Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) President Yang Oh-bong visited three Central Asian countries (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan) from October 1–9 during the holiday period to reinforce the foundation for international cooperation with leading universities.

President Yang visited seven prestigious universities in succession — TIFT (Tashkent International Financial Technology University), Gimyo International University, Uzbekistan State University of World Languages, Tajik State Pedagogical University, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Kazakh National University, and Ablai Khan University — signing MOUs and discussing cooperation plans.

At TIFT, the first stop, they discussed practical cooperation measures such as student exchanges, graduate admissions, and joint degree programs. They also held the JBNU–TIFT International Center opening ceremony, introduced Korean language and culture to local students, and agreed to regularize admissions information sessions for students wishing to study in Korea.

Through agreements with Gimyo International University and Uzbekistan State University of World Languages, the parties also agreed to implement student and research exchanges and to facilitate admission of outstanding international students to JBNU graduate programs.

During the visit to Tajik State Pedagogical University, an opening ceremony was held for the JBNU–Tajik State Pedagogical University International Center and the JBNU Korean Language Center, along with an MOU signing ceremony. The two universities have maintained exchanges since 2015, and to date 25 exchange students have visited JBNU. The agreement established an institutional framework that, starting next year, will allow more than 20 students to study at JBNU each year.

The newly opened International Center and the JBNU Korean Language Center will function as key hubs to broaden student exchanges through Korean language education and introductions to Korean culture. At the opening ceremony, a congratulatory address by Ambassador Jeon Seong-sik of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Tajikistan further underscored the significance of the cooperation.

In particular, on that day President Yang Oh-bong received honorary doctorates from the Tajik Ministry of Education and Tajik State Pedagogical University. The Tajik government praised the opening of the International Center and the cooperation between the two universities as an important turning point for the development of higher education in both countries.

In Kazakhstan, they discussed practical cooperation measures with major universities, including strengthening exchange student programs, collaborative research, and joint planning of international cooperation programs. They agreed to enhance the quality of cooperation by introducing 2+2 degree programs, operating summer and winter schools, and implementing joint supervision systems for master’s and doctoral students.

JBNU plans to accelerate efforts to attract international students based on these collaborations with Central Asian universities. This is part of a strategy to achieve the Glocal University 30 Project’s core goal of attracting 5,000 international students. The plan envisions actively recruiting talented students from Central Asia to strengthen the university’s global competitiveness.

President Yang Oh-bong stated, “This visit to Central Asia marks the starting point for JBNU’s strategic collaboration to enhance its competitiveness on the world stage. We will attract outstanding talent and expand collaborative research and academic exchanges to advance as a globally renowned university.”