On Tuesday, 9 July 2024, the Thammasat University Library welcomed a group of instructors from Pukyong National University, South Korea for a library visit.
Pukyong National University (PKNU) is a national university in Busan, South Korea, formed in 1996.
The TU Library collection includes a number of books about different aspects of the life and history of Busan.
PKNU has a traditional focus on fisheries sciences and other maritime fields, and has extensive facilities for Marine and Technology studies.
The school’s mascot is anthropomorphic whale, Baek Kyung-i.
According to the PKNU website, the school symbol is
- a compass as an image of intellectuals who, as university students, continuously focus on the future and innovation.
- This symbolizes Pukyong students who lead the development of local society as its key players, and who change the world in the manner of our school motto “The future is in our hands.”
- By using navy blue and sky blue, this indicates that Pukyong students have hearts as wide as the ocean, spirits as high as the sky and minds that are clear and transparent.
Also posted on the PKNU website was a press release from this month:
PKNU sets sail for ’68-year tradition’ offshore sailing training
– departure ceremony on the 28th, 127 student crew members embark on a 32-day sailing
Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) held the ‘offshore sailing training departure ceremony of 2024 academic year’ on June 28 at the reclaimed pier of Yongho-man bay.
On this day, a total of 127 people, including 92 students from the division of marine production system management, the department of fisheries education, a major of electrical engineering, and including 35 crew members, started the 30-day training voyage.
Pukyong National University’s offshore sailing training began in 1957 when 48 students, including honorary chairman Kim Jae-Cheol of the Dongwon group, ventured to Ji-long port in Taiwan, marking the first voyage from Korea. Now in its 68th year, this training has laid the foundation for the country’s offshore industry and economy, and today, it has become a program for cultivating talents in the future advanced marine and fisheries new industry fields.
Through this program, Pukyong National University students will learn in the east sea, south sea, west sea of Korea and the Japanese sea, and learn the navigator and engineer programs on the sea in accordance with the STCW International Convention, including courses in fishing, navigation, electronic communication operation, ship engine operation, and automatic control system operation.
Additionally, the students plan to visit universities and institutions at ports of call such as Hakodate Port in Japan and Keelung Port in Taiwan to engage in exchanges and build international networks. […]
Another university news report from last month:
PKNU celebrates its centennial with the completion of the Ungbi tower and a time capsule sealing ceremony
– a time capsule containing the university’s historical books and other items will be sealed for 50 years in front of Ungbi tower on the 11th.
Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) held a ribbon cutting ceremony and a time capsule sealing ceremony in front of the newly completed Ungbi tower on the morning of June 11th.
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Pukyong National University made the Ungbi tower with funds raised by the alumni association and members of the university community to support the construction of a memorial tower and the ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on this day.
The name of the tower, located at the center of the campus, is inherited from the Ungbi stone tower, which was established in front of Mirae hall in 1987. The design of the tower features a compass-shaped base with a hand encircling the globe, symbolizing the university’s motto, “the future is in our hands”.
At the top of the tower, the globe is installed upside down, symbolizing that Korea is not at the end of the land but at the beginning of the sea, expressing the spirit of expanding our stage from the campus to the vast ocean.
Following this, Pukyong National University held a time capsule sealing ceremony to commemorate its centennial of founding, sealing the time capsule in a space created at the base of the Ungbi tower.
The time capsule contains various items, including a book detailing the 100-year history of the university since its founding, educational materials for the 2024 academic year, university newspapers published by Busan National University of Technology and the National Fisheries University of Busan before their integration, art catalogues from the historical exhibition room in the university museum, and commemorative items for the 100th anniversary of the university’s founding.
Pukyong National University plans to open the time capsule in May 2074, marking the 150th anniversary of university founding. <Pukyong Today>
Earlier this year, PKNU hosted an international forum to celebrate its centennial:
In celebration of its centennial, Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) hosted the ‘Asian university international forum’ on May 22, inviting presidents from six universities across five Asian countries to deliver lectures.
On this day, starting at 10 a.m., Pukyong National University held the forum in the main conference room on the second floor of the university administration building, under the theme of ‘Beyond the ivory tower: the role of Asian universities in responding to social changes’.
The forum was organized to discuss and exchange the direction of higher education with universities in Asian countries, presidents from six universities from five countries gave lectures including Pukyong National University, Hokkaido university and Tokyo university of maritime science and technology in Japan, Ho Chi Minh city university of technology in Vietnam, Kasetsart university in Thailand, and institut Pertanian Bogor in Indonesia.
President Jang Young-Soo of Pukyong National University presented on ‘Pukyong National University’s regional co-growth model’, president Kiyohiro Houkin from Hokkaido university delivered a lecture on ‘the role of universities in a new era’, and president Arif Satria from the institut Pertanian Bogor discussed ‘the role of universities in promoting sustainability and social change: lessons from the IPB’.
Additionally, Mai Thanh Phong, president of Ho Chi Minh city university of technology, presented on ‘internationalization of higher education in Ho Chi Minh: the Implementation experience of HCMUT’, Chonrak Watcharinrat, president of Kasetsart university, discussed ‘Kasetsart university’s preparations to support a healthy aging society in Thailand’, and Toshio Iseki, president of Tokyo university of maritime science and technology, gave a presentation on ‘TUMSAT’s efforts to respond to social changes’. […]
Among other innovations, it was reported in April that PKNU had installed self-driving security patrol robots on its campus:
Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) decided to operate an ‘AI self-driving patrol robot’ using AI (artificial intelligence) security technology to strengthen campus safety.
Pukyong National University and SK shieldus have introduced two robots equipped with AI CCTV, which patrol predefined areas autonomously, and have commenced robot operations starting this month.
These robots, based on autonomous driving technology, continuously patrol designated areas such as Baekyong Square, the library, and the administration building on the completely flat Daeyeon campus 24 hours.
The AI self-driving patrol robot, equipped with the ability to distinguish between humans and objects, can analyze abnormal behaviors such as sudden falls, operate autonomously day and night, with functions including real-time video reception and voice broadcasting, therefore it promptly emits warning messages on-site or notifies the control center to ensure swift response and support in the event of an emergency. […]
Pukyong National University has been focusing on various efforts to expand patrol systems to ensure safe movement and vibrant activities for students and citizens since the creation of Baekyong Square, a pedestrian-only square designed for relaxation, communication, and local festivals. <Pukyong Today>
(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)