Alabama State University News December 16, 2014 ASU Signs International MOU with Soongsil University Alabama State University entered into a three-year international collaborative partnership and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Soongsil University (South Korea) and the Alabama-Korea Education and Economic Partnership (A-KEEP), on Monday, Dec. 15. The purpose of the MOU is to establish a long-term academic cooperative partnership that is mutually beneficial, focusing on educational, cultural, historical, scientific or promotional programs. ASU President Gwendolyn E. Boyd signed the agreement, along with Soongsil University President Hernsoo Hahn and A-KEEP Executive Director Meesoon Han. Boyd said the collaboration will benefit ASU faculty and students, serving as a gateway to educational exchange. "We truly are excited," Boyd said. "This partnership will open up doors for many of our ASU students and will expose them to research and educational opportunities abroad." Dr. Seon-Wook Kim, vice president of Soongsil University, also traveled to ASU for the MOU signing. He said the partnership is a wonderful opportunity for all parties involved. "My students will have a wonderful time here learning at ASU about real American history," Kim said. "They will be able to grow a lot, and they also can have a lot of job opportunities. We also look forward to receiving (ASU's) students." The partnership will include such activities as exchange programs, dual degrees and study abroad opportunities for students; research, lecture and seminar opportunities for faculty; and conferences and symposia for professional or educational development and training programs. Soongsil University, founded in 1897, is a private Christian University located in Seoul South Korea and is the country's oldest university. It is known for its business school and IT programs, having founded South Korea's first computer science department, which now is the second-ranked computer science department in the country. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.