Posted on 16 Apr 2012
POSCO as part of contribution activities to develop higher education
institutions in developing countries has joined together with POSTECH
(Chancellor Kim Yongmin) and RIST (Director Ju Wungyong) to establish a
New Material Engineering major at the Adama Science and Technology
University (ASTU).
POSTECH was selected as the first `International Cooperation
Guidance University Fostering and Support Project` hosted by the
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology on April 4th. This project
was arranged to strengthen international cooperation by supporting
capability development and support to developing countries
The selected POSTECH New Material Engineering major will be
established at ASTU with the support of a consortium with the Busan
National University of Education, the government, POSCO, and RIST.
ASTU is the first university of science and technology in Ethiopia,
second largest in size in the country, where Lee Janggyu, the professor
of Seoul National University, was inaugurated as a chancellor last year.
Most of Ethiopia`s science talents are working in the country`s main
industry of agriculture. There are 31 colleges of engineering in
Ethiopia but none are known to have material related studies.
POSTECH will provide the know-how on becoming a world class
university of science and technology in a short period of time, leading
the fostering of science talents in Ethiopia`s new material field, with
expectations to contribute to the development of not only Ethiopia`s
science and technology, but also the industry.
POSTECH plans to dispatch professors in the new material and
materials fields to help administrate establishment of the department.
The school will also provide support with experiment equipment,
establishing experiment labs, making a curriculum, training and
lectures.
Also, local professors and students are planned to be invited to
Korea to be provided job training linked with the industry field.
POSTECH will support the establishment and development of ASTU`s New
Material Engineering department proactively.
POSTECH New Material Engineering Professor Heo Jong who is in charge
of this project commented, ``We will proactively utilize the excellent
talents and infrastructure of POSCO and POSTECH in the new materials and
materials field, and do our best to contribute to the development of
science and technology in Ethiopia and furthermore help cooperation with
Korea.``
