Utilizing partnership with Southern Utah University
By Chung Hyun-chae
Southern Utah University (SUU) has teamed up with Yongin University to offer a taekwondo curriculum for students majoring in physical education and exercise science from September.
"We've chosen Yongin University as our main partner as the school specializes in sports majors including taekwondo so it can help us set up the taekwondo program," Dr. Bradley J. Cook, provost and executive vice president of SUU, said in an interview with The Korea Times on Friday.
He visited Korea last week to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the partnership with Yongin University.
"We want to provide a taekwondo program within what we call ‘bachelor interdisciplinary studies,' under which students can take different concentrations and put them together," Cook said.
He noted that the program will deal with business, marketing and communication related with taekwondo, Korea's signature martial art.
"After taking the course, students can be successful when they come back to Korea or stay in the United States," Cook said.
Currently SUU has about 70 Korean students, making them the second-largest international student group after Saudi Arabia. They make up 15 percent of the foreign student body.
Cook stressed that the purpose of establishing the taekwondo program is not just to attract more Korean students to the U.S. but also to have American students come to Korea.
"Although there are a lot of American students interested in taekwondo, there are only two programs in the two-year college level in the whole United States," Cook said.
SUU will be the first one to launch such a program among four-year colleges in America.
"By signing the MOU with Yongin University, its faculties could come to SUU and advise what kind of course we have to deliver, and our faculties also could go to Yongin and check up every detail of taekwondo-related courses," Cook said.
He wants Yongin University students to come to SUU under an exchange program and learn different skills and English as well.
"We will also expand their experience base by finding ways to provide internships so they can see how businesses are constructed and how they are put together," he said.
SUU has further plans to expand its presence in Asia by having a close relationship with more institutions.
So far, it has formed ties with six institutions in Korea ― Chung-Ang University, Myongji University, Kyunghee University, Wonkwang University, Baekam High School and Yongin University.
"We are seeking to continue to foster those partnerships and perhaps to create partnerships with other types of universities and students who may be interested in studying in the United States," Cook said.
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| Bradley J. Cook |
Southern Utah University (SUU) has teamed up with Yongin University to offer a taekwondo curriculum for students majoring in physical education and exercise science from September.
"We've chosen Yongin University as our main partner as the school specializes in sports majors including taekwondo so it can help us set up the taekwondo program," Dr. Bradley J. Cook, provost and executive vice president of SUU, said in an interview with The Korea Times on Friday.
He visited Korea last week to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the partnership with Yongin University.
"We want to provide a taekwondo program within what we call ‘bachelor interdisciplinary studies,' under which students can take different concentrations and put them together," Cook said.
He noted that the program will deal with business, marketing and communication related with taekwondo, Korea's signature martial art.
"After taking the course, students can be successful when they come back to Korea or stay in the United States," Cook said.
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Currently SUU has about 70 Korean students, making them the second-largest international student group after Saudi Arabia. They make up 15 percent of the foreign student body.
Cook stressed that the purpose of establishing the taekwondo program is not just to attract more Korean students to the U.S. but also to have American students come to Korea.
"Although there are a lot of American students interested in taekwondo, there are only two programs in the two-year college level in the whole United States," Cook said.
SUU will be the first one to launch such a program among four-year colleges in America.
"By signing the MOU with Yongin University, its faculties could come to SUU and advise what kind of course we have to deliver, and our faculties also could go to Yongin and check up every detail of taekwondo-related courses," Cook said.
He wants Yongin University students to come to SUU under an exchange program and learn different skills and English as well.
"We will also expand their experience base by finding ways to provide internships so they can see how businesses are constructed and how they are put together," he said.
SUU has further plans to expand its presence in Asia by having a close relationship with more institutions.
So far, it has formed ties with six institutions in Korea ― Chung-Ang University, Myongji University, Kyunghee University, Wonkwang University, Baekam High School and Yongin University.
"We are seeking to continue to foster those partnerships and perhaps to create partnerships with other types of universities and students who may be interested in studying in the United States," Cook said.
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