Part of the ‘invited lecture series’ for international students at the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul
‘Development policies and roles of international cooperation for sustainable growth’
“Rwanda’s ‘Umuganda’ similar to Saemaul Undong. Community participates for development”
[April 6, 2018]
Rwanda Ambassador to Korea Emma Isumbingabo (photo) gave a special lecture at YU.
At this special lecture held at the YU Cheonma Art Center Grand Hall Room 307 at 1:30 p.m. on the 6th, over 70 people attended including international students from the YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul, and international students from Rwanda studying at other universities as well. A total of 24 international students from Rwanda graduated from the YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul up until now, and there are also 12 students from Rwanda at YU currently.
Under the theme of ‘development policies and the role of international cooperation for sustainable growth in Rwanda’, Ambassador Isumbingabo spoke for about an hour on Rwanda’s development goals and policy directions, the role of international cooperation for the reconstruction of Rwanda, the Rwanda Umunganda Movement, and civic education.
During the lecture, Ambassador Isumbingabo said, “’Umuganda’, which is one of Rwanda’s growth policies, has many similarities to Korea’s Saemaul Undong. ‘Umunganda’ refers to ‘working together to achieve a common goal’. Traditionally, family, friends and neighbors worked together to help solve difficult problems in Rwanda. This is similar to the Saemaul spirit of diligence, independence and cooperation.” She added, “Umuganda encourages community members to participate in community work and to bring the community to become one.”
This special lecture is the first of the YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul’s invited lecture series. This lecture by the Rwanda Ambassador to Korea was made possible through an international student who was formerly a public employee in Rwanda and is currently studying at the YU Park Chung Hee School. The Park Chung Hee School is planning to hold special lectures on official development aid (ODA), international development cooperation and development experiences by inviting foreign ambassadors to Korea through the invited lecture series.
<YU President Sur Gil-soo met with Rwanda Ambassador to Korea Emma Isumbingabo prior to the special lecture.>
YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul Dean Kim Gi-soo said, “Being able to listen to lectures from the head of diplomatic envoys, who are in charge of international cooperation and make policies, and sharing the experiences of different countries will be practical and useful education for students majoring in Saemaul international development.” He added, “We will provide various special lecture programs so that Park Chung Hee School students from various countries will be successful as international development and local development after graduating.”
