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Above: Carnegie Mellon University Jared L. Cohon |
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
This is the 16th in a series of interviews with heads of the world's top universities. ㅡ ED.
A large number of international students among their student body is a common factor in the world's top universities. Among them, Carnegie Mellon University has another reason to welcome and draw more foreign students apart from globalization.
Jared L. Cohon, president of the school, said Carnegie Melon boasts the biggest number of students in the world learning foreign languages in an interview with The Korea Times.
``An interesting and welcoming trend at Carnegie Mellon is a significant increase among students studying foreign languages. Almost half of our undergraduates take courses in a foreign language, which compares to an average of 12 percent at American universities with no foreign language requirement,'' Cohon said.
Currently, Carnegie Mellon has about 5,600 undergraduates students and 13 percent of them are from abroad. Among nearly 4,500 graduates, 42 percent are international. As for Korean students, the school had 173 new students from Korea last year. The acceptance rate for Korean applicants is comparable to the overall study body rate of 27 percent for foreign students, the president said.
The school head believes Korean students would better off studying abroad in their early years if they aim to get admitted to the world's top universities saying, ``Students for whom college is their first experience outside of Korea can find it difficult in adjusting to the language and culture of a new country.'' However, Carnegie Melon gives special care to international students who have difficulties in adapting.
``In addition to the academic preparation that is essential for success, they must also adjust to the language and culture of a new country,'' Cohon said. ``At Carnegie Mellon, we pay close attention to the English language skills of our applicants. We also have many support structures and student organizations for international students. The presence of a large international student population is itself very helpful.''
Carnegie Mellon shows strength in science and technology among American universities as well as art conservatories. The president was confident of its reputation referring to its ranking by U.S. News & World Report magazine, Business Week magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Also, its drama school has produced many well-known, award-winning stars on the stage and screen since it awarded the nation's first degree in drama in 1917, Cohon said.
In addition, Carnegie Mellon distinguishes itself from other top universities with many interdisciplinary programs. For example, it has a program in computational finance, a collaboration of the Tepper school of business, the department of mathematical sciences in the Mellon College of Science, and the department of statistics in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Another example is a program in human computer interaction, a collaboration between the School of Computer Science, the School of Design in the College of Fine Arts, and the department of psychology in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The school also allows students to combine an arts major with natural sciences, physical sciences or mathematics major. ``Recent innovations also include a wide range of environmental courses and new coursework on global issues for students in all majors. We are currently developing a new minor in innovation, technology change and entrepreneurship,'' Cohon said.
Lastly, the president stated that the school will increase its already strong connections to Korea. ``We are already involved in Korea in many ways, especially in the areas of software engineering, computer security and entertainment technology. As the most connected country in the world, Korea has become a key hub for cultural innovation in Asia and the world,'' he said.
Having earned his B.Sc. degree in civil engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1969, and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973, Cohon started his teaching and research career at Johns Hopkins, where he was a faculty member in the department of geography and environmental engineering for 19 years.
Cohon came to Carnegie Mellon from Yale University, where he was dean of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and professor of environmental systems analysis from 1992 to 1997. He became the eighth president of the school in July of that year.
kswho@koreatimes.co.kr
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