Dong-A University Partners with Hawaii Department of Education to Foster Global Talent

Agreement Signed with Maui High School
Laying the Foundation for Expanding Global Industry-Academia Cooperation

Dong-A University (President Lee Haewoo) is working to strengthen its cooperative framework for nurturing global talent through educational exchanges with the state of Hawaii in the United States.

On November 6, Dong-A University announced that on October 30, Keith Hayashi, Superintendent of the Hawaii Department of Education, and his visiting delegation visited the Seunghak Campus, met with President Lee Haewoo, and toured the industrial site at Samsung Heavy Industries in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do.

In addition to Superintendent Hayashi, the delegation included Lori Yatsushiro, District Superintendent of Hawaii, Ty Ogasawara, Principal of Maui High School, Wanelle Kaneshiro, Chairperson of the Hawaii Workforce Development Council, and Tiffany Frias, Advisor to the Hawaii Student Council.

Dr. Kwan Jay Cho, a Dong-A University alumnus who serves as a bridge for exchanges in the Hawaii region, also attended the event.

Dr. Cho is the head of IMPAC, an English education institution authorized to issue U.S. student visas (I-20), and plays a key role in expanding exchanges between Dong-A University and the Hawaii region.

On this day, Dong-A University signed an agreement with Maui High School in Hawaii, promising to cooperate in facilitating admission of Maui High School graduates to Dong-A University and promoting mutual educational exchanges.

After the signing ceremony, the delegation toured the “Sports Hall of Fame” at the College of Arts and Physical Education, watched a Taekwondo demonstration, and, with the arrangement of President Lee Haewoo, visited Samsung Heavy Industries to explore opportunities for global industry-academia cooperation.

This visit to the industrial site was initiated at the request of the Hawaii Department of Education, and is significant in that it laid the groundwork for practical cooperation linking education and industry.

President Lee Haewoo stated, “I am delighted that the connection made during my visit to Hawaii in March has led to such a meaningful outcome today. The various international collaborations that Hawaii and Dong-A University will pursue together will provide even greater opportunities for students of both countries, reaching beyond the Pacific.”

He further emphasized, “I hope this meeting will serve as a new starting point for global educational cooperation that not only connects Busan and Hawaii, but also Korea and the United States.”

Keith Hayashi, Superintendent of the Hawaii Department of Education, along with the visiting delegation, is taking a commemorative photo with President Lee Hae-woo and other officials at Dong-A University Seunghak Campus.