Thanks to the car's navigation system this correspondent was able to arrive at Hannam University, which is situated in Daedeok-gu of Daejeon City. Passing the main entrance of the school, the all-embracing campus is integrated with nature; it provides a certain gracefulness within a bustling city where there is a moment of peace for the eyes when driving by. When walking along the road in between a smooth, silky grass, this correspondent came upon a memorial stone embedded with the late Professor William Linton's teachings that says, "The class always begins on time, the class always ends on time, every student is assigned homework, the professors and students must not cancel a class or do not show up, and we must always retain a Christian atmosphere in school." After being inspired by this short enriched passage, looking over at the peaceful campus, and passing along the mobile campus reflecting underlying IT infrastructure, I was soon knocking on the chancellor's office.
A Humble Beginning
Hannam University (HNU) was established in 1956 by Presbyterian missionary from the U.S. 'But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well' (Matthew 6:33) sheathes the student body in HNU, teaching them a moral lesson of higher education with its profound meaning that endorses truth, freedom, and service; these elements of basic human values elevate the human soul. This educational undertone formed the school's motto, in which students graduate with careful consideration for others and dignity. Dr. Kim Hyung-tae, the President of HNU states, "With the countless students from home and abroad come together at HNU just like a flock of people assembling under a reluctant plum tree."
The school emphasizes the idea of 'humble servant' from the bible, in which love and obeying together are the motto and hopefully this maxim will connect with every student body of the school and foster them to go global.
Hannam University Handling Internalization Trends
During the interview, Dr. Kim Hyung-tae commented on the internalization trends prevalent to HNU. First of all, HNU was established by American missionaries and its main focus is on pertaining to its roots and history, so their underlying infrastructure adheres to English education. Currently, the school is twinned with 134 universities and organizations from 25 different countries and grants a joint degree. Also, is sends students overseas to accumulate a wide spectrum of knowledge while inviting international students from around the world. Right now it has 400 foreign students who study at this school and the schools they are more actively engage with in Asia are in China, Japan, and the Philippines. Recently, HNU has signed a MOU with three Indian universities, in which it is expected to spark vigorous exchange between students and professors.
Attracting American Students
However, the one and only conspicuous problem that rises to the surface is that American students are less interested in coming over to Korean universities compared to the actual number of domestic students going to the U.S. To alleviate this problem it has introduced a summer program that attracts three American students to go to HNU and in return for just one of Hannam students to go abroad. In this way more international students can blend in with Korean students and learn the depth of the Korean culture.
Competiveness of Hannam University
Hannam University operates 10 universities, seven graduate schools, and most importantly the Linton Global University, in which all classes are taught in English by native-speaking professors and students learn mainly global business and communications. Also HNU is planning on taking over Taejon Christian International School (TCIS), an international Christian school located in Daedeok-gu, which is 40,000 square meters. The land will be restructured for another English zone and to expand the Linton Global University while retaining TCIS' reputation. Second, HNU has established a 'Bio-nano New Material' university in its Daedeok Innopolis. It comprises various departments like bio-technology, bio-science, food science, chemistry, chemicals and Nursing Science. Moreover, Hannam's 'National Defense Strategic' grad school is also one of their specialized educations where many retired personnel from military organizations contribute in the national research projects. It is located in Daejeon City's military hub where all three armed forces of the army are concentrated.
Leading the Way with Cutting-Edge Science
Daedeok is well known as a Science Research Park with a solid infrastructure, but it has a weak business network. For that reason HNU believes that conglomerates and international companies should step in and settle down in Daedeok City and form an active business network, creating a win-win situation to both the academia and the industry. Currently, there is the industry-university-institute consortium, in which presidents from 17 universities in Daejeon collaborate on advancing Daedeok complex. The department of science and engineering and nano professors should work in concert with the researchers in the facilities, in that way the professors can further develop the research done with the students by experiencing a wider range of professional research.
Career Navigation System
Hannam University introduced the 'Career Navigation System' so it may guide students from freshmen to senior, which they are able to find jobs before they graduate. This is how it works, students will choose three types of occupations they wish to work in and have them search via 'job seeking skill' to figure out what certificates they need to attain, find out the level of physical condition and language abilities. Moreover, there is an international IT center, foreign language institute, and center for preparing national examination; here, there are personal tutors that teach students and help them prepare for all kinds of civil service exams from the higher civil service national examination, national bar exam, the judicial exam, to the Foreign Service exam. And all the records of counseling sessions between professors and students will be entered and stored into the computers (job getting skill) in the department that cultivates talented students.
The Blueprint for Going Global
Although the size of Hannam University is small, it has its own color and identity that differentiates the school from other schools. Similar to Wheaton University in Chicago and Biola University in Los Angeles, one of its affiliated schools, HNU has a firm Christian belief. Dr. Kim stresses to his students that during the four short years in school, "we meet three kinds of people. First, we meet a person you admire and want to learn from; second, we meet a professor who you can honor and respect. Third, we meet a friend who will always stay by your side and help you at your worst."
The following is an excerpt from Dr. Kim Hyung-tae's interview with Korea IT Times.
Q: Please elaborate on the meaning of the 'humble servant' ideology and its impact on your working principle and educational philosophy.
A: Reading between the lines of a biblical verse, a true leader should follow Jesus' 'servant leadership' in which a leader must be humble and be a servant to many people. Through my interpretation of the bible, a person goes through four steps to become a true leader and they are in such consecutive orders- membership, partnership, friendship, and leadership. In more detail, membership gives you a sense of kinship and partnership offers to share your own victory and triumph with the fellow partner. Then friendship confers you to feel pleasure in your friend's success, and lastly leadership brings you to a position where you can be served as a steppingstone for other people's future success. For instance, a faithful leader is similar to giving a child a lift to show him or her, the scenery beyond the tall wall.
Q: How will you balance between educating students and the working principle
A: My working principle underlines the idea that whatever the circumstances may be, we must restore and keep its original form. Many years ago, an American missionary came to this poor country and established Hannam University. And I must say, recently William Linton, the first president of Hannam University, received the Order of Merit for National Foundation on Samiljeol by the President of Korea, after being chosen as the founding fathers for their distinguished services. The founding fathers graduated summa cum laude from Georgia Tech University and lived a fairly prosperous life in the U.S. He decided to come to Korea by boat, which took more than a month after the Korean War and where the country laid barren and hopeless. Once he arrived in Korea, he established the school and handed out textbooks and educated illiterates who craved for knowledge and power. Thus my first, principle is that we must never forget their input to the school's foundation and must serve other people like they did. My second management principle of the school is to fully support the students even after they graduate. As you might know, 70 percent of this school's student body is from around this area, Daejeon, Chungnam, and Chungbuk; therefore, I will make sure that they fully utilize as much resources from the region to reach out to society. My third, principle lies on developing the school to the point where it can serve as a role model to other schools in Asia. All in all, we must know how to balance the variables and invariables in the world of their coexistence: goal and vision must not change and it should retain its originality. However, one should adopt the changing time and space as our world is vastly advancing to the higher level all because the basis will disappear if the invariable shatters. Once it disappears there will be outbreaks if there are no variables and options for other opportunities.
Q: What specifically does Hannam University do to become a model for Christian schools in Asia
Q: How will you define a 'human relationship' in the midst of a modern society
A: I think meeting the right person at a right moment is the most gratifying luck a person can get. There are five major human relationships and meetings- between parents and children, husbands and wives, teachers and pupils, colleagues and subordinates, and lastly religious meetings. When one of these meetings falls apart, neither rich nor high social status can quench the feeling of emptiness.
Q: I heard that HNU conducts 'Career Navigation System' that is geared to career counseling. Will you please explain what this program is about
A: We introduced this system so as to guide students from freshmen to senior, which they are able to find jobs before they graduate. This is how it works, students will choose three types of occupations they wish to work in and have them search via 'job seeking skill' to figure out what certificates their need to attain, find out the level of physical condition and language abilities. Moreover, there is an international IT center, foreign language institute, and center for preparing national examination; here, there are personal tutors that teach students and help them prepare for all kinds of civil service exams from the higher civil service national examination, national bar exam, the judicial exam, to the Foreign Service exam. And all the records of counseling sessions between professors and students will be entered and stored into the computers in the department that cultivates talented students, owing to the integrated information system situated in the mobile campus.
