Signing
of MoU between Hoseo University and Madras Christian College
Monday,
21st October 2024 | A Report
The
Signing of MoU between Madras Christian College and Hoseo University, South
Korea was organised on Monday, 21st October 2024 in the Council Room, MCC.
Prior
to the meeting the representatives from the Hoseo University - Dr. Joon Mo
Kang, Vice- President, Hoseo University, Prof. Yong Seon Choi, International
Affairs Staff, HU, Ms. Elka Mariam Thomas, Student of Hoseo University (alumna
and later Guest Faculty in MCC) - visited the MCC MRF Innovation Park (MMIP) accompanied
by Mr. Sabarinathan (Global Student Ambassador). Dr. Aarthi Ram, Head of
Operations, MCC MRF Innovation Park warmly received the dignitaries and gave
them a presentation and an overview of the functioning of the MMIP. The visiting
dignitaries also elaborated on the concept of Innovation Park at their
university and expressed their keen interest in collaborating with the MMIP.
The
event organised by the Office of the Dean of International Programmes was
scrupulously coordinated by the student representatives Mr. Sabarinathan, Ms.
Alphy Benny, Ms. Zibiah Merin Kuriakose and Ms. Lindsay Rose Jordy.
The
meeting began at 04.15 p.m in the Council Room, MCC. Ms. Zibiah Merin Kuriakose
was the Master of Ceremonies. The meeting opened with the College Prayer led by
Ms. Smrithi Wilson (Global Student Ambassador, MCC) seeking divine guidance over
the course of the event.
Dr.
Samuel Rufus, Dean of International Programmes, MCC, gave a warm welcome
address marking the commencement of the official meeting.
To give our guests an overview of the campus and culture of MCC, a video documentary
on MCC was presented.
The
Korean delegates were also presented a copy of the book The Life and Legacy
of Madras Christian College, along with a shawl and a memento.
Dr.
Paul Wilson, the Principal and Secretary of Madras Christian College addressed
the meeting during which he felicitated the members of the Hoseo Universty and
acknowledged the University for being an Industry University that carries both industry
engagement and academic excellence hand in hand. The principal suggested that
the industrial exposure via internships at South Korean companies which has
their branches in Chennai would be beneficial for the students. MCC has been
engaging with South Korea for well over 11 years now. Korea plays a vital role
in the logistics arena, and therefore he noted that an engagement and
collaboration will be helpful in improving the logistic department in India. He
concluded by stating that the engagement with Hoseo University will have a lot
of benefits by adding value to MCC and he also warmly welcomed more students
from the University to study in MCC.
Hoseo
University, South Korea is a Christ-centred learning community which uses
education to provide students the values and abilities they need to lead and
serve others throughout their lives. The University has multiple campuses, with
67 departments and 9 graduate schools. Hoseo University assists in inspiring
creative people who will use their values, responsibilities, and expertise to
make a significant and lasting effect on the world through spiritual and
academic training.
Ms.
Elka Mariam Thomas, a present student from Hoseo University, who was also a
guest faculty at MCC, shared her experiences at Hoseo. Moving to Korea, for
her, was an absolutely new experience. Learning the Korean language and the
assistance of a “very patient and helpful” environment and people aided in
making her time at Hoseo a rather great one. She stated that there they made
sure that everyone was treated equally and she received a homely feeling. She
thanked Hoseo University for giving her this wonderful opportunity.
“This
is a very beautiful college” said Prof. Joon Mo Kang, as he began the Vice
President’s response. He then briefed the meeting about the Hoseo university
that started as a Chrisitan Engineering College in 1978 and is celebrating its
46th anniversary this year as it stands as one of the top universities in South
Korea as well as a top ranked Industry College. He emphasised the need to keep
trying and how they encourage their students and faculty members to keep on
trying and not to give up which embodies the motto of the university that is
based on Philippians 4:13 which states, “I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me.” He concluded by expressing his hope to have great
collaborations with the faculty and students of MCC and thanked the college for
its hospitality.
After
this, the meeting moved on to the cream of the session, the signing of the Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) between Madras Christian College and Hoseo University, South
Korea. Dr. Paul Wilson, Principal of Madras Christian College and the Vice
President, Prof. Joon Mo Kang did the honours by signing the MoU, and thus officially
inaugurated academic collaborations between the two Institutions.
Strengthening
global engagement and facilitating academic exchange is one of the key
portfolios of the office of International Programmes of MCC. MCC has always
believed in the three founding principles of academic excellence, spiritual
vitality and social relevance. Rapid strides are being effected in all these
core values, thanks to the initiatives of our beloved Principal Dr. Paul
Wilson. The office of International Programmes of MCC has facilitated the
signing/ renewal of 4 MoUs this academic semester so far with Konyang (South
Korea), Chang Jung Christian University (Taiwan), Appalachian University (USA)
and Hanshin University (South Korea). This is the 5th MoU for this semester. Apart from this the college also has a
functional MoU with J-Ark Logistics.
Following
the signing of the MoU, the representatives of the Hoseo University presented
the Principal and Vice-Principals with gifts as a token of their love and cooperation.
Dr.
J Jannet Vennilla, Vice- Principal of Madras Christian College, then, initiated
yet another awaited moment of the meeting, the interactions with the Deans,
HoDs and Faculty members.
Dr.
D. Armstrong Doss, HoD of Business Administration (SFS) talked about MCC’s
connection with South Korea as he mentioned about the students from South Korea
who graduated from the Business Administration Department (SFS) in the previous
years. He enumerated on how there is a lot of scope for collaborations and
expressed his hopes in having student exchange and faculty exchange.
Dr.
R Belinda, Director of Extension Programmes offered to facilitate
International, Interdisciplinary service-learning programmes - including cross
cultural interdisciplinary immersion experience- as well as interdisciplinary community-based
service-learning programs. She also discussed the possibility for the students
to work in community-based placements like at the school for underprivileged students,
for tribal students and with the self-help groups for women among others. She concluded
by conveying her wish to send students from MCC to Hoseo as well as to welcome
the students of Hoseo at MCC.
Rev. C. Somu Ebenezer Ross, Collage Chaplin informed
the Korean delegates about the activities of Institute for Advance Christian
Studies (IACS) at MCC which offers BCS (Bachelor of Christian Studies) and is
taking measures to offer MCS the following year. The principal motivated him to
promote the course in villages which helped him in identifying so much scope
for the course and an answer to the question on what to do after getting this
degree, as the program gave them a skill which on developing helped them to be
great models in their villages. He also spoke of his inclination in
collaborating the IACS with the theological department at Hoseo University.
Dr.
C. Amrithavalli, coordinator of the Internal Quality Assurance cell (IQAC) posed
the question about the internship offered for the PhD Students and revealed her
interest in a joint research collaboration between MCC and Hoseo University.
Dr.
T. Hanna Clara, HoD of Physics (SFS) briefed the members of the Hoseo University
about the short-term courses offered by the department on satellites, drones, miniature
aircraft manufacture and ,if the student is interested, coaching them in attaining
the drone pilot license. She shed light on how these courses lets the physics department
to connect and collaborate with the Hoseo University on a business level.
The
representatives from the Hoseo University were very enthusiastic in providing
response to the questions and interactions by the faculty members. They acknowledged
the connection MCC and India in general maintain with South Korea.
Dr.
Joon Mo Kang, Vice President of Hoseo University explained that the University
at its starting had four departments, three of them were engineering and one
was Theological. While the University provides academic and industrial
collaborations, when it comes to the theological department the industry is not
company or cooperation but churches and they collaborate with the churches.
Saying this he expressed his interest in developing a collaboration with the IACS
at MCC.
The
University does not just look at the companies but carefully examines of what a
specific field matches with and provides an industrial collaboration on that
front. When it comes to evaluating the faculty members of the University, they
took into consideration how well the faculty did with industry interactions. Dr.
Joon Mo Kang and Prof. Yong Seon Choi together conveyed that they would like to
do collaborations with the departments of the college that communicated their
interest in doing so. They also welcomed the idea of a cross-cultural interdisciplinary
immersion experiences as well as expressed their keen interest in hosting the
students from MCC at their University.
Ms.
Smrithi Wilson initiated the interaction from the students’ side. Abdul Sahed
Raza from I B.A. Philosophy, assisted by Joshin Chacko from I B.Sc. Physics, asked
about the resources available to help the differently abled students in
accessing quality international education opportunities. Dr. Joon Mo Kang
addressed this by saying that while Hoseo University provided provisions for
the differently abled, in Korea there are other universities, like the Korean
Nazarene University, that deliver specialized services and resources to
enhances the learning opportunities for the differently abled students.
Mr.
Sabarinathan (Global Student Ambassador, MCC) asked about the internship
opportunities that the University provides and also enquired about their
interest in conducting workshops, paper presentations and courses through
hybrid mode for the students of MCC. They welcomed the idea of the Indo-Korean support
and promised to get back regarding this after discussing with the concerned
faculty members of different departments at the University in order to provide
a detailed answer. The interactions thus concluded on a positive and optimistic
note.
The
Vote of Thanks was delivered by Prof. J. Arun Kumar, Associated Dean of
International Programmes, MCC, expressing gratitude and affection. He thanked
each and every one present at the meeting especially Dr. Dohnyeong Lee, Korean
Professor, MCC for his significant assistance in coordinating this meeting with
the Hoseo University. Following this, Rev. C. Somu Ebenezer Ross gave the
benediction. An official photo session with the visiting dignitaries and
officials of Madras Christian College marked the conclusion of the meeting at
06.00 p.m. Which was followed by a small campus tour and dinner at the
International Guest House, MCC at 07.00 p.m.
Minutes
by: Lindsay Rose Jordy.
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