By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said it awarded honorary doctorate degrees to the nation's two women leaders, Rep. Park Geun-hye, former chairwoman of the Grand National Party, and Lee Gil-ya, chairperson of the Gachon Gil Foundation, a major medical services organization, Friday.
It is the first time that the school has awarded honorary doctorate degrees to women in its 37-year history. They were conferred with the honor during the university's 2008 graduation ceremony in recognition of their achievements in social services.
KAIST President Suh Nam-pyo said that the university decided to confer the degrees on the two female leaders who both have educational backgrounds in the fields of engineering and science. Suh said they will present role models to female students in science and engineering who still make up a relatively small percentage of the total enrollment at KAIST and throughout Korean universities.
``Our graduates and future students will strive to make meaningful contributions to the nation and the world, just as the two women leaders have done so well, for so many years,'' said Suh in his commencement address.
Female students constitute 23 percent of the total enrollment of 7,800, including graduate and doctorate students.
The honorary doctorate citation said Park Geun-hye, a graduate of the Department of Electronic Engineering, Sogang University in Seoul, has exerted strenuous efforts for the advancement of science and technology education and women's social role. Among other things, Park called for the launching of a ``second-stage science and technology revolution'' during her 2007 presidential campaign.
Lee Gil-ya, a widely-revered medical doctor, has demonstrated outstanding leadership in education, culture, journalism and business management, according to her citation. Throughout her brilliant professional career, she has pursued a lifelong goal of philanthropy, social service and patriotism. In particular, her dedication to nurturing young talent is widely recognized in Korea.