Dongguk to Specialize in Buddhism, Ecology

Upgrading scholastic performance has been the top priority for Dongguk University, which will mark its centennial anniversary next year.

"I pledged to help the university emerge as a study and research oriented university when I was inaugurated in 2003,?? Hong Ki-sam, president of Dongguk University, said in an interview with The Korea Times.

Hong said that to make students study harder, he has strived to innovate the school?s facilities such as expanding the size of the library to secure more space for students to study in.

The university, which was founded in 1906, has introduced an evaluation system to expand incentives to good-performing professors in teaching and research.

``We?re providing supports for professors who list their papers in international prestigious journals, such as the Science Citation Index of journals, a global indicator of the level of science study in a country, with an annual 10 million won,?? he said.

``Professors who report their papers in local journals will also get 2.5 million won as incentives annually,?? he added.

To improve the quality and effectiveness of the management, the university restructured the administrative system in February as the first phase of reform measures, he said.

``We have integrated similar courses from undergraduate schools to graduate schools and set up institutes to strengthen cultural studies and international education. Due to the restructuring process, about 12 staff were laid off earlier than scheduled,?? he said.

He said that as the second phase, the university is preparing for a cut in the student quota and will merge similar courses.

Given the current conditions and competitiveness in higher education, Hong said that reducing the enrollment is inevitable.

Along with the plan, he said that the university is seeking scholastic reform in specialized academic fields in an approximately three- to four-year program.

Dongguk University, which will mark the centennial anniversary in 2006, specializes in academic fields under the theme of the ABC project, including Asia, bio and culture, to be reborn as a high-performing university.

The school will focus on Buddhism and ecology, which are emerging as a promising academic field in the 21st century.

``We?re planning to establish interdisciplinary programs connecting Buddhism with ecology, which is closely related to environmental issues today,?? he said.

The graduate program in Buddhism and ecology will be launched to generate creative and professional human resources in the new academic field, he said.

He said that as part of the program, the university will boost the popularity of the subject through teenagers? activities such as the so-called ``green tours?? and lectures in Buddhism and ecology.

He believes that Buddhism and the ecology will help seek ways to address environmental problems based on the ideas of the religion.

The university began an eco-forum that included invited experts last October. The results of the seminar have been used as academic sources from 41 foreign sister universities in 14 countries.

``Ultimately, we are aiming to become a top-notch university in terms of Buddhism and ecology at home and abroad,?? he said.

Hong said the university will open a large-scale general hospital in Ilsan, on the northwestern outskirts of Seoul, in September.

The school has invested in both Western and Oriental medicine over the past 20 years.

The hospital will be equipped with 1,000 beds along with cutting-edge technology in both medical traditions.

``By 2010, the hospital will be able to compete with other local major hospitals,?? he said.

Hong said that a large dormitory able to accommodate about 1,500 students has been under construction as part of the ``Upgrade Dongguk Project?? to mark the centennial anniversary in 2006.

The project is designed to increase the number of high-qualified faculty members, he said.

``Since 2003, we?ve hired an additional 166 professors. By the fall semester, about another 51 professors will be employed,?? he said.

He vowed to double the number of faculty members by 2010, reducing the number of students per professor to 23.4.

Sculptures of elephants, symbols of Dongguk University, stand at its campus at the foot of Mt. Namsan in central Seoul. The school will mark its centennial next year and seek to emerge as a top-notch higher educational institution at home and abroad. Korea Times

Upgrading scholastic performance has been the top priority for Dongguk University, which will mark its centennial anniversary next year.

``I pledged to help the university emerge as a study and research oriented university when I was inaugurated in 2003,?? Hong Ki-sam, president of Dongguk University, said in an interview with The Korea Times.

Hong said that to make students study harder, he has strived to innovate the school?s facilities such as expanding the size of the library to secure more space for students to study in.

The university, which was founded in 1906, has introduced an evaluation system to expand incentives to good-performing professors in teaching and research.

``We?re providing supports for professors who list their papers in international prestigious journals, such as the Science Citation Index of journals, a global indicator of the level of science study in a country, with an annual 10 million won,?? he said.

``Professors who report their papers in local journals will also get 2.5 million won as incentives annually,?? he added.

To improve the quality and effectiveness of the management, the university restructured the administrative system in February as the first phase of reform measures, he said.

``We have integrated similar courses from undergraduate schools to graduate schools and set up institutes to strengthen cultural studies and international education. Due to the restructuring process, about 12 staff were laid off earlier than scheduled,?? he said.

He said that as the second phase, the university is preparing for a cut in the student quota and will merge similar courses.

Given the current conditions and competitiveness in higher education, Hong said that reducing the enrollment is inevitable.

Along with the plan, he said that the university is seeking scholastic reform in specialized academic fields in an approximately three- to four-year program.

Dongguk University, which will mark the centennial anniversary in 2006, specializes in academic fields under the theme of the ABC project, including Asia, bio and culture, to be reborn as a high-performing university.

The school will focus on Buddhism and ecology, which are emerging as a promising academic field in the 21st century.

``We?re planning to establish interdisciplinary programs connecting Buddhism with ecology, which is closely related to environmental issues today,?? he said.

The graduate program in Buddhism and ecology will be launched to generate creative and professional human resources in the new academic field, he said.

He said that as part of the program, the university will boost the popularity of the subject through teenagers? activities such as the so-called ``green tours?? and lectures in Buddhism and ecology.

He believes that Buddhism and the ecology will help seek ways to address environmental problems based on the ideas of the religion.

The university began an eco-forum that included invited experts last October. The results of the seminar have been used as academic sources from 41 foreign sister universities in 14 countries.

``Ultimately, we are aiming to become a top-notch university in terms of Buddhism and ecology at home and abroad,?? he said.

Hong said the university will open a large-scale general hospital in Ilsan, on the northwestern outskirts of Seoul, in September.

The school has invested in both Western and Oriental medicine over the past 20 years.

The hospital will be equipped with 1,000 beds along with cutting-edge technology in both medical traditions.

``By 2010, the hospital will be able to compete with other local major hospitals,?? he said.

Hong said that a large dormitory able to accommodate about 1,500 students has been under construction as part of the ``Upgrade Dongguk Project?? to mark the centennial anniversary in 2006.

The project is designed to increase the number of high-qualified faculty members, he said.

``Since 2003, we?ve hired an additional 166 professors. By the fall semester, about another 51 professors will be employed,?? he said.

He vowed to double the number of faculty members by 2010, reducing the number of students per professor to 23.4.

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