NEHU host visiting Korean ambassador Chang Jae-bok

SHILLONG, May 20 (NNN): In the spirit of mutual cooperation and understanding, the Office of International Affairs, NEHU, hosted visiting ambassador Chang Jae-bok of the Republic of Korea to explore possibilities of tie-ups and collaboration in wide-ranging fields. The Republic of Korea represented by the ambassador and other officials took part in a public interface with NEHU faculty, students and scholars.
Chang Jae-bok in his speech comprehensively dealt with the history of the Indo-Korea relationship and exhorted NEHU students in taking it forward in a variety of fields of mutual interest. He mentioned that around 700 Korean companies are working in India and these companies have established deeper economic tie-ups with India in every way.
As the Korean visitors found the atmosphere of NEHU very alluring and enticing, the ambassador spoke at length on various issues like academic collaboration and economic tie-ups through various companies.
Joining the accolades from NEHU, the ambassador Chang Jae-bok happily stated that it is his very first visit to Meghalaya and NEHU and he is very much touched by the warm reception that he received.
In his welcome to Korean visitors, Prof. P S Shukla, the vice-chancellor mentioned the need for opening up wide-ranging collaborations between Korean Universities and NEHU.
He cited NEHU’s contributions in cutting edge areas of Bio-Sciences, Bio-Informatics, Physical Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences and drew the attention of the Republic of Korea to unique local and indigenous knowledge systems, cultural and bioresources diversities as well as the instant the chemistry between north-eastern culture and Korean culture.
The vice-chancellor implored the need to build up strong university to university connections.
He suggested that NEHU in its present attempt to internationalise higher education is looking up to support and facilitation from the Republic of Korea through its Embassy in New Delhi to strike up MoUs in cutting edge areas.
In the interaction with students, on a specific question of a NEHU student who runs a start-up company and who wanted to extend it to Korea, the ambassador referred to the Kolkata trade office of the Republic of Korea which can provide guidance to such a welcome idea.
In yet another response, the Korean side took great interest in the demand for increasing scholarships for Indian students, to which the ambassador sounded positive by saying that ‘we understand that India has a huge population’.
The students exhorted the ambassador for his positive mindset.
On assisting in opening up the Korean Learning Centre at NEHU, the ambassador referred the matter to the Korean Cultural Centre in New Delhi, which NEHU would pursue in the right manner.
Prof. Anand Shankar Dixit, director of Internal Quality Assessment Cell gave a lucid picture of the state of art in NEHU and pointed out how NEHU is developing high-capacity research infrastructure and output with meagre resources and sought Korean collaboration in mutually enhancing areas of all disciplines.