Pyongyang University of Science and Technology

Pyongyang University of Science and Technology
Location Pyongyang,  Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Website www.pust.kr
Pyongyang University of Science and Technology
Chosŏn'gŭl 평양과학기술대학
Hancha 平壤科學技術大學
Revised Romanization Pyeongyang Gwahak Gisul Daehak
McCune–Reischauer P'yŏngyang Kwahak Kisul Taehak
PUST students pose with visitors from SIPA during a chemistry class.

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. PUST was jointly planned and constructed by forces from both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the 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.

History

The university is situated in the countryside outside of Pyongyang in a separate but close administrative region with permission required for access to Pyongyang. After introductory negotiations, the PUST project was started in 2001, on the initiative of Professor Kim Chin Kyung,[1][2][3] 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.

With exception of foreign language courses, all teaching is conducted in English, and almost all faculty work as volunteers and come from a Christian background, with the President saying:

"While the skills to be taught are technical in nature, the spirit underlying this historic venture is unabashedly Christian...."[4]

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 finally began in the fall of October 2010.[5] 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. As a joint venture university, the PUST is seen as a contribution to the Korean reunification process.

Subjects

The goal of PUST is to contribute to North Korean economic development by producing professionals and leaders in various technical disciplines, who are fluent in both English as well as another foreign language (such as Chinese or German), and who are accustomed to working in an international setting. Bachelor of Science and doctorate degrees will be awarded in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Agriculture and Life Sciences (ALS), and International Finance and Management (IFM). The university has future plans to open schools in Public Healthcare and Construction Engineering as early as 2013.[6]

Graduate students and professors have internet access, but it is filtered and monitored.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "South Korean, Once Held as Spy, Plans a University in Pyongyang" New York Times July 31, 2001.
  2. ↑ Bill Powell, "The capitalist who loves North Korea" Money CNN, September 15, 2009
  3. ↑ Bill Powell, The capitalist who (still) loves North Korea Money CNN, March 15, 2012
  4. ↑ "President's Welcome", pust.kr
  5. ↑ Stone, Richard. "Crunch Time for North Korea’s Revolutionary New University", Science Magazine, December 23, 2011
  6. ↑ McDonald, Mark. "An Unlikely Pairing Bears Fruit in North Korea". NY Times, October 26, 2010
  7. ↑ Will Scott (29 December 2014). "Computer Science in the DPRK [31c3]". YouTube. Chaos Computer Club. Retrieved 23 February 2015.

External links

Coordinates: 38°57′15.5″N 125°42′4″E / 38.954306°N 125.70111°E