[Interview] Jang Yoon-geum, President of Sookmyung Women's University, "Seeing the Empty Campus Due to Remote Classes, I Drew a Blueprint for 'Digital Transformation'"

Inaugurated in the Severe COVID-19 Year 2020
Turning the Pandemic Crisis into an Opportunity for Growth
Committed to Achieving the 'Digital Humanity' Vision
The Secret to the 'Quantum Jump' Is Innovation That Breaks the Mold

"We gathered small successes to create the next step."

Jang Yoon-geum, President of Sookmyung Women's University, revealed this as the secret to revitalizing the school during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, when COVID-19 was at its peak, President Jang began her first term amid an empty campus due to remote classes. It was a time when communication among campus members and external activities were all at risk of being halted.

Jang Yoon-geum, President of Sookmyung Women's University. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

True leadership shines in moments of crisis. For President Jang, the pandemic was not a crisis but a time to prepare for a leap forward. In a situation where external events were virtually impossible, she reviewed key campus projects and envisioned the blueprint for Sookmyung Women's University. Through these efforts, Sookmyung Women's University consecutively secured government projects and other funding, securing a budget of approximately 140 billion KRW.

The gentle power that changes the world. President Jang embodied the founding spirit of Sookmyung Women's University based on leadership of communication and harmony. The grand journey toward becoming the "world's best digital humanity university" is bearing fruit. In an interview with Asia Economy, President Jang explained the "Sookmyung power" that turned crisis into opportunity. Below is a Q&A with President Jang.

- This year marks your 4th year in office. How would you evaluate your reflections and achievements so far?

▲ When I first took office as president in September 2020, the pandemic was at its most severe. The campus was closed, and all classes shifted to remote learning. At that time, I thought it was necessary to build a data system to prepare for the digital era. We established the Digital Information Innovation Office, digitized all campus data into databases, and created an integrated data system to collect and manage scattered data. Through this, we can now see the entire process of students from admission to attending classes and career development through data.

Additionally, in collaboration with LG Uplus, we built the country's first metaverse campus called "Snowverse." We held festivals, club activities, and study sessions there to alleviate students' thirst for school culture who could not come to campus due to the pandemic. Starting this semester, required liberal arts courses will be conducted in Snowverse, with about 2,000 freshmen attending classes on the metaverse platform. The crisis of the pandemic became a good stepping stone for Sookmyung Women's University's quantum leap.

Jang Yungum, President of Sookmyung Women's University.
Photo by Heo Younghan

- In your inaugural speech, you presented the blueprint of a 'Digital Humanity University.' What key projects have you pursued to realize this vision?

▲ Sookmyung Women's University declared the 'Sookmyung 2030' vision to become a so-called 'Digital Humanity University' that deals with human-centered digital studies. To get closer to this blueprint, we established the Digital Humanity Center in February 2022 and opened the Jang Bong-ae Digital Humanity Center last September with support from alumni companies.

To nurture creative convergence talents, we also launched a project called the 'Sookmyung Research Cluster,' where two or more professors from different majors collaborate to create research areas specialized for Sookmyung Women's University. Since 2022, research cluster teams have been formed in three science and engineering fields and two humanities and social sciences fields, conducting research with various companies, with completion expected in August this year. By actively supporting infrastructure, research funds, and scholarships necessary for convergence research, we attempted innovations that lower barriers between disciplines and enhance synergies.

- Sookmyung Women's University has consecutively achieved success in government-funded projects such as the Leading University for Industry-Academia Cooperation (LINC 3.0). What is the secret?

▲ I believe it is because we achieved bold innovations that break away from existing frameworks and align with social trends. For example, to cultivate core talents in advanced industries, Sookmyung Women's University innovated by establishing five advanced departments within the College of Engineering, including the Department of Artificial Intelligence Engineering and the Department of Data Science. Also, regardless of major, all students are required to complete three liberal arts software-related courses (9 credits), completely revising the curriculum. Through the LINC 3.0 project, we established an Industry-Academia Cooperation Education Center to enhance industry-academia linked tracks. Our members also kept pace with these changes. The Sookmyung community had a belief that anything was possible, and based on that belief, a single ignition was needed. Persistently pushing forward with planned initiatives seems to have led to good results.

Jang Yoon-geum, President of Sookmyung Women's University. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

- Sookmyung Women's University is pursuing mutual growth with local governments, such as being finally selected for the Seoul Campus Town project with Yongsan-gu. What added value has been created through cooperation with the local community?

▲ One of the keywords gaining attention in university towns recently is "JiSanHak" (local production, local academia). It means that local governments, companies, and universities cooperate to nurture talent and create jobs, aiming for mutual growth. Sookmyung Women's University was first selected for the Seoul City Campus Town project in 2017 and contributed to regional revitalization by promoting projects such as the Yongsan Market revival. From 2020, we discovered 118 youth startup companies and achieved employment of 1,092 people. Based on these achievements, we were selected as a participating university for the 6th phase of the Campus Town project, which will run for three years starting this year, aiming to support 180 companies by 2026. The goal is to achieve sustainable future changes together with universities, companies, and local communities.

- Recently, Sookmyung Women's University has expanded global exchanges mainly in the Americas and Northern Europe. What efforts are being made to secure global talent and strengthen competitiveness?

▲ From an educational perspective, I believe it is important to provide students with experiences of global exchange. Since the pandemic was ending, we have been focusing on expanding students' overseas exchanges. Recently, to activate international exchange, we have signed agreements with prestigious universities such as Yale University and Stanford University and are expanding exchanges. Also, on the 13th, we held the 3rd Sookmyung International Women's Day Forum, inviting ambassadors from four European countries to discuss women's support policy issues.

We are also conducting various programs to strengthen global women's leadership. Through the Asia-Pacific Women's Information and Communication Institute, a UNESCO-affiliated organization, we provided digital and women's leadership education to female students from partner universities in Vietnam and Indonesia. Students who achieved excellent results in the program were invited to Sookmyung Women's University to participate in educational programs such as the Sookmyung Hackathon. We believe that strengthening women's leadership through our capabilities is the mission of Sookmyung Women's University.

Jang Yungum, President of Sookmyung Women's University. Photo by Huh Younghan younghan@

- In the era of declining school-age population, what plans does Sookmyung Women's University have to secure stable finances?

▲ We feel the need to make efforts to attract international students. We are expanding various support programs for international and exchange students visiting Sookmyung Women's University to open our doors globally. This year, we established a new department exclusively for international students called the Global Convergence Department. In the first year, students take language, cultural adaptation, and liberal arts courses, and from the second year, they can choose their desired major. We also plan to expand expert training programs.

Furthermore, I believe the concept of university entrance age being 18 to 19 years old needs to change. This semester, the oldest examinee, Ms. Kim Jeong-ja, who took the college entrance exam at the age of 83, enrolled as a freshman at Sookmyung Women's University Future Education Institute. Going forward, in line with stable financial security and future-oriented changes, we need lifelong education system policies that allow education not only immediately after high school graduation but also at desired times.

-Following the Ministry of Education's guideline to expand non-major admissions, universities are increasing non-major admission quotas. How is Sookmyung Women's University responding?

▲ Sookmyung Women's University is preparing to reorganize recruitment units for major autonomous selection as part of educational innovation for the 2025 academic year, according to the Ministry of Education's 2024 University Innovation Support Project basic plan. Since last year, we have been holding discussions with campus members to finalize plans for academic system reform to enable non-major admissions.

Jang Yungum, President of Sookmyung Women's University.
Photo by Heo Younghan

- You were noted as the first directly elected president. What efforts have you made to communicate with campus members since taking office?

▲ Whenever there was a place to communicate with alumni, I went immediately. I believe Sookmyung Women's University has been able to sustain for 118 years thanks to the responsibility for women's education and the pride of alumni. Perhaps due to these efforts, we were able to raise about 40 billion KRW in development funds over approximately four years with the help of alumni. Also, to help students struggling with employment due to COVID-19, we promoted an employment mentoring program between alumni and current students. The program started with 30 alumni and has grown tenfold to about 300 participants. Alumni are rolling up their sleeves to help juniors enter society.

On campus, we held 21 meetings between the president and students and 30 meetings by rank and department with staff to communicate with employees. We will continue to communicate closely with all members and hold as many sessions as possible to gather everyone's wisdom for school development.

Interview by Ryu Jeong-min, Head of Social Affairs Department

Compiled by Reporter Lee Ji-eun