The project focuses on reforming the Korean science education system as a whole by developing a coordinated science education system for teenagers, college students and general citizens and also by educating teachers with scientific grounding and promoting an education environment based on scientific technology.
             
The Recruiting Foreign Scholars to Existing Academic Programs of the WCU project is the second project among three other WCU projects. The Type 2 WCU project funds universities to employ one or two foreign scholars as full-time professors of research institutes or departments of universities in . The Type 2 project also supports the organization and the operation of research teams composed of one or two foreign scholars and one to six Korean professors.
The Recruiting Foreign Scholars to Existing Academic Programs of the WCU project is the second project among three other WCU projects. The Type 2 WCU project funds universities to employ one or two foreign scholars as full-time professors of research institutes or departments of universities in . The Type 2 project also supports the organization and the operation of research teams composed of one or two foreign scholars and one to six Korean professors.
On December 1, 2008, Dr. George F. Smoot ( Berkeley University ), a 2006 Nobel laureate, and Professor Ahn Chang-rim (Physics) was selected as a team as one of the Type 2 WCU ( World Class University ) project. Their subject is entitled Understanding the Origin of Early Universe by Extreme space Technology.
On April 27, two more subjects were selected as the Type 2 WCU project of Ewha. The newly selected teams are entitled Cross-National Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of Development Assistance and Establishment of Education System of Enhancing Scientific Literacy for 21st Century. Now, at Ewha, three research teams are included in the Type 2 WCU project.
“The newly employed foreign professors will not only teach at the school, but also, conduct joint researches with Korean professors,” said Lee Hyang-Sook, the vice director of Ewha Industry Collaboration Foundation and Office of Research Affairs. Research labs will be established within the university so that the foreign scholars can more easily conduct joint researches with their Korean teammates.
 
Understanding the Origin of Early Universe by Extreme space Technology
Smoot and Ahn were selected as the school’s Type 2 WCU project on December 1. Smoot and Ahn attempt to nurture a second generation that can contribute to the development of the nation by merging pure science and high-tech space technology. The project includes public lectures by foreign scholars and the development of educational materials for the general public so as to raise interest in science.
In addition, Smoot and Ahn established the 'Institute for the Early Universe (IEU)' on March 27. The IEU will conduct various research activities exploring and understanding the early universe.
“I am currently working toward supplementing the personnel and professors associated to the IEU,” said Ahn. “Various means will be used to understand the origin of the universe, which is the ultimate question of science. Even after five years of the WCU project, I hope to continue my work so that Ewha will become a worldwide research institute on the theories of the universe.” Smoot and Ahn have also opened two new college courses including General Physics 1 and Contemporary Space Theory.
 
Cross-National Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of Development Assistance
A new subject selected as the Type 2 WCU project on April 27 is titled Cross-National Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of Development Assistance. In addition to two professors associated to Ewha, Professor Kim Eun-mee (International Studies) and Professor Bredan Howe(GSIS), the project will involve collaborative with two foreign professors, Professor Barbara Stallings ( Brown University ) and Professor Jae-Jung Suh ( Johns Hopkins University ).
“As prepares to become a member of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 2010, we must be ready to play a major role in the world as an emerging donor of development assistance to help reduce the world's extreme poverty and attain development,” said Kim.
The plan focuses on fostering professionals, especially women, in the research field of international cooperation on the basis of ’s experience.
“I am very excited that we will be able to bring two world-class scholars to Ewha to help build this field and train women leaders,” said Kim.
 
Establishment of Education System of Enhancing Scientific Literacy for 21st Century
The project titled Establishment of Education System of Enhancing Scientific Literacy for 21st Century was also selected on April 27. It is headed by Professor Choi Kyung-hee (Science Education), Professor Kim Sung-won (Science Education), and Professor Lee Hyun-ju (Science Education), and will involve collaboration with Professor Joseph Krajcik ( University of Michigan , Ann Arbor ).
The project focuses on reforming the Korean science education system as a whole by developing a coordinated science education system for teenagers, college students and general citizens and also by educating teachers with scientific grounding and promoting an education environment based on scientific technology.

 

             
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