The first private Korean university established in Fergana

[Korea University Newspaper Special Reporting Group] Korea International University in Fergana (founder and president Park Joonn Ho) was founded on September 27, 2019, in the form of a 4-year Korean private university in Fergana.

This is an example of practical bilateral cooperation in the field of higher education after President Moon Jae-in visited Uzbekistan on April 19, 2019, and improved diplomatic relations with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as part of a special strategic partnership. The establishment of the Korea International University in Fergana is considered a good opportunity to introduce advanced Korean higher education in Uzbekistan.

The strategy of advanced Korean higher education in Uzbekistan and abroad is covered in various news, but the reality is that it remains only at the level of a mutual memorandum. Korea International University in Fergana is the first private university to recruit new students in 7 faculties (3 humanities & social sciences and 4 engineering faculties). The university has seen steady progress in the 2019-2020 academic years.

■ Birth of Korea International University in Fergana = President Park Joon Ho explains the regional characteristics of Fergana. Fergana is known as the “Pearl of the Republic of Uzbekistan" because of its rich farms and resources on the blue plains of Central Asia. The region has the highest population density in Central Asia and is located in the center of the economy of Uzbekistan, and, more importantly, it has extensive human resources that are available to go to university after graduating from high school.

The president of the university, Park Joon Ho, based on his teaching experience for over 36 years in Korean private educational institutions, spent two years trying to form a Korean private university in Tashkent. Many textbooks and teaching aids were donated to the Korean model kindergarten in Tashkent city for free.

Forming a private university is not easy. With the help of the Governor of the Fergana region, as well as government officials and the chairman of the Korea-Uzbekistan business center, Kim Chang Keon (Currently: Adviser to Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Trade & Investment Cooperation), he obtained a valuable result in creating a private university.

Overcoming many difficulties with the support and cooperation of the Government of the Fergana region, the rector of the university, Park Joon Ho, formed a Korean private international university and is currently teaching students the same curriculum as universities in Korea.

Under the pretext that “Effort and ability is the path to success”, Korea International University is striving to create a new innovative system of higher education and an academic management system based on knowledge.

Source: Korea University Newspaper (http://news.unn.net)