Signing of MoU between Hoseo University and Madras Christian College | A Report

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.