Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), which announced plans to establish 'JBNU International Centers' at major overseas universities under the Glocal University 30 project and to attract 5,000 international students based on these centers, is concretizing those plans by signing successive international exchange agreements with universities in France and Morocco.

Since December 4, visiting major universities in Europe and Africa to strengthen international cooperation, JBNU President Yang Oh‑bong, after visiting leading universities in France, went to Morocco on December 6 local time and met directly with presidents of leading universities to pledge close cooperation.

President Yang visited one of Morocco's leading universities, Université Cadi Ayyad, and met with its president, Belaid Bougadir, to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for student exchanges. Under the agreement, the two universities pledged to engage in practical exchanges including student exchanges, collaborative research, and faculty exchanges, thus laying the groundwork to attract outstanding students from Université Cadi Ayyad to JBNU.

President Yang also attended the completion ceremony of the 'Morocco Saemangeum Korean Language School,' which is established at the university and jointly operated by JBNU and the Jeonbuk International Cooperation Promotion Institute. He presented certificates to 79 beginners and 44 intermediate-level graduates, and took part in an awards ceremony for the winners of a Korean speech contest.

On the day, President Yang promoted JBNU's Korean cultural experience program 'JBNU Feeling Korea' to the graduates of the Morocco Saemangeum Korean Language School, pledged support to enable outstanding graduates to participate in the program, and explained how to apply for graduate studies at JBNU.

In particular, JBNU held concrete discussions on establishing a 'JBNU International Center' at the university, one of the global projects of the Glocal University 30 initiative, and agreed to make the center a place for professional Korean language education for Moroccan students and a gateway for studying at JBNU.

They also visited Ibn Tofail University and met with President Kerkeb MOHAMED Larbi, signing a student exchange Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with that university as well. The agreement paves the way for substantive student exchanges and collaborative research between researchers of the two universities in the future.

They also discussed pursuing a dual bachelor's and master's degree program with the university. In particular, they agreed to establish a 'JBNU International Center' at Ibn Tofail University—part of JBNU's effort to set up such centers abroad—and to use it as a foothold for student exchanges and joint research projects. President Yang held wide-ranging consultations with the university's International Affairs Office and others regarding the establishment of the JBNU International Center.

They also visited Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and met with its president, Hicham El Habti. At the meeting, the two university presidents discussed joint research in secondary batteries, smart farming, and green energy; regional industry–university collaboration; and matters such as student exchanges, international internships, and dual-degree programs.

In April next year, the president of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University will visit JBNU in person to formalize the discussions from this visit through the signing of an MOU and MOAs, thereby realizing substantive exchanges.

President Yang said, "Relations between JBNU and Morocco are very close—so much so that Chafiq Hashadi, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Republic of Korea, serves as co-chair of JBNU's Glocal University Committee." He added, "We will make efforts to achieve substantive student exchanges with major Moroccan universities so that JBNU's goal of attracting 5,000 international students can be realized as quickly as possible."