Exchange between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education of Cambodia and YU

Request for cooperation in establishment of Department of Saemaul Economic Development in Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) next to Western University in Cambodia

Diplomatic performance in discussion on national development with governments and international organizations, etc. over export of Saemaul Studies

[July 11, 2022]

<From the left, President CHOI Oe-chool of YU and Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly of Cambodia>

Export of Studies by YU (President CHOI Oe-chool) next to Saemaul Studies attracts attention of the academic society. It plays a sufficient role of diplomatic envoy team in educational and cultural areas.

 Last month, President CHOI Oe-chool of YU visited Cambodia on a business trip with a schedule of five days and four nights. There are many opinions that the business trip by the head of a private university obtained amazing diplomatic performances in private sector over visit of governments and main organizations of Cambodia.

President CHOI’s visit in Cambodia was arranged by Deputy Prime Minister and main minister-level persons and attracted as high national interest as being broadcasted by local national broadcasting company to whole country. In fact, President CHOI is highly trusted by Prime Minister Hun Sen as a policy advisor. It is said that the education-sharing performance obtained by YU in Cambodia was possible due to the foundation of such trust. Therefore, it is expected that international exchange started with Saemaul Studies will be expanded to other areas.

 President CHOI met presidents of main universities, NGO chairmen, and international organizational personnel, etc. as well as high-level personnel of Cambodia including Deputy Prime Minister and ministers, etc. of Cambodia and had discussions on the direction of long-term development of Cambodia.

 President CHOI met cabinet members as well as Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly and had discussions on cooperation with YU to support establishment of Department of Saemaul Economic Development in Cambodian universities and implementation of local OVOP (One Village, One Product) Project. During the discussions, Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly said, “We are implementing various development support projects with KOICA, etc. of Korea. Human resources, technologies, and know-how are essentially required for effective operation of the projects. Especially, it is most important to cultivate talents with operation of 2+2 dual-degree system after establishment of Department of Saemaul Economic Development in main higher education institutions of Cambodia such as national universities and private universities, etc.Cooperation by YU having the know-how in education and research areas will be highly helpful.” Therefore, President CHOI made a promise, “We will try for exchange and cooperation with governments as well as international exchange among universities. Over the exchange in educational area for cultivation of Saemaul leaders, we will actively cooperate in possible parts of YU including national policy projects for Cambodian development.”

<President CHOI Oe-chool met Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly of Cambodia and had a discussion on mutual cooperation methods>

 Before meeting Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly, President CHOI met Minister Hang Chuon of Education, Youth, and Sports of Cambodia, shared the progress of establishment of Department of Saemaul Economic Development in Western University, and had a discussion on expansion of Saemaul international development area in higher education of Cambodia. Minister Hang Chuon is known to have great expectations for the establishment of Department of Saemaul Economic Development in Western University and said President CHOI, “Operation of Department of Saemaul Economic Development in Western University will be actively supported at the level of the Ministry of Education. Furthermore, I’d like to establish Department of Saemaul Economic Development in Royal University of Phnom Penh and operate 2+2 dual-degree system. President CHOI commented, “Active interest and support at government level is required for operation and settlement of Department of Saemaul Economic Development. YU will also make every endeavor to improve educational environment and strengthen education and research capabilities in Cambodia.”

 YU has wide network with not only Cambodian governmental agencies but also international organizations and NGOs, etc. President CHOI visited Cambodia Development Center (CD Center) and Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) and had discussions on cultivation of Saemaul leaders and execution of local internship and service activity programs of YU students with participation in Saemaul Development Training Program. CD Center is an agency to manage overseas support projects of advanced countries and research governmental policies which are being implemented or conducted in Cambodia and SEAMEO is an inter-governmental cooperation organization established to improve mutual cooperation in educational, scientific, and cultural areas of 11 Southeast Asian countries. Especially, Chairman Sok Silo of CD Center met President CHOI and commented, “Saemaul Undong is the most suitable for long-term national development strategy of Cambodia. In order to make the foundation for sustainable development of Cambodia, continuous formation of network with YU is required.”

 As described above, the role of YU becomes larger in international society. This is the result of leading endeavors of YU which have been made for construction of educational & research infrastructure and global network in Saemaul international development area over the past 40 years. YU established and has been operating institutions and educational & training agencies, etc. as well as Park Chung Hee Saemaul Institution, Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul, International Development & Cooperation Center, and faculty and graduate courses such as Department of Saemaul International Development. Especially, 808 persons from 71 countries entered Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul, which was established to cultivate developing countries’ Saemaul leaders, until now and, among them, 682 persons received Saemaul Master’s Degree and work as main policy establishers, international development professionals, and Saemaul Undong leaders in central ministries/offices, public organizations, and international development NGOs, etc. of many countries.

Saemaul Studies, a kind of traditional studies, is also regularly exported. Department of Saemaul Economic Development was established and is being operated in local universities of Philippines and Cambodia and, recently, YU made an agreement on establishment of Department of Saemaul Economic Development in Werabe University of Ethiopia. YU has discussions on establishment of Department of Saemaul Studies in many universities including national universities in Ethiopia, Zambia requested YU to support local establishment of Department of Saemaul Studies, and love calls rush from developing countries of Asia and Africa for transmission of Saemaul Studies and Saemaul Undong.