ICT Ministry's HR training center partners with Sussex, Ajou universities

By Kim Bo-eun

The ICT ministry's human resources training center has partnered with the U.K.'s University of Sussex and Korea's Ajou University to train experts in science and technology policy.

The Korea Institute of Human Resource Development in Science and Technology (KIRD) said Monday it signed a memorandum of understanding with the universities on future collaboration.

KIRD's HR Research Office will work with the University of Sussex Business School's Science Policy Research Unit and Ajou University's New Industrial Convergence Technology Research Center.

KIRD is set to refer to a U.K. science and technology expert training policy model to develop its own programs.

The three institutions will conduct joint studies in science and technology policy, run training courses and set up study and exchange programs. They will also seek exchanges and visits by personnel in science and technology policy.

Based on the partnership, KIRD is seeking to further enhance international cooperation with top-class research and training agencies.

"We are anticipating cooperation with world-class institutions in science and technology policy," KIRD Senior Director Kim Joo-bong was cited as saying in a press release.

The University of Sussex Business School's Director Jeremy Hall said, "The school's Science Policy Research Unit has a long history of collaboration with Korean researchers and we look forward to strengthening these ties as Korea continues its trajectory as a leader in science, technology and innovation."

Ajou University Director Lee Joo-yeoun said, "Through global cooperation in training and research in science and technology policy, I hope we will be able to develop individuals into experts and conduct practical research at a global level."

KIRD was established in 2007 to strengthen science and technology personnel's research expertise and innovative capabilities.

The University of Sussex's Science Policy Research Unit, founded in 1966, is one of the world's leading centers of research on science, technology, innovation policy and management.

Ajou University's New Convergence R&D Center was founded to promote science and industrial convergence research in 2015. It is seeking to become a think tank for public-private collaborative science and technology policy.