Pyongyang University of Science and Technology
Encyclopedia
Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) is North Korea's
first privately funded university. It is founded, operated and partly funded by associations and people outside the country. The PUST has been jointly planned and constructed by forces from both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
and Republic of Korea
, along with contributions from groups and individuals from other nations, in particular China
and the USA. The initiative is largely funded by Evangelical Christian movements. Originally scheduled for launch in 2003, the project was delayed for several years, but finally began operations in October 2010.
The university is situated just outside of Pyongyang
. It had its official opening in September 2010, and plans to enroll up to 200 higher-level students per year, from both parts of Korea. Plans also include the hiring of up to 250 faculty members from universities and research institutions in South Korea, China, the United States, and other countries. The teaching will be in English and Korean. As a joint venture university, the PUST is seen as a contribution to the Korean reunification
process. Faculty will need to come from a Christian background.
The goals of PUST is to contribute to North Korean economic development, by producing professionals in engineering, information technology, and international business, necessitating also fluency in foreign languages (including Chinese, Japanese, English, German, French). Master
’s and doctorate
degrees will be awarded in architecture
and design
(A&D); computing
, electronics
and communication technology (CEST); agriculture
and food engineering
(AFE); materials and mechanical engineering
(MME). In addition, a School of Business will award Master degrees in business administration (MBA).
After introductory negotiations, the PUST project was started in 2001, on the initiative of Professor Kim Chin Kyung
, endorsed in a personal meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il
. Professor Kim's earlier accomplishments include being Founding President of Yanbian University of Science and Technology
(YUST) in the North-Eastern part of China, but inside the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture
, founded in 1992. The PUST will cooperate with YUST and draw on their experiences. The PUST construction plans were politically troubled and slowed down in 2005 and 2006, in connection with the 2006 North Korean nuclear test
, but later on resumed and have led to their conclusion. PUST classes began in October 2010.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
first privately funded university. It is founded, operated and partly funded by associations and people outside the country. The PUST has been jointly planned and constructed by forces from both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and Republic of Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, along with contributions from groups and individuals from other nations, in particular China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and the USA. The initiative is largely funded by Evangelical Christian movements. Originally scheduled for launch in 2003, the project was delayed for several years, but finally began operations in October 2010.
The university is situated just outside of Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
. It had its official opening in September 2010, and plans to enroll up to 200 higher-level students per year, from both parts of Korea. Plans also include the hiring of up to 250 faculty members from universities and research institutions in South Korea, China, the United States, and other countries. The teaching will be in English and Korean. As a joint venture university, the PUST is seen as a contribution to the Korean reunification
Korean reunification
Korean reunification refers to the hypothetical future reunification of North Korea and South Korea under a single government...
process. Faculty will need to come from a Christian background.
The goals of PUST is to contribute to North Korean economic development, by producing professionals in engineering, information technology, and international business, necessitating also fluency in foreign languages (including Chinese, Japanese, English, German, French). Master
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
’s and doctorate
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degrees will be awarded in architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
(A&D); computing
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, electronics
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
and communication technology (CEST); agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and food engineering
Food engineering
Food engineering is a multidisciplinary field of applied physical sciences which combines science, microbiology, and engineering education for food and related industries. Food engineering includes, but is not limited to, the application of agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering and...
(AFE); materials and mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
(MME). In addition, a School of Business will award Master degrees in business administration (MBA).
After introductory negotiations, the PUST project was started in 2001, on the initiative of Professor Kim Chin Kyung
Kim Chin Kyung
Kim Chin Kyung born 1935 in Seoul, Korea) is a professor of economics and a builder of international institutes of higher learning...
, endorsed in a personal meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
. Professor Kim's earlier accomplishments include being Founding President of Yanbian University of Science and Technology
Yanbian University of Science and Technology
The Yanbian University of Science and Technology , or YUST, is colloquially known as Yankeda . It is a research university in the city of Yanji, Jilin Province, China. Yanbian University of Science and Technology is the first Chinese joint-venture university in the Yanbian Autonomous Prefecture...
(YUST) in the North-Eastern part of China, but inside the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture
Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture
Yanbian is a Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province, in Northeastern China, above the border with North Korea. Yanbian is bordered to the north by Heilongjiang, on the west by Baishan City and Jilin City, on the south by North Hamgyong Province of North Korea, and on the east by Primorsky...
, founded in 1992. The PUST will cooperate with YUST and draw on their experiences. The PUST construction plans were politically troubled and slowed down in 2005 and 2006, in connection with the 2006 North Korean nuclear test
2006 North Korean nuclear test
The 2006 North Korean nuclear test was the detonation of a nuclear device conducted on October 9, 2006 by North Korea.North Korea announced its intention to conduct a test on October 3, six days prior, and in doing so became the first nation to give warning of its first nuclear test...
, but later on resumed and have led to their conclusion. PUST classes began in October 2010.
External links
- Official website (hosted under South KoreanSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.kr.kr.kr is the Internet country code top-level domain for South Korea . Registrations are processed via registration agents....
) - Report on PUST from the Chinese Education and Research Network
- Archive news on PUST from North Korean Economy Watch
- Ministry of Unification Towards Peace and Prosperity
- Report in Science, April 2007: A mission to educate the elite
- Korea is reunifying, Christine Ahn's Congressional testimony
- Article in Fortune Magazine, "The capitalist who loves North Korea", September 15, 2009
- PUST Getting Off the Ground in Pyongyang
- http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/31/news/31iht-a4_34.html?pagewanted=1 "South Korean, Once Held as Spy, Plans a University in Pyongyang," New York Times July 31, 2001.