Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) (President Yang O‑bong) is strengthening cooperative relationships with major universities in Europe and Africa to realize the recruitment of 5,000 international students through the Glocal University 30 Project.

President Yang O‑bong of JBNU has been visiting major European universities for ten days since the 4th to forge close ties. On the 4th, local time in France, President Yang visited Bordeaux INP, one of France's prominent research-focused engineering universities, and met with Mejdi Azaie, Director of the International Affairs Office, among others. He pledged close cooperation between the two universities in engineering.

At the meeting, President Yang introduced the Glocal University 30 Project and its implementation direction. He discussed Collaborative Research initiatives in secondary batteries, the defense industry, and semiconductors, as well as joint research avenues in smart farming, renewable energy, and computer science.

Following the discussions, they agreed to concretize and advance joint research projects by field through formal academic exchange agreements.

They will also sign additional detailed agreements for student exchange so JBNU students can pursue their ambitions at Bordeaux INP and French students can study at JBNU.

In the afternoon, President Yang visited Bordeaux Montaigne University and met with President Lionel Larré. They signed an MOU and agreed to continue broad cooperation including student exchanges and international Collaborative Research.

Many students studying Korean studies and the Korean language at Bordeaux Montaigne University attended the signing ceremony, heightening expectations for cooperation between the two universities.

Bordeaux Montaigne University plans to officially launch a Department of Korean Language in September next year. In connection with this plan, JBNU discussed in detail establishing the "JBNU International Center" at that university, one of the global projects of the Glocal University 30 Project, and dispatching Korean language instructors.

Bordeaux Montaigne University officials and students studying Korean studies warmly welcomed JBNU's plan, raising expectations that JBNU's International Center will soon be established at an overseas university for the first time.

In particular, to commemorate the establishment of the cooperative relationship with JBNU, Bordeaux Montaigne University held a separate commemorative tree-planting ceremony for the MOU, conveying a warm welcome and strong expectations for the collaboration.

President Yang also met with the Deputy Mayor for Education of Pessac to discuss cooperation between Jeonju City and Pessac, and agreed to serve as a bridge for exchanges between local governments.

President Yang O‑bong said, "I am very pleased to have achieved close cooperative outcomes with major French universities from the first day of my visit to Europe. During my visit, I will visit more universities and institutions to secure substantive cooperation, lay the groundwork for recruiting 5,000 international students to JBNU, and work tirelessly to help JBNU advance boldly as a global hub university."