College of Natural Resources, 10 Year Friendship with Iowa State University
Active Student Exchange including Double diplomas and Overseas Field Training
[March 19, 2013]
The YU College of Natural Resources (dean, Lee, Heon Ho) is transforming into the cradle of global human resources in agriculture for the Era of FTA. Through active exchange with prestigious universities in advanced agrarian countries, it is cultivating agricultural human resources equipped with a globalized outlook and technological skills.
In particular, YU College of Natural Resources has been continuing a global partnership with ISU (Iowa State University) of the US for a decade. Since signing an exchange agreement in 2003, the two universities are operating an overseas field training exchange program to send students to each other's universities for two weeks, with each university taking turns every year, and recognizes 3 credits each. Up until now 150 students took part in this program.
Students from ISU are listening to Professor Yeo, Jung Sou's lecture. On the 18th, 20 students and 4 professors from the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences visited the YU College of Natural Resources. Last summer, 50 YU students received education for 2 weeks at ISU.
ISU students who listened to the 'Hanwoo (Korean Native Cattle) Doctor' Professor Yeo, Jung Sou's (School of Biotechnology) lecture on the self-developed 'Hanwoo beef production history tracking system' expressed their anticipation that Hanwoo beef will one day capture the global tastes. Afterwards, ISU students experienced making traditional Korean foods such as Bibimbap and Bindaetteok, and were surprised at the ensemble of tastes that harmonize vegetables and beef it offered.
Heidi Reynolds (22), a senior at the ISU Department of Animal Science, who visited Korea for the first time, said, "The efforts of livestock breeders and the academic circles to protect Hanwoo was very impressive. Also, it was possible to see the way for sustainable farming development in the traditional farming methods of Korea such as the use of natural fertilizers such as compost. In addition, I was able to see the beauty of harmony and unity of Koreans as I made and tasted Bibimbap." She said that this was very valuable experience.
Professor Jodi Sterle (41) of ISU who visited YU with the students stated, "The overseas field training exchange program is very effective as an opportunity for students to have a broader outlook on the world and to understand the need for global cooperation for the future of humanity," while adding, "I hope that more students will come and go between YU and ISU to develop into global agricultural experts."
"Does the colorful Bibimbap look good?" (ISU students taste the Bibimbap that they made) ISU students also visted the museum, experienced samulnori, visited Hanwoo farms, the Gumi Nongshim plant and the beef processing plants, visited the Andong Hahoe Folk Village and visited Insa-dong in Seoul together with students from the YU College of Natural Resources to deepen their understanding of Korea and broaden their perspective of the world.
Lee, Do Hyung, chairman of the YU Department of Forest Resources, stated with anticipation, "This will contribute in motivating the academic aspirations of participating students," while adding, "In addition to undergraduate students, we will work on fostering global agricultural experts who will work for the future of humanity by strengthening exchange and cooperation for the graduate schools."
On this, Dean of the College of Natural Resources Lee, Heon Ho (Department of Forest Resources) stated, "Even farming requires global competitiveness in the Era of FTA. We can no longer survive by merely claiming that domestic farm products are the best." He added, "We will spare no efforts to foster talented specialists to be the foundation for this by training more students overseas to gain not only advanced technologies and theoretical knowledge, but also confidence and a global mindset."
"What a perfectly grilled Bindaetteok!"
"I play the janggu well?"
