Clarion, Dongguk University sign ceremonial agreement

President Joseph Grunenwald (left) and II Chung Kim.

    Clarion University President Joseph Grunenwald and II Chung Kim, dean of international programs and education for Dongguk University in Korea, recently held a ceremonial signing of an agreement that could result in an exchange program between the educational institutions. The agreement, signed in Carlson Library, is awaiting final approval from Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education legal counsel.
    “We are very pleased to be able to enter into this exchange agreement with Dongguk University,” said Grunenwald. “The ability for Clarion and Dongguk to have high achieving students and faculty from other cultures participate in academic programs greatly enhances the overall high quality for both institutions. We are eager to grow our relationship into a significant part of Clarion's international program.”
    The contact between the universities started when Provost Dr. Valentine James and Dr. Jocelind Gant, assistant vice president for international programs, represented Clarion University in February during an educational mission to Asia by a Pennsylvania Education Delegation. Also participating in the trip to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, were Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, Drexel University, Penn State Allegheny University, and Thiel College.
    In Seoul, South Korea, in Tokyo, Japan, and in Taipei, Taiwan, they met with university officials from several universities, parents, students, and agents to discuss student exchange, faculty exchange and partnerships. The partnership agreement with Dongguk is an initial result of the visit.
    “We are hoping that the partnership with Dongguk University will enhance our efforts to internationalize our campus and expose our students, faculty and the entire university community to the globalization trends that are happening on many university and college campuses across the United States,” said James. “We are anticipating the arrival of some Dongguk University students on our campus in the fall of 2009 if all the arrangements and paper work go smoothly.”
    Gant explained that the preliminary agreement concentrated on three areas:  exchange of students for study and research; exchange of professors and administrators; exchange of information and publicity on education and research; and implementing cooperative education and research programs.
    “This exchange of delegations is consistent with the international mission of Clarion University,” said Gant. “It supports the attempts of Clarion University to promote global engagement by providing students and faculty with an opportunity to participate in faculty led programs to Korea and for Dongguk to reciprocate in kind. During our visit in February, we found that Korean parents were very interested in Clarion because of its cost, quality of programs, and record of safety.”
    While the possibility of Dongguk University students arriving at Clarion rapidly is a possibility, Gant knows Clarion students have a challenge.
    “Clarion’s challenge is getting students to overcome their reluctance to participate in exchange programs where English is not the primary language,” she said. “Because this would be a reciprocal agreement, our goal is to get more students interested in study abroad experiences in a country for which English is a second language by supporting more faculty-led programs. Students are more inclined to pursue study abroad experiences in these countries if faculty is involved in the experience. Clarion has made inroads, but we must continue our efforts motivate students to realize that a study abroad experience is the means by which they will understand that they are products of and participants in a global society.”
    Dongguk University, founded in 1906 by Korea's ecumenically minded Jogye Order, remains one of the few Buddhist affiliated universities in the world. Yet its doors have always been open to students and teachers of all faiths and philosophies. It offers 103 undergraduate and 116 graduate programs on its two campuses in Seoul and Gyenongju, and has an enrollment of 30,000 undergraduate and 3,750 graduate students.
    Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.

Front from left:  Clarion University President Joseph Grunenwald and II ChungKim, dean of international programs and education for Dongguk University. Back from left: Dr. Jocelind Gant, assistant vice president for international programs; Provost Dr. Valentine James; and Sangyou Kim, department director for international programs, Dongguk University.