| Pyongyang University of Science and Technology | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea |
| Pyongyang University of Science and Technology | |
|---|---|
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 평양과학기술대학 |
| Hancha | 平壤科學技術大學 |
| McCune–Reischauer | P'yŏngyang Kwahak Kisul Taehak |
| Revised Romanization | Pyeongyang Gwahak Gisul Daehak |
Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) is North Korea's first privately funded university. It is founded, operated and partly funded by associations and people outside the country. The PUST has been jointly planned and constructed by forces from both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Republic of Korea, along with contributions from groups and individuals from other nations, in particular China and the USA. The initiative is largely funded by Evangelical Christian movements. Originally scheduled for launch in 2003, the project was delayed for several years, but finally began operations in October 2010.
The university is situated just outside of Pyongyang. It had its official opening in September 2010, and plans to enroll up to 200 higher-level students per year, from both parts of Korea. Plans also include the hiring of up to 250 faculty members from universities and research institutions in South Korea, China, the United States, and other countries. The teaching will be in English and Korean. As a joint venture university, the PUST is seen as a contribution to the Korean reunification process. Faculty will need to come from a Christian background.
The goals of PUST is to contribute to North Korean economic development, by producing professionals in engineering, information technology, and international business, necessitating also fluency in foreign languages (including Chinese, Japanese, English, German, French). Master’s and doctorate degrees will be awarded in architecture and design (A&D); computing, electronics and communication technology (CEST); agriculture and food engineering (AFE); materials and mechanical engineering (MME). In addition, a School of Business will award Master degrees in business administration (MBA).
After introductory negotiations, the PUST project was started in 2001, on the initiative of Professor Kim Chin Kyung, endorsed in a personal meeting with former North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. Professor Kim's earlier accomplishments include being Founding President of Yanbian University of Science and Technology (YUST) in the North-Eastern part of China, but inside the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, founded in 1992. The PUST will cooperate with YUST and draw on their experiences. The PUST construction plans were politically troubled and slowed down in 2005 and 2006, in connection with the 2006 North Korean nuclear test, but later on resumed and have led to their conclusion. PUST classes began in October 2010.
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