한태준 겐트대 글로벌캠퍼스 총장 “대학원 설립, 교육·연구·산업 잇는 마지막 퍼즐”
- 응용 바이오 분야 중심 설립 추진
- 정부와 절차 협의…TF 구성 예정
- 해양·환경 분야 등 발전 기여 의지
- 지역 대학·기관과 인재 양성 추진
- “국제적 교육·연구 허브 발전 목표”
“대학원 설립은 교육과 연구, 산업이 이어지는 선순환 생태계를 완성하는 마지막 퍼즐입니다.”
한태준 겐트대 글로벌캠퍼스 총장은 22일 진행된 인천일보와 인터뷰에서 인천 송도에 응용 바이오 분야를 중심으로 한 연구중심 대학원을 설립하겠다는 구상을 밝혔다.
한 총장은 “겐트대는 교육과 연구를 함께 발전시켜 온 연구중심대학인 만큼 대학원은 선택이 아니라 교육과 연구를 완성하는 핵심 축”이라며 “지난 12년 동안 학부 교육을 안정적으로 정착시켰고, 이제는 연구에서도 한 단계 도약할 기반이 마련됐다”고 강조했다.
학생과 학부모들의 요구도 대학원 설립을 추진한 배경이 됐다. 졸업생 상당수가 벨기에 본교를 비롯한 해외 대학원으로 진학하고 있지만, 송도에서는 겐트대 대학원 과정을 이어갈 수 없기 때문이다.
그는 “학생들이 해외로 떠나지 않고 인천에서 세계 수준의 연구를 이어갈 환경을 만들고 싶다”며 “바이오·환경·식품·해양 분야를 융합해 연구 성과가 산업과 사회문제 해결로 이어지는 실용적인 대학원을 구상하고 있다”고 전했다.
대학원 설립 구상은 지난달 10일 이재명 대통령과 바트 드 웨브흐 벨기에 총리의 정상회담에서도 언급됐다. 양 정상은 겐트대 글로벌캠퍼스 내 대학원 과정 신설 추진 등을 통해 교육 협력을 확대해 나가기로 했다.
한 총장은 “대학원 신설이 정상회담에서 논의된 것은 글로벌캠퍼스가 한·벨기에 교육·과학기술 협력의 거점으로 발전하기를 기대한다는 의미”라며 “교육을 넘어 연구와 산업협력까지 아우르는 양국 협력의 성공 모델로 성장하겠다”고 말했다.
현재 겐트대는 교육부와 설립 절차를 협의하고 벨기에 본교와 교육과정, 학위체계, 교수진 구성 등을 검토하고 있다. 다음 달 본교 총장단의 방한 이후 공동 태스크포스(TF)를 구성해 구체적인 운영계획을 마련할 예정이다. 개설 시기와 세부 전공은 아직 확정되지 않았다.
한 총장은 겐트대 글로벌캠퍼스의 경쟁력으로는 본교와 동일한 교육과정과 세계적인 연구 네트워크, 한국과 유럽을 잇는 국제협력 기능을 꼽았다. 학생들은 모든 전공수업을 영어로 이수하고 실험·실습과 연구 중심의 교육을 받는다.
그는 “단순히 영어로 수업하는 국제대학이 아니라 벨기에 본교의 교육·연구 역량을 한국에서 활용할 수 있는 확장캠퍼스”라며 “한국의 대학과 기업을 유럽 연구기관과 연결하고, 유럽의 연구성과를 한국으로 이어주는 가교 역할이 가장 큰 경쟁력”이라고 말했다.
인천지역과의 교류도 넓히고 있다. 겐트대는 지금까지 국내 대학·연구기관·산업체와 약 200건의 협력관계를 맺었다. 인천대·인하대·가천대·연세대·재능대와 교류하고 스태츠칩팩코리아, 인천의료원, 패션그룹 형지 등과 인재 양성 및 공동연구를 추진 중이다.
한 총장은 “해외 대학이라고 지역사회와 거리를 두는 것이 아니라 인천에 깊이 뿌리내리고 함께 성장해야 한다”며 “인천의 바이오·해양·환경 분야 발전에 기여하고 지역이 필요로 하는 문제를 해결하겠다”고 했다.
그가 그리는 글로벌캠퍼스의 미래도 '한국 사회에 필요한 대학'에 맞닿아 있다.
한 총장은 “한국의 학생을 키우고 산업과 함께 성장하며 사회가 필요로 하는 문제를 해결하는 대학이 되고 싶다”며 “한국과 벨기에를 넘어 세계의 학생과 연구자가 함께 배우고 연구하는 국제적인 교육·연구 허브로 발전시키겠다”고 밝혔다.
* 출처: 인천일보(https://www.incheonilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1327827)
Taejun Han, Campus President : "A Graduate School Is the Final Piece Linking Education, Research, and Industry"
- Plans center on applied biology
- In talks with government on procedures; joint task force to follow
- Committed to contributing to marine and environmental development
- Pursuing talent development with local universities and institutions
- "Aiming to become an international hub for education and research"
"Establishing a graduate school is the final piece completing a virtuous cycle connecting education, research, and industry."
In an interview with Incheon Ilbo on July 22, President Taejun Han of Ghent University Global Campus announced plans to establish a research-focused graduate school centered on applied biology in Songdo, Incheon.
"As a research-driven university that has advanced education and research together, a graduate school is not optional for Ghent University — it is the core pillar that completes both," President Han said. "Over the past 12 years we have firmly established undergraduate education, and the foundation is now in place to take our research to the next level."
The demands of students and parents also factored into the decision. Many graduates go on to pursue graduate studies abroad, including at Ghent University's main campus in Belgium, but they currently have no way to continue their Ghent University studies in Songdo.
"I want to create an environment where students can pursue world-class research in Incheon without having to go abroad," he said. "We are envisioning a practical graduate school that integrates biology, environmental science, food science, and marine science, so that research outcomes translate directly into industry applications and solutions to social challenges."
The graduate school plan was also raised during the June 10 summit between President Jaemyung Lee and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The two leaders agreed to expand educational cooperation, including efforts to establish a graduate program at Ghent University Global Campus.
"The fact that the graduate school plan was discussed at the summit reflects hopes that the Global Campus will grow into a hub for Korea-Belgium cooperation in education, science, and technology," President Han said. "We will grow into a successful model of bilateral cooperation spanning not just education but research and industrial collaboration as well."
Ghent University is currently in discussions with the Ministry of Education on establishment procedures, while reviewing curriculum, degree structure, and faculty composition together with the main campus in Belgium. Following a visit to Korea by the main campus's leadership delegation next month, a joint task force will be formed to develop a detailed operating plan. The launch date and specific fields of study have not yet been finalized.
President Han pointed to the Global Campus's curriculum — identical to that of the main campus — its global research network, and its role bridging Korea and Europe as its key competitive strengths. Students complete all major coursework in English and receive an education centered on hands-on lab work and research.
"We are not simply an international university that happens to teach in English — we are an extension campus where the education and research capabilities of the main campus in Belgium can be put to use here in Korea," he said. "Our greatest strength is serving as a bridge: connecting Korean universities and companies with European research institutions, and bringing European research outcomes to Korea."
The university is also expanding its ties with the Incheon region. To date, Ghent University has built roughly 200 partnerships with domestic universities, research institutes, and industry. It maintains exchanges with Incheon National University, Inha University, Gachon University, Yonsei University, and JEI University, and is pursuing talent development and joint research with organizations including STATS ChipPAC Korea, Incheon Metropolitan Medical Center, and Fashion Group Hyungji.
"Being a foreign university doesn't mean keeping our distance from the local community — we need to put down deep roots in Incheon and grow together with it," President Han said. "We will contribute to the development of Incheon's bio, marine, and environmental sectors, and help solve the problems this region needs solved."
The future he envisions for the Global Campus is likewise tied to the idea of "a university Korean society needs."
"I want us to become a university that nurtures Korean students, grows together with industry, and solves the problems society needs solved," President Han said. "We will build an international hub for education and research where students and scholars from around the world — not just Korea and Belgium — can learn and do research together."
* Source: Incheon Ilbo (https://www.incheonilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1327827)
- In talks with government on procedures; joint task force to follow
- Committed to contributing to marine and environmental development
- Pursuing talent development with local universities and institutions
- "Aiming to become an international hub for education and research"
"Establishing a graduate school is the final piece completing a virtuous cycle connecting education, research, and industry."
In an interview with Incheon Ilbo on July 22, President Taejun Han of Ghent University Global Campus announced plans to establish a research-focused graduate school centered on applied biology in Songdo, Incheon.
"As a research-driven university that has advanced education and research together, a graduate school is not optional for Ghent University — it is the core pillar that completes both," President Han said. "Over the past 12 years we have firmly established undergraduate education, and the foundation is now in place to take our research to the next level."
The demands of students and parents also factored into the decision. Many graduates go on to pursue graduate studies abroad, including at Ghent University's main campus in Belgium, but they currently have no way to continue their Ghent University studies in Songdo.
"I want to create an environment where students can pursue world-class research in Incheon without having to go abroad," he said. "We are envisioning a practical graduate school that integrates biology, environmental science, food science, and marine science, so that research outcomes translate directly into industry applications and solutions to social challenges."
The graduate school plan was also raised during the June 10 summit between President Jaemyung Lee and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. The two leaders agreed to expand educational cooperation, including efforts to establish a graduate program at Ghent University Global Campus.
"The fact that the graduate school plan was discussed at the summit reflects hopes that the Global Campus will grow into a hub for Korea-Belgium cooperation in education, science, and technology," President Han said. "We will grow into a successful model of bilateral cooperation spanning not just education but research and industrial collaboration as well."
Ghent University is currently in discussions with the Ministry of Education on establishment procedures, while reviewing curriculum, degree structure, and faculty composition together with the main campus in Belgium. Following a visit to Korea by the main campus's leadership delegation next month, a joint task force will be formed to develop a detailed operating plan. The launch date and specific fields of study have not yet been finalized.
President Han pointed to the Global Campus's curriculum — identical to that of the main campus — its global research network, and its role bridging Korea and Europe as its key competitive strengths. Students complete all major coursework in English and receive an education centered on hands-on lab work and research.
"We are not simply an international university that happens to teach in English — we are an extension campus where the education and research capabilities of the main campus in Belgium can be put to use here in Korea," he said. "Our greatest strength is serving as a bridge: connecting Korean universities and companies with European research institutions, and bringing European research outcomes to Korea."
The university is also expanding its ties with the Incheon region. To date, Ghent University has built roughly 200 partnerships with domestic universities, research institutes, and industry. It maintains exchanges with Incheon National University, Inha University, Gachon University, Yonsei University, and JEI University, and is pursuing talent development and joint research with organizations including STATS ChipPAC Korea, Incheon Metropolitan Medical Center, and Fashion Group Hyungji.
"Being a foreign university doesn't mean keeping our distance from the local community — we need to put down deep roots in Incheon and grow together with it," President Han said. "We will contribute to the development of Incheon's bio, marine, and environmental sectors, and help solve the problems this region needs solved."
The future he envisions for the Global Campus is likewise tied to the idea of "a university Korean society needs."
"I want us to become a university that nurtures Korean students, grows together with industry, and solves the problems society needs solved," President Han said. "We will build an international hub for education and research where students and scholars from around the world — not just Korea and Belgium — can learn and do research together."
* Source: Incheon Ilbo (https://www.incheonilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1327827)
