KAIST graduates become professors at foreign colleges

Dr. Han Chul-woo, 38, and Dr. Kim Hyung-tae, 31, both graduates of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) doctoral program in management engineering, were appointed assistant professors at esteemed foreign universities, KAIST announced Tuesday.

"It is uncommon for those holding Korean degrees to be made business professors at foreign universities," said Lee Byung-tae, dean of the KAIST College of Business. "It means that our research standards are being acknowledged by international scholars."

Han received his bachelor's degree in applied chemistry and his master's degree in mechanical engineering, both from Seoul National University, and his doctoral degree in management engineering from KAIST.

He ran his own consulting firm specializing in portfolio risk management before being employed as an assistant professor at Durham University Business School in the United Kingdom in June.

While managing his firm, Han submitted a good number of papers to distinguished journals, including the Journal of Banking and Finance. He is also recognized for some 10 years of field experience.

Han chose Durham University among others because the institution is a member university of the Russell Group, a supportive organization of 20 prestigious universities, including the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

Kim majored in applied mathematics and entered a joint master's and doctorate program in KAIST in 2004. Kim was appointed as an assistant professor at Arkansas State University in June.

He is recognized for his paper on the relationship between stock grants and transparency. It was published by the Korean Accounting Association, the American Accounting Association and the European Accounting Association.

The KAIST College of Business was established in 1995. So far, of the 311 management engineering doctoral graduates, 43 percent have been employed by national universities and 10 students were appointed professors at foreign universities, including Georgia State University, the City University of Hong Kong and National University of Singapore.