Woosong University, established in 1995, belongs to the Woosong Education Foundation. Within the student body of 12,700, approximately 70% are international students who originate from about 70 countries. The university has a mission of global competitiveness and holds partnerships with colleges and universities in more than 60 countries. One of these partnerships includes Cal State Fullerton.
The groundwork was laid in November 2022 when Debra Leahy, dean of extension and associate vice president for international programs; Sridhar Sundaram, dean of the College of Business and economics; and Tam Nguyen, chair of the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation board of governors, met key leaders from Woosong University of Daejeon, South Korea while at the Global Academic Partnership Convention hosted by Foreign Trade University.
Fast forward three months later to a visit on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at CSUF where Woosong University’s president, Deog-Seong Oh, and dean of the Solbridge International School of Business, Joshua Park, joined Leahy, Sundaram, Sheryl Fontaine (dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences), Nguyen, and members of the CSUF International Programs Team to sign a Letter of Intent that committed to a reciprocal relationship and partnering between CSUF and Woosong University.
The letter’s focus was on how CSUF and Woosong’s Solbridge International School of Business may create articulated pathways; yet, both universities believe that the partnership is poised to expand to other disciplines and opportunities.
Additionally, in the afternoon, CSUF and Woosong University representatives met with the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County (KACCOC) and the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (OCIE SBDC) representatives to discuss business leadership and entrepreneurship. The discussion revolved around how CSUF and Woosong University may engage regional communities, both in Orange County and in Korea, to offer internships, trade missions, and potential faculty exchange.
“We are so pleased to forge this partnership with Woosong University as both Cal State Fullerton and Woosong are authentically focused on both serving their region as well as cultivating increasingly diverse voices by welcoming students from across the globe,” says Leahy.
This partnership also comes at an opportune time, as Korea consistently ranks as a top choice for CSUF students wishing to study abroad.
CSUF EIP supports various International Programs, such as Study Abroad and Exchange Programs, and is a fully integrated part of CSUF Extension & International Programs (EIP). Learn more about CSUF EIP at https://extension.fullerton.edu/