SKKU is Penn State’s top partner in South Korea, with both institutions maintaining strong multidimensional engagement in student mobility, staff exchange and faculty collaborations. The first MOU was signed in 1983, marking the beginning of a partnership that has grown in both depth and strength over the past four decades.
The student exchange program, initiated in 2017, has seen 30 Penn State students study at SKKU and 37 SKKU students study at Penn State. The staff exchange program, which began in 2014, has featured 27 staff visits (14 from Penn State and 13 from SKKU) over the past decade. Additionally, many Penn State alumni work at SKKU.
“We proudly count eight full-time SKKU professors who earned their Ph.D.s right here at Penn State,” said SKKU President Ji-Beom Yoo. “So, you can say that the Blue and White spirit of Penn State is now woven into the fabric of SKKU.”
The discussions between SKKU delegates and Penn State participants were productive, particularly in the areas of research collaborations in engineering, medicine, Asian studies and public administration. This fall, a series of joint virtual research workshops will be held, allowing faculty members interested in finding research collaborators to present their research topics.
“I am delighted to continue facilitating our partnership,” said Anna Wei Marshall, Penn State Global's associate director for Asia Partnerships. “The unwavering commitment from leadership, faculty champions and staff support is vital for enhancing the collaboration and achieving our shared mission.”
A signing ceremony to renew the MOU between the two institutions took place in Old Main. Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Michael Wade Smith and Yoo signed the agreement and delivered remarks as they reaffirmed their commitment to fostering innovation, enhancing academic excellence, and strengthening the strategic partnership between Penn State and SKKU.
“SKKU’s guiding vision, 'Inspiring Future, Grand Challenges,' aligns perfectly with Penn State’s priorities,” Smith said. “We both understand that the best solutions emerge not in isolation, but through partnership — by bringing together great minds from across borders and disciplines to address the world’s toughest problems.”
“The collaboration has always been built on mutual respect and a shared pursuit of academic excellence — and I have no doubt that this foundation will support even greater things ahead,” Yoo said. “I look forward to continuing this meaningful journey together and writing the next chapter of the SKKU-Penn State story.”
The SKKU delegation included:
- Ji-Beom Yoo, president
- Rosa Minhyo Cho, vice president
- Taesung Kim, dean, College of Engineering,
- Jinkee Lee, professor of mechanical engineering
- Yongho Kim, chair for the Department of Nano Engineering and associate professor for SKKU's Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology
- Taewoo Nam, professor of public administration
- Kyungmin Park, director of international relations
- Hyoung il Kim, the secretary of the president
SKKU's delegation had the opportunity to meet with a wide-range of Penn State faculty and administrators, including:
- Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff
- Karen Kim, dean, College of Medicine
- Sabine Klahr, vice provost for Penn State Global
- Douglas Wolfe, associate vice president for research
- Alexandra Persiko, director for global partnerships
- Anna Marshall, associate director for Asia partnerships
- Christine Masters, assistant dean for academic support and global programs
- Robert Rabb, associate dean for education, College of Engineering
- Patrick Tunno, director, Center for Global Engineering Engagement, College of Engineering
- Erica Brindley, head of Asian studies
- Jooyeon Rhee, director of Korean studies, from the Department of Asian Studies
- Sujeong Park, assistant professor of health policy and addiction studies, Penn State Harrisburg
- Daniel Diaz, assistant director for global engagement, from Penn State Harrisburg.