologies for 2 improved new drugs through continuous industry-university cooperation and joint research with related businesses such as Dong-A Pharmaceutical and TG Biotech, thus having considerable effects in generating business. It has developed improved new medicines for anti-high blood pressure, anti-aging, and anti-cancer, and is currently in the process of commercializing them. On this, Professor Yong, Chul-soon (School of Pharmacy, 56), the leader of the Improved New Drug Team, stated, "The BK21 Project Assessment is an overall assessment of the performance for the past 6 years, and is meaningful because it is the last assessment for the BK21 that will end in February 2013." He added, "With the domestic pharmaceutical industry that was focused more on generic drugs being reorganized to be improved new drug-oriented, we will concentrate on fostering the best brains of universities so that it can become competitive in the global market as well." Meanwhile, the second phase BK21 Project supports graduate school students and up-and-coming researchers (post-doc, etc) in order to foster world-class research-oriented university and outstanding local graduate schools, and to foster high quality R&D personnel. The YU Improved New Drug Team is planning to participate in the Performance Exhibit hosted by the National Research Foundation of Korea at the Gwacheon National Science Museum on the 23rd and 24th to contribute to proliferation of the research results.
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YU attracts Japanese anti-cancer drug development venture company, ECI, and opens 'YU-ECI Research Center' on the 12th Advanced equipment worth 12 billion won such as the world's only 'TAXIScan' is installed at the center YU starts the development of US FDA approved '1st Korean anti-cancer drug' and artificial organs [October 12, 2012] Real-time photo by TAXIScan of white blood cells attacking germs (shows process of white blood cells (neutroph) attacking and destroying germs with the passage of time) YU (president Lee, Hyo-soo) has begun full-scale development of the US FDA approved 'first Korean anti-cancer drug' and artificial organs. The first step to this was the 'YU-ECI Research Center' opening ceremony held at the YU Center for Research Facilities at 3pm on the 12th. The core research team of the Japanese listed venture company ECI (Effector Cell Institute), which deals with stem cells, opened up in YU. This is basically an official declaration that it will not stop short in just basic research. YU-ECI Research Center will conduct clinical tests and pass the US FDA's approval procedures up to the stage of commercial sales in the global market. When this succeeds, the Korean medical industry centering on the 'YU-ECI Research Center' is expected to be equipped with sufficient competitive strength to enter the global bio industry market. The bio industry market is a 'blue ocean' that is expected to expand to 309 billion USD (343.2 trillion won) by 2015. For the success of this project, YU appointed the founder of ECI, who is also a world-renowned scholar in the BT sector, and an honorary professor of University of Tokyo Medical Science, Kanegasaki Shiro (74, photo) as a chair professor of the YU Department of Nano, Medical and Polymer Materials. Professor Kanegasaki is unrivaled in researching the development of next-generation anti-cancer and anti-inflammation drugs. After completing his post-doctorates course at Tufts University Medical School in the US, he worked as a visiting professor of the Max Planck Institute in Germany. In addition to his illustrious research background, he is still actively conducting research and published 152 papers in internationally prominent journals such as the top academic journals in immunology. In addition, he was awarded the Japanese Society for Bacteriology Award, Japanese Biochemical Society Award, and the International Society of Immunity Deficiency Award. Recently, he developed a comprehensive next-generation anti-cancer medicine using the human immune system, and is conducting clinical tests simultaneously in the US and Japan. The first clinical test is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012. Thus, there is a much higher possibility that the YU-ECI Research Center will successfully developed commercial new medicines within the next several years. It is expected that the new medicine will have an excellent effect in treating lung cancer, which is the 4th most frequent and 1st in death rate, as well as head and neck cancer, prostate cancer, uterine cancer, and breast cancer. The YU-ECI Research Center will also begin developing artificial organs such as blood vessels, skin, urinary bladder and liver. It is also planning to develop and launch various medical instruments needed for research, as well as medicine development for incurable diseases such as diabetes and dementia. For this, the YU Polymer Gel Cluster Center (director Han Sung-soo, Department of Nano, Medical and Polymer Materials) that conducted preliminary research for several years will collaborate with two core researchers who worked together with Professor Kanegasaki for 10 years. During this process, the advanced equipment worth over 12 billion won under the ownership of the YU-ECI Research Center is also expected to play a big role. 'TAXIScan', which was developed by Professor Kanegasaki, is a high-tech equipment that can monitor cell movement in real-time through special video treating processes. There is only one automated TAXIScan in the entire world. YU President Lee, Hyo-soo stated, "The capacities of YU School of Medicine and College of Pharmacy, both of which have long traditions, will combine with the advanced engineering technologies of BT and IT to open new horizons and convergence and integrative research." He added, "In the near future, new medicine developed by the YU-ECI Research Center will rewrite the history of conquering cancer."
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Professor Jang, Seong-ho 1st in the medical sector / Professor Park, Han-woo 2nd in the humanities and sociology sector [October 9, 2012] Professor Jang, Seong-ho (left) who won the King of Theses for the medical sector and Professor Park, Han-woo who won second place in the humanities and sociology sector in the 2012 Joongang-ilbo University Evaluations Professor Jang, Seong-ho (49) of the YU Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, won the 'King of Theses' award in the medical sector for the individual international theses performance evaluation of nation's professors. In an article on the 9th, Joongang-ilbo announced the results of evaluating the number of international theses published by individual professors for the first time this year in its 2012 University Evaluations. According to this, Professor Jang published 50 SCI-level theses last year, thus winning first place in the medical field. Professor Jang, who is a globally recognized scholar in the brain rehabilitation sector, said, "Research on brain motor system rehabilitation began worldwide in the 1990s, but it is still in its infancy," adding, "There are limitless potentials if students of science concentrate on researching this field." The YU's support is contributing greatly in Professor Jang's research. Director of the YU Office of Funded Research Jung, Jae-hak stated, "YU provides full support such as giving two research assistants every semester to professors with excellent research performance." During its evaluation of theses, Joongang-ilbo used 51,154 of 86,055 theses published in academic journals of the 'upper 60%' (OrnIF score of 2 or higher) among SCI-level international academic journals in 2011. The scores were calculated by multiplying the level of contribution in the paper by the individual professor and the influence index of each journal. Meanwhile, Professor Park, Han-woo (41) of the YU Department of Media and Communication was placed second in the humanities and sociology sector. Professor Park who is a famous expert on 'webometrics', which refers to the quantitative analysis of the web, published 12 SCI-level theses last years. This is about 7.5 times more than the average number of international theses (1.6) per professor of the 102 universities that were evaluated. Professor Park is achieving great results in research based on social network analysis via website contents and hyperlinks.
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YU ranks 19th in internationalization sector, as its diversification of international exchange stands out [October 9, 2012] YU (president Lee, Hyo-soo) was ranked 1st place for 3rd straight year among private universities outside of the Seoul area after topping the list in 2010 and 2011 during the 2012 Joongang-ilbo University Evaluations. The results were from summing up the scores in 4 sectors (300 points total) such as professor research (100 points), educational conditions (90 points), reputation and society advances (60 points), and internationalization (50 points) of 102 4-year universities (100 universities in previous year) across the nation. In the internationalization sector, YU was ranked 19th in the nation together with POSTECH. In 2010, it was ranked 27th, 22nd in 2011, and finally in the top 20 this year. This is a feat that is very difficult for a university located in a region outside of the Seoul area. This is the result of YU giving special attention and sparing no efforts for internationalization. The level of internationalization of YU grew considerably in the past 3 years. The number of overseas sister universities grew rapidly from 120 in 2009 to 220 as of September 2012. The number of international students studying in YU grew from 1,030 students from 18 countries to 1,212 students from 46 countries. The number of YU students being sent off to foreign schools grew as well. It was less than 700 in 2009, but after just 3 years, it exceeded 1,280. In September alone, 231 YU students were dispatched to 14 countries around the world where they will grow as global citizens. International exchange improved not only in quantity, but in diversity as well. For example, the 'YU-EU Center' that opened in March of last year with the support of the EU headquarters, as well as 'American Center' and 'China Research Center' act as windows for diverse international exchange. Recently, it became the first Korean university to install the 'Arab Cultural Center' within campus. In March of last year, it signed an exchange agreement with the Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission, and last month, it was selected by the National International Exchange Center for universities operating perliminary courses for Saudi Arabia's 'King Abdulla Scholarships' program. As of September 2012, there are a total of 12 international students from the Arab region made up of 11 Saudi Arabian students and one student from Tunisia. Including these students, there are a total of 95 Muslim students studying at YU. Fahad Faisal Ahmadi (23), a freshmen at the YU School of Mechanical Engineering, stated, "I am really thankful of YU for paying special attention to us," and added, "I hope it becomes a campus in which various religions and cultures coexist with mutual respect." Furthermore, YU became the first Korean university that made alumni associations among international students once they returned to their home countries after graduation, and is thus creating a new Hallyu. For example, in January, Vietnamese students who graduated from YU established the YU Vietnam Alumni Association in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and in May, Chinese graduates launched the YU China Alumni Association for the first time among Korean universities in Beijing, China. The YU Alumni Association is also scheduled to be created in Indonesia in the near future, so different ways of globalization are gaining attention. In result, the 'Global Campus 7-4-3' strategy pursued by YU is also expected to gain strength. YU is currently looking at 70 countries around the world, in which 4,000 students will be sent every year, while hosting 3,000 international students for both in-bound and out-bound globalization.
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She is in 3rd semester of Master's Degree in English Language and Literature, Selected as the Fulbright Grantee of the US. She will receive US government grants of 40,000 USD per year, and she will study in the US without paying anything. [September 27, 2012] A YU graduate school student was selected as a 'Fulbright Grantee', a very rare and coveted grant. Hwang, Young (23, 3rd semester of Master's Degree program), who is currently enrolled in the Graduate School of English Language and Literature and first entered the school in 2007, won the Fulbright Grant. She was recently selected for the US government scholarship program, which is world renowned, and will be studying in the US on a full grant. The Fulbright Grant program is the top scholarship program for Korean university students that is funded by the US Department of State and operated by the Korean-American Educational Commission. It offers round-trip airfare, as well as tuition, lodging expenses, allowances and insurance for 2 years, so it also has the highest competition. It is also famous for its strict screening criteria. It requires an official English proficiency test grade (TOFEL IBT 100 or IELTS 7 or higher), GPA (75% or higher out of 100%), essay or thesis related to major, three separate letters of recommendations that can verify the student's academic excellence, cover letter, a detailed study plan, etc. After checking the applications for about two months, those who are chosen preliminarily have to face an interview in English with ten different interviewers. It is especially difficult for students not in the Seoul area, and so most of the Fulbright Grantees selected during the past decade are from 'SKY' (Seoul National, Korea, and Yonsei) Universities. Only one student attending university not in the Seoul area was chosen for the grant. Despite these difficulties, Hwang, Young boldly listed her name on the list of grantees. She said, "It was possible because of the systematic instructions and full-hearted support of not only my advising professor, but all my professors." She added, "If you have a dream and continue to prepare for it, the opportunity will come and you will be able to seize that opportunity." In fact, while most graduate school students begin to prepare for their thesis in their 3rd or 4th semester, she began preparing for her thesis upon being admitted to the graduate school program and has also published a thesis as a co-author with her advising professor in the academic journal, 'The Phonology Morphology Circle of Korea'. Thus, she was a step ahead compared to other students in terms of research and this played a decisive role in her being selected as a Fulbright Grantee. Professor Shin, Seung-hoon (45, Department of English Language and Literature) who advised Hwang on her paper, said proudly, "I am very happy that such good results came to my student who showed no fear in taking on difficult assignments and worked hard to learn. Thanks to her I'm really happy these days." She is currently majoring in English at the YU graduate school and she says her dream is to teach 'English for communication'. She says she plans to earn her doctorates majoring in English phonology and morphology in the US and return to Korea and join in on English education in Korea. She said, "I am happy that I can concentrate on studying since I will not have to worry about money because the US government grant guarantees an annual 40,000 USD for 2 years." She added, "I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my professors who helped me grow so much when I only started with a vague interest in English, as well as the 'Yeungnam American Center' (director - Professor Lee, Hae-young, Department of Public Administration) who provided full administrative support from my application to my selection for this scholarship program. If this was possible for a person as imperfect as I am, then it will be possible for any other student as well. If there is something you want to do, I hope you take on the challenge and seize your opportunity."
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YU held '2nd National Amateur Archery Challenge for the Disabled' On the 22nd at the YU Archery Center, 300 amateur archery club members and students from 16 cities and provinces gather to compete [September 20, 2012] A day of unity between the disabled and non-disabled through the traditional martial art of archery will unfold at YU. YU (president Lee, Hyo-soo) will host the '2nd National Amateur Archery Challenge for the Disabled' at the YU Archery Center (Chunmajeong) at 9am on the 22nd. This year, about 300 amateur archery club members and students, both disabled and not disabled, from 16 cities and provinces will compete. Teams of interest are the Andong Youngmyung School, which won the team competition in the student section and the Incheon Namhojeong Team that won second place in the team competition of the adult section. Coach Bong, Pyeong-yeol, who is leading the Namhojeong Team that will compete in both the individual and the team competitions, said, "Korean traditional Archery was an actual force that was used to protect our nation against foreign invaders by our ancestors. I hope that more people will experience the joy of developing into a stronger person through Korean traditional archery." This competition is hosted by the Korea National Archery Association for the Disabled and the YU Department of Special Physical Education and is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Sports Association for the Disabled, and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation. It will be divided into the mental/physical disabled division and non-disabled division, while being grouped in individual and team tournaments for student section and the adult section. It will be open for viewing by the public as well. Professor Park, Ki-yong (60) of the YU Department of Special Physical Education, who prepared for last year and this year's competition, said, "I hope that here at this place that was the training grounds for Hwarang, an elite military organization of the Silla Dynasty, will be an opportunity for education in character in order to create a happy society for all without discriminating between the disabled and non-disabled, while experiencing the excellence of our culture through the folk martial art of Korean traditional archery." Meanwhile, the YU Department of Special Physical Education was selected for the 'Sports Instructor for the Disabled Fostering Project' hosted by the Korea Sports Association for the Disabled for two consecutive years. It is cultivating about 50 sports instructors for the disabled every year.
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YU embodies 'Glocal Initiative' where various religions and cultures coexist. The center is Selected as university that offers preliminary courses for the Saudi 'King Abdullah Scholarships' [September 18, 2012] The nation's first Arab Cultural Center was opened at YU on the 18th. (fourth from left is director of the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, Alayyar). YU (president Lee, Hyo-soo) installed the nation's first 'Arab Cultural Center'. On the afternoon of the 18th, the Arab Cultural Center was opened on B1 of the YU International Center to accelerate change of campus where various religions and cultures coexist. For the first time for a university in the region, YU signed an exchange agreement with the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (director Turki Fahad Alayyar) in March of last year to establish a bridgehead to enter the Middle Eastern region. In August, an MOU was signed for technical and vocational training with the Saudi Arabian Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, in its efforts to secure more active exchange with the Arab region. In result, the current number of Arabian students enrolled in YU is 12, with 11 being from Saudi Arabia and one from Tunisia. This is the most among local universities. They attended this event and happily welcomed the opening of the center. Fahad Faisal Al Ahmadi (23, freshman in School of Mechanical Engineering) from Saudi Arabia said, "I am really thankful to the university who payed such special attention to us." He added, "I hope that various cultural events will be held that can remove the erroneous preconceptions of the Arab world and to enjoy the Arabian history and culture." YU President Lee, Hyo-soo also stated in a speech, "There are over 1,300 international students from 42 different countries studying at YU, so YU is true 'Glocal Initiative' where various languages, cultures and religions coexist at the campus." He added, "I hope that the Arab Cultural Center will be one of the mainstays of the 'Glocal Initiative'." A special guest was present at the event as well. Director of the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, Turki Fahad Alayyar, who is in charge of the non-government exchange between Korea and Saudi Arabia also visited to congratulate the opening of this center. At this event, he stated, "I have never seen such a beautiful campus like YU's that gives such as comfortable feeling anywhere in the world," and added, "Since the Arab Cultural Center will first open in Korea at YU, I hope that exchange with Saudi Arabia will become more active using YU as a base." In early September, the National International Exchange Center selected YU and Kyunghee University for universities operating preliminary courses for the King Abdullah Scholarships. Only YU and Kyunghee University will be able to accept King Abdullah Scholarship students. 'King Abdullah Scholarships' are students who receive national funding according to the Saudi Arabia government's development plans of human resources. There are currently about 100,000 students studying in undergraduate and graduate schools in the world's top 200 universities listed in the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission's website. Since signing the educational exchange agreement between the Korean and Saudi Arabian government in March, 2007, about 140 students were sent to Korea, of which most studied in the Seoul area. However, with YU being selected as a university that offers preliminary courses for King Abdullah Scholarships, it is expected that the number of Arabian students will grow in this area as well. Meanwhile, starting in 2003 with an Egyptian student enrolling at the Graduate School of Mechanical Engineering, a total of 95 Muslim students are enrolled as of September 2012. In 2009, YU installed a separate space for prayer within the campus in order to focus on globalization while respecting religious diversity and cultural diversity. In addition, by attracting 'American Center', 'China Research Center', and 'YU-EU Center' supported by EU before installing 'Arab Cultural Center'. YU embodies 'Glocal Initiative' including Anglo-American World, the Arab world and Chinese world.
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Housing Environment track is selected for nation's longest period It is Supported by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, hosted by the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, and linked with company-customized education and employment [September 14, 2012] Students of the Department of Family and Housing Studies participated in projects of WithUs Design and the Daehan Design Center The Department of Family and Housing Studies (dean Seo, Ji-eun) was selected for the 'Contracted Operation for Department of Design' program, which is supported by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, for the fifth straight year. It made a new record of being selected the most consecutive times. The 'Contracted Operation for Department of Design' program is a program for companies and universities to make teams and provide company-customized education to seniors in design related majors so that companies can select and employ outstanding students as soon as they graduate. Thus, the Department of Family and Housing Studies (Housing Environment track) that will receive national funding of 11.29 million won will operate the industry-focused curriculum requested by WithUs Design and the Daehan Design Center, which are participating companies. Students who complete the course will receive 2 credits and outstanding students will be given the opportunity to give preferential treatment in gaining employment at the respective companies. In the past 4 years, 10 design corporations including KawaDesign Group and Dooin Architectural Design worked together with the Department of Family and Housing Studies. 34 students participated in this program as well. This year, 3 seniors each for a total of 6 will be sent to the participating companies and end their final semester of college working on actual projects. Dean of the Department of Family and Housing Studies Seo, Ji-eun (37), who is in charge of this year's project said, "Based on the performance over the past 4 years, we will operate a more sustainable program this year," and added, "In this age of high unemployment for college graduates, we have been selected for this project that guarantees full time employment for the fifth straight year. We will focus on fostering human resources in design who are 'General Specialists' who have a broad range of knowledge in various fields, while also specializing in specific fields as well." Meanwhile, the Housing Environment track of the YU Department of Family and Housing Studies will co-host the '2nd Children's Creative Space Design Contest' with the Daegu Interior Designers Association. It aims at letting children know the importance of design that integrates life art and sciences, while finding design talents who are creative and talented early and to foster them into next-generation designers. This contest is open to children from the ages of 5 to 10 and while the theme is on indoor and outdoor spaces for nature and humans, there is no restriction on how to express it. Applications are accepted until September 28, which can be downloaded from the Daegu Interior Designers Association's homepage (www.dgid.org) and sent by e-mail (dgid@dgid.org). The first place winner will be given the Superintendent Award of Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education and a cash prize of 500,000 won, while other prizes will also be given to all award winners. The winning piece will be displayed at the Daegu Literature House (formerly Commercial Bank) from October 10 to 16 during the '2012 Daegu Architectural Culture Biennale'. The '1st Children's Creative Space Design Contest' hosted by the YU Department of Family and Housing Studies' last year.