Euh Yoon-Dae (President of Korea Univ. /  Prof of Business School) 

 

"On Saturday August 5th, 2006, Prof. Yoon-Dae Euh, President of Korea University, received 'A Doctor of University' from Griffith University in Australia.

”We present this ‘Doctor of University’ in acknowledgement of President Euh’s immense contribution towards Korea’s socioeconomic development, globalization of the University and for his important role in the mutual development of our two Universities through a closely knit and cooperative relationship”, commented an official from Griffith University.

President Euh's made the following remark in his conferment speech. "This ‘Doctor of University’ isn’t just given to me as a person but I see this more as a historical memorandum of our most honorable vow between Griffith and Korea Universities to mutually cooperate and spearhead the era led by the Asia Pacific and furthermore to create a more mature global community.” He added “I will strive to create the Asia Pacific region as the center for global education by continuously maintaining cooperative relationship between our two Universities.”

The Awards Ceremony took place during a graduation ceremony at Griffith University's Gold Coast Campus on Saturday August 5th (6:00 p.m. local time).


 

The presentation of Professor Yoon-Dae Euh For admission to the Degree of Doctor of the University August 5, 2006

Citation

Chancellor Yoon-Dae Euh was born in Jinhae, Korea in 1945. His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration from Korea University, a Master of Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management and a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Professor Euh has been President-Korea University since 2003, and is an eminent scholar, policy advisor for the Korean Government, and board member of private companies and banks Founded in 1905, Korea University is South Korea's largest private university and is ranked among the top universities in Asia. Professor Euh joined Korea University in 1979 and became Professor of International Business and Finance in 1982. Since that time he has established himself as one of the most distinguished scholars in the Korean academic community, publishing many books and refereed journal articles. He has served as President of several prestigious academic associations in Korea including President-Korean International Business Association(1992-1993), President-Korean Money and Banking Association (1995-1996), and President-Korean Association of Business Administration (2002-2003). He has also been a visiting Professor at the University of Hawaii, the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Tokyo University, Japan. In his twenty-seven year association with Korea University, Professor Euh has served as Dean of Academic Affairs, Director of the Business Management Research Centre and Dean of the Graduate School of Business Administration, before being elected as President in 2003. Under his leadership, Korea University has embraced the challenges of the 21st century modern educational programs that stress multiple majors and interdisciplinary studies; strategic partnership with private and public research and development centres to promote innovative research; and new international relationships that bring Korea University students together with students, faculty and programs of other leading universities around the world. Professor Euh's commitment to internationalization is evident in the prominent role he played in developing the relationship between Korea University and Griffith University, including a successful study abroad program involving reciprocal arrangements for students of one university to study at the other. In his professional life, Professor Euh has served as a policy advisor for a number of committees and commissions of the Korean Government including Advisor to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (International Trade Commission) (1987-1991); Policy Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1993-2004); and Chairman, Policy Advisory Commission, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (2003-present). His expertise in financial matters has been recognized by his appointment as a board member of numerous private companies and banks in Korea including the Monetary Board of the Bank of Korea (central bank), which establishes Korea's monetary policy. He has also made significant contributions to the finance sector as Foundation Chair of the International Finance Centre (Korea), and as a member of the Board of Director of the Korea Research Institute of Taxation, the Korea Development Bank, the Jeil Bank of Korea, and Hyundai Incorporated. It is fitting that Griffith University should honour Professor Yoon-Dae Euh in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the Korean community and to the relationship between Griffith and Korea University. Chancellor, it is with the greatest pleasure that I present to you Professor Yoon-Dae Euh for admission to the Degree of Doctor of the University

Professor Ian O'Connor Vice Chancellor and President

By the authority of the Council of the University, I confer upon Professor Yoon-Dae Euh the degree of Doctor of the University.

Leneen Forde Chancellor August 5, 2006

 

 

“Honorary Doctoral Degree conferment speech”

 

 

Chancellor Leneen Forde, Deputy Chancellor Henry Smerdon, Vice Chancellor and President Ian O'Connor, distinguished faculty and staff of Griffith University, ladies and gentlemen.

It is indeed a privilege to receive an honorary doctorate from Griffith University, one of the fastest growing new leaders of the future. I thank you for this special recognition.

Griffith University of Australia is known for reaching the standards of the world's most prestigious universities in the short period of a mere 30 years. It has earned a reputation of being one of the most dynamic institutions in the world. A few years ago when I served as Dean of the Graduate School of Business, I delivered a special lecture on Korean economy at the Brisbane campus. At that time, I had the opportunity to directly experience the University's passion for learning, state-of-the-art research facilities, and beautiful campus, Then, I realized that being evaluated as a "newly emerging world-class institution" was not an exaggeration for Griffith University. In the history of mankind, the growth rate of this University has been unprecedented since universities were first established in the middle ages.

The University Presidents' Global Forum was held last May in Seoul to commemorate Korea University's centennial anniversary. At the forum, Vice Chancellor and President Ian O'Connor delivered a congratulatory address at the dinner reception, during which he remarked on the development of Korea University and asked me how this was achieved. However, I am the one, who has been continuously learning from the example set by Griffith University.

One aspect I uphold is that Griffith University has effectively executed the "Differentiation & Focusing Strategy" espoused by Professor Michael Porter ahead of the times and in advance of its contemporaries.

In addition, Environmental Sciences, Modern Asian Studies, and Business are representative fields with a competitive edge that have been targeted for further development at Griffith University. In a short period of time, these fields have significantly contributed to solidifying the university's reputation. With these majors as a foundation, the overall standards of the University have been elevated.

I wish to highly praise the great strides Griffith University has actually made in these renowned fields which placed globalization at the forefront. At one time, Australia enforced the "White Australia Policy" which hampered the running of the nation by only acknowledging a specific ethnicity. Although this policy has long been discarded, for a long time, the rest of the world has not truly acknowledged diversity.

Griffith University has completely transformed this once tarnished image of Australia. It has led globalization by recruiting students from all over the world. To my knowledge, over 7,000 students from 117 countries in the world are coming to Griffith University to study at its 5 campuses. And the University has 147 joint academic exchange agreements with 34 countries.

Harvard University's Professor Theodore Levitt predicted in his book "The Marketing Imagination" that "the multinational age has ended and the age of globalization is arriving." This claim rests on the fact that all humans will inevitably live in one cultural sphere devoid of the restrictions of time and space due to the ever increasing spread of information and knowledge.

Griffith University had already made globalization a priority long before this "inevitability of a global village" was fully recognized and has made notable efforts to face the challenges of globalization.

Korea University has long been the representative nationalistic university of Korea and has continued to carry on this tradition. It has served as the center of intellectualism in the independence movement during the colonization of Korea and the overall development of the country. Korea University is proud of its contribution to the nation and domestic achievements.

Three years ago, when I was inaugurated as President of Korea University, the transformation from a nationalistic university to a global university began. Exchange programs with foreign universities such as Griffith University were strengthened, English-mediated undergraduate classes were introduced, and Korea University dormitories were built at foreign university campuses. Although now, most Korea University alumni and Koreans appreciate and respect what Korea University has done in order to usher in globalization, there was much resistance in the beginning. Opposition was so strong that there were a few times, when everything could have come to a full stop.

The exchange program with Griffith University contributed greatly in enabling Korea University to overcome this hardship. Griffith University acknowledged the value placed on globalization by Korea University and agreed to a wide-range student exchange under exceptional conditions. So at the present, about 100 Korea University students are studying at Griffith University. Griffith University is the Korea University campus of the southern hemisphere while Korea University is the Griffith University campus of the northern hemisphere.

I do not think of this conferment of a doctoral degree as an honor bestowed on an individual. Instead, it is a historical record of a solemn promise to foster a mature global village through collaborative efforts. Together, Griffith University, the representative south of the equator, and Korea University, the representative of the north, can pioneer ideal coordinates to navigate the Asia Pacific region towards a better and brighter future.

Today, I wish to extend my gratitude to Vice Chancellor and President Ian O'Connor and the distinguished faculty, staff, and students of Griffith University for this deep honor. I believe the collaboration between Griffith University and Korea University will significantly contribute to the advancement of knowledge and furthermore, benefit the world.

Thank you.

August 5, 2006

Yoon-Dae Euh
President
Korea University