UBC and Korea University (KU) today officially opened Korea
University – UBC House, a residence and cultural centre for
students from both institutions.
The $10 million residence is the centerpiece of a joint undergraduate
academic agreement that UBC signed with KU in 2000. Both universities
shared the cost of the residence’s construction.
"UBC has enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship
of academic and intellectual cooperation with Korea University
for some years," says, UBC President Martha Piper. "The
official opening of Korea University – UBC House symbolizes
the sustainability of our partnership and will contribute
significantly to the internationalization of both institutions."
Located on the western edge of UBC’s Point Grey campus, the
residence boasts a traditional Korean garden, meeting rooms,
cooking facilities and 200 single rooms. In the residence’s
main lounge are a large mirror donated by the KU Alumni Association
in Vancouver and artwork depicting mountains and tigers provided
by KU. Both are symbolical reflections of Korean culture.
To ensure that students from both institutions enjoy cross-cultural
experiences, a maximum of 100 rooms are reserved for KU students,
with the remaining rooms occupied by UBC students.
"In this era of globalization, there is a need to study
foreign languages and to better understand the cultures and
societies of different countries," says Korea University
President Dr. Sung-Joo Han. "The Korea University – UBC
program is a true reflection of Korea’s globalization efforts."
Under the KU – UBC joint academic agreement, about 100 KU
students come to UBC annually to take a year of regular-credit
courses in the faculties of Arts, Science, Agricultural Sciences
and Commerce and Business Administration. The agreement also
brings one KU professor to UBC annually. There are also plans
to jointly develop courses specifically designed to take advantage
of the trans-Pacific partnership.
Korea University, originally founded in 1905, is one of Korea’s
top-ranked private universities.
UBC has a similar joint academic-residential agreement with
Ritsumeikan University in Japan and will soon construct a
similar-sized residence at UBC jointly with Tec de Monterrey,
Mexico’s leading private university. Increasing the number
of international students and building international linkages
for scholarship and research, especially with Pacific Rim
countries, are key goals of Trek 2000, UBC’s vision document.
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