여주대학교

Dear Members of the Yeoju University Family,

As we all keenly feel, today’s universities stand at the heart of a whirlwind of profound transformation.

Any institution that grows complacent without reform and innovation is bound to be left behind swiftly.

True innovation often begins from the smallest gap. Only when many people aim to fill that gap can we overcome the inefficiencies, limitations, and injustices of the world.

Empty words of reform and unattainable dreams of innovation will not earn recognition.

Let us remember: the world is watching what we think, what we do, and what we are preparing.

Chairman Woo, Oh-hyun’s educational philosophy emphasizes that our university must foster practice-oriented talent through practical education and actively engage with the local community—growing alongside it and contributing to its development.

Therefore, we must open our university’s human, intellectual, and material resources to the local community and actively participate in the region’s economic and cultural growth.

All of us must lead the way in establishing our university as a central institution in the southeastern metropolitan area, grounded in the educational goals and ideals pursued by our foundation, and armed with contemporary education and a positive mindset.

To deny reality or despair in the face of challenges only weakens us.

Yeoju University has overcome numerous hardships and trials with wisdom and resilience.

We carry within us the DNA of perseverance and the strength to overcome adversity. If we unite and move forward with a common purpose, I believe the crisis we now face—stemming from a declining school-age population and rapid industrial changes—can become an opportunity.

I seek the wisdom for reform and innovation from our founding spirit of Love and Service.

We must break away from traditional and conservative mindsets and evolve into a university that meets the demands of the present and the future.

Above all, we must develop distinctive curricula and teaching methods that only Yeoju University can offer.

The grand direction we must take is to become a specialized university that nurtures skilled professionals with strong foundations in the humanities.

Our focus should remain solely on our students. If we still hold the heart of a mentor who wishes only for their beloved students to succeed, then the answers to what we should teach and what students must learn will become clear.

Yeoju University’s future lies in transitioning from the conventional, closed, one-way provider-centered education to an open, two-way, learner-centered model.

We believe initiatives such as the "Precious Student Career Mentoring Program" and the implementation of continuous relationship-based faculty advising systems will stand as testaments to our philosophy of "student-first" and student-centered love.

To the cherished members of the Yeoju University family who will help build the new YIT—holding the proud title of President bestowed upon me by all of you—I will dedicate myself fully to promoting and advancing our university.

To improve our students’ employment prospects, we will establish real and practical partnerships with a wide range of industries and implement demand-driven education tailored to meet corporate needs.

This will reaffirm our status as a university where admission leads directly to employment, greatly aiding our students as they enter society. We will also actively support customized non-curricular programs to foster student entrepreneurship.

As traditional high school promotional strategies show their limits in student recruitment, we will focus on expanding lifelong education programs for local residents—much like American community colleges. Additionally, we will actively pursue partnerships with overseas universities and companies and attract international students.

Dear members of the Yeoju University family and our proud community of 55,000 alumni: for three decades, our graduates have been contributing to companies and societies across the nation and beyond.

I intend to reconnect with our alumni through a "Tracing Our Roots" initiative—to share the inspiring stories of distinguished graduates with current students and to instill pride in our alumni.

Furthermore, I will provide tangible ways for alumni to contribute to the university and to their juniors, fulfilling my role as President by serving as a bridge between students and graduates.

Esteemed professors and staff, let us come together to build a united, innovative Yeoju University that can overcome any trial or adversity.

Thank you.