Head of Korean Manufacturing Agency commends OSU-Okmulgee education

Friday, September 28, 2007

KMAC President Kim Dong Chul and OSU-Okmulgee President Bob Klabenes.

During a recent visit, the president of a South Korean technology agency found some thought-provoking differences between Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee’s educational methods and those of universities in his country.

“In our country, lecture-style academics are emphasized,” said Kim Dong Chul, Korea Materials & Components Industry Agency president. “Here, you emphasize hands-on learning. You also have very dynamic relationships with industry leaders who make up the various advisory boards and influence what is taught in the classroom. This is an approach we need to study and possibly adopt.”

The KMAC president toured OSU-Okmulgee as part of a 15-person mission to Oklahoma sponsored by the Korean government. The purpose of the visit, which also included visits to Tulsa, Broken Arrow and Oklahoma City industries, was to determine the feasibility of training opportunities for South Korean researchers and matching them with sectors related to their field of expertise. The group was also considering ways to partner or invest in technology companies emerging in Oklahoma. KMAC is focused on the education and training component of the mission.

Kim Dong Chul also met with officials of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology, where officials representing the Korean government and the State of Oklahoma signed a memorandum of understanding indicating a desire to collaborate in the following areas:

• Development and implementation of educational programs and training,
• Facilitation of private sector alliances,
• Coordination of exchange programs involving industry, faculty and/or researchers,
• Pursuit of applied research initiatives of common interest,
• Sharing of “best practices.”

KMAC is a government agency formed to build upon Korea's technological knowledge base and assist in making the industry more competitive through special training and research