As a demonstration of the increasing post-secondary links between British Columbia and South Korea, Sookmyung Women's University has signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Royal Roads University to explore a joint master of arts in leadership program, and presented Premier Christy Clark with an honorary doctorate in political science.

“It is a great honour to receive this recognition from one of the most-respected universities in South Korea,” said Premier Clark. “Links between universities like Sookmyung and Royal Roads will lead to more trade, investment, and research links, as well as jobs and opportunity, on both sides of the Pacific.”

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Established in 1906 as a school for girls by Sunheon, the last Empress of Korea, Sookmyung Women's University has evolved into one of Korea’s top post-secondary institutions, with 13,000 students and an alumni network of over 100,000.

The agreement between Sookmyung and Royals Roads focuses on building leadership for women in both institutions, includes a curriculum and faculty exchange, and will see B.C. students and South Korean students in a common learning environment and obtaining a joint degree.

The university has an academic partnership with Royal Roads and established past partnerships with the University of British Columbia and the University of the Fraser Valley. During the mission, UFV announced from British Columbia that is has advanced its relationship with South Korean universities through the signing of student exchange and visiting student agreements with Korea Polytechnic University and Korea University.

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Premier Clark also announced at the ceremony that the B.C. government's trade and investment representative office in Seoul will offer a summer internship to a Sookmyung student for the next two years. 

Trade missions are a crucial part of British Columbia's strategy to diversify its international trading partners and secure new investment, propelling economic activity and job creation throughout the province.

Quick Facts:

• Premier Clark is the first Canadian citizen to receive an honorary degree from Sookmyung Women's University. Previous recipients of an honorary doctorate degree from Sookmyung Women’s University include:
  • Fleur Pellerin, France’s former minister of culture and communication.
  • Alassane Ouattara, president of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire.
  • Petra Roth, former mayor of Frankfurt.
  • Chen Zhili, former vice-chairwoman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee of the People’s Republic of China.
• South Korea is the second-largest source of international students in B.C., with 12% of the total international student population.
• In 2013-14, there were 13,600 students from South Korea studying in British Columbia.
• British Columbia’s post-secondary institutions maintain approximately 136 agreements with partner institutions and organizations in South Korea.

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Learn More:

For more information on the Premier’s trade mission to South Korea, the Philippines and Japan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/stories/trade-mission-to-korea-the-philippines-and-japan

For more information about B.C. trade and investment opportunities, visit: http://www.britishcolumbia.ca/

Learn more about the BC Jobs Plan: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/