Soonchunhyang University
순천향 대학교 | |
Motto | Truth, Service, Performance" |
---|---|
Type | Private |
Established | 1978 |
President | Kyoil Suh |
Academic staff | 765 (Full-time) |
Administrative staff | about 200 |
Undergraduates | 15,675 (2010) |
Postgraduates | 1,196 including doctoral (2010) |
Location | Sinchang-myeon, Asan, South Korea |
Campus | Urban |
Mascot | phoenix |
Website |
Soonchunhyang University (SCH) is a private university in South Korea, founded in 1978. It is located in the city of Asan, South Chungcheong province, about 52 miles (88 km) southwest of Seoul. It was founded by Dr. Succ-Jo Suh in 1978 as a medical college with 80 students, but expanded to become a comprehensive university in 1980, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. In 2009, the university was ranked 31st among all South Korean universities in a comprehensive evaluation by the JoongAng Ilbo. It was also ranked 151st among Asia-Pacific universities by Chosun-QS Asia in 2010.[1]
History and description
Officially founded as a medical college in 1978, Soonchunhyang University is now recognized as an excellent educational renovation institution of higher education. Undergraduate programs are offered through five colleges: Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Graduate programs are offered through our three graduate schools: The Graduate School, The Graduate School of Education and The Graduate School of Industrial Information.
Located in a rural town on the central west coast of South Korea, Soonchunhyang University is surrounded by quaint mountains and is near historical cultural attractions. It also offers many study abroad programs as they are the only university in South Korea to hold a Global Village. This village allows native Korean students to live on campus with foreigners to help improve their cultural understanding of the West.
Soonchunhyang offers undergraduate programs through six colleges: Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Medical Science and Medicine. Graduate programs are offered through six graduate schools: the Graduate School, Graduate School of Industrial Information, Graduate School of Education, Graduate of Health Science, Graduate School of Public Administration, and Graduate School of Global Management.
The name ‘Soonchunhyang’ (순천향) means ‘the peaceful hometown complying with the will of heaven’. The university's founder, Dr. Succ-Jo Suh named the school to reflect his philosophy in medical practices that "heaven will cure diseases; doctors only help the curing process." The philosophy is also reflected in the school’s motto, “truth, service, performance.” Modestly complying with truth of heaven, living together with neighbors and practicing service, as well as unwavering school spirit are core virtues the Soonchunhyang University community is expected to possess.
SCH has a reputation for particularly strong medicine and medical sciences departments, along with four teaching hospitals known for their advanced technological capacity in the bio-tech industry. The university strives to excel in both education and research, as evidenced by its receipt of the 'National Award for Educational Reform Excellence' granted by the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (link to reference) for three consecutive years (2008, 2009, and 2010).
Academics
Undergraduate Colleges
- College of Humanities
- College of Social Sciences
- College of Natural Sciences
- College of Engineering
- College of Medical Science
- College of Medicine
- Global Business School
Graduate School
- Graduate School of Industrial Information
- Graduate School of Education
- Graduate of Healthcare Science
- Graduate School of Public Administration
- Graduate School of Global Management
Graduate School of Forensic Science
The School was established to educate students theoretical and application methods of scientific crime investigation. The graduate program focuses on the application of the physical, bio-medical, and social sciences to the analysis and evaluation of physical evidence, human testimony and criminal suspects. As of 2014 the Graduate School of Forensic Science established a Master's program in Digital Forensic Science.
Recent Developments
Biopharmaceutical Human Resources Development Center
In June 2009, Soonchunhyang University was awarded a grant of $25 million USD over a five-year period by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to establish the SCH Biopharmaceutical Human Resources Development Center. This new center supports several of Soonchunhyang’s major areas of study, including:
College of Medical Sciences
- Department of Medical IT Engineering
- Department of Medical Biotechnology
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science
- Department of U-Healthcare Management
- Department of Premedical Studies
- Department of Occupational Therapy
College of Medicine
- Department of Nursing
- Department of Medicine
College of Natural Sciences
- Department of Life Sciences
- Department of Biotechnology
- Department of Ocean Life Science
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Food Science & Nutrition
- Department of Environmental Health Science
Ranking
- Soonchunhyang University ranked 151st for general education among Asia-Pacific universities by Chosun-QS Asia in 2010 [2]
- Soonchunhyang University ranked 8th for general education environment and for communication with students by Kyunhyang ERISS in 2010 [3]
- Soonchunhyang University ranked 135th for general education among Asia-Pacific universities by Chosun-QS Asia in 2009 [4]
Transportation
Shuttle Bus from Soonchunhyang Campus
Soonchunhyang University offers shuttle bus service for students who choose to commute. Shuttle buses run to and from Seoul and various cities in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon. (link). Shuttle bus service to most points in Gyeonggi Province takes between 1-1.5 hours.
Local Bus Service from Asan City
Bus service from Asan City connects with cities across South Korea, including express service to major cities such as Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan and intercity bus service to smaller cities within South Korea.
Train Service
Korail (link) operates rail service from Onyangoncheon Station (10 km Northeast of campus) and KTX high-speed rail service from CheonanAsan Station (20 km Northeast of campus).
Subway Service
The Seoul Metro Subway Line 1 expanded in December, 2008 to include Soonchunhyang University and Asan City.
- Take line 1 (dark blue line) to the last stop: Sinchang (신창).
Please note:
- Many trains on the dark blue line only run part of the line. Make sure to take the train bound for Cheonan (천안) or Sinchang (신창).
- If you take the train bound for Seodongtan (서동탄), get off at Byeongjeom (병점) and wait for the next Cheonan (천안) train.
- Most likely the train will stop at Cheonan (천안). If this is the last stop, get out and stay on the same platform to wait for the Sinchang (신창) train.
- The trip from Suwon Station (수원) to Sinchang (신창) station normally takes a little over an hour.
SCH Shuttle Bus from Sinchang Station (신창)
- Soonchunhyang University offers a shuttle bus service from Sinchang Station (신창) Monday through Saturday.
- The shuttle bus from Sinchang Station is free, and takes approximately 5 minutes to get to campus.
- Usually the buses will have a sign (sometimes hand-written) in their window. It most likely will be in Korean: 순천향대학교.
- Note: Shuttles seem to leave very quickly once the train arrives. When exiting the station, go directly to the shuttle (no potty breaks, etc.) or you will miss it.
- Exit the subway station and turn left
- Walk straight - you will see a taxi queue
- The Soonchunhyang shuttle bus stop will be on your left side, and is marked with the SCH logo.
Walking to Campus from Sinchang Station (신창)
- Sinchang (신창) (or Soonchunhyang University) Station is a 20-minute walk from Soonchunhyang’s campus.
- Exit the subway station and turn left
- Walk straight - you will see a taxi queue and the Soonchunhyang (SCH) shuttle bus stop on your left hand side.
- Walk straight past the taxi queue and shuttle bus stop, there will be a road with a sidewalk (you will be facing an overpass).
- Follow that road straight and it will take you to the front entrance of SCH.
Subway Lending Library
Soonchunhyang maintains a lending library for the local public within Sinchang-Soonchunhyang University Station. Books and periodicals range from academic texts to novels to general interest periodicals. Those riding the Metro are encouraged to borrow reading materials from the library’s bookshelves for their journey.
Environmentally friendly Subway Lecture Series
Soonchunhyang undertook an educational initiative for its students commuting to campus by subway in Fall 2010, offering lectures in three university courses by SCH professors. This series enables students to save time and is designed to encourage them to choose public transportation over driving to school. The car of the train where the lectures are held is equipped with four LCD monitors, a beam projector, speakers, and a wireless microphone for the professors.
University Hospitals
Soonchunhyang University owns and operates four teaching hospitals in South Korea. These are general hospitals offering services in several departments such as Pediatric Neurology, Psychology, and Cardiovascular Surgery
Hospital Name | Date Opened | Number of Beds |
---|---|---|
Soonchunhyang Hospital Seoul | 1974 | 713 |
Soonchunhyang Hospital Gumi | 1979 | 400 |
Soonchunhyang Hospital Cheonan | 1982 | 746 |
Soonchunhyang Hospital Bucheon | 2001 | 906 |
Global Network
Soonchunhyang University maintains formal educational partnerships with 88 post-secondary institutions worldwide. These partner institutions are found in the USA, China, Finland, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Cambodia, Thailand and several other countries.
Global Village
The Global Village on Soonchunhyang’s campus is the place where local Korean and international students come together to live, eat, study, and learn outside of the formal classroom. As a concept, the Global Village is intended to bridge the formal educational and social needs of students participating in the Asian Studies, English Village, Chinese Village, and Japanese Village programs.
Facilities
As a physical space, the Global Village includes air-conditioned dormitory suites, a lounge, a cafeteria, and recreational facilities such as pool room, singing rooms, and a health club. The Global Lounge, located within the Global Village, is a common room equipped with a large-screen TV, sofa, high-speed wireless internet access, desktop PC terminals, and other living room furnishings. This area is designed to encourage students from all global programs to relax and socialize together.
The School for Global Education and Exchange also maintains a separate student lounge where students may keep up on global events through Korean and English cable television, English- and Korean-language print news media, and PC terminals equipped with high-speed internet access. The lounge maintains a printed resources center with information on student exchange programs worldwide. This room is also often used for student language exchange meetings, as well.
Confucius Institute
The Confucius Institute (link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute) at Soonchunhyang University was established on September 28, 2007 in affiliation with the Tianjin Foreign Studies University in China, with a mandate to promote Chinese language education and cultural learning through a variety of programs for both the university and local Asan communities. Programs include Chinese language education classes, Chinese youth camp, and cultural field trips to China. As of June 15, 2010, the Confucius Institute at Soonchunhyang University and the local government of Asan City began collaborating to offer special programs for Asan’s youth through the Asan City Youth Education and Culture Center (link to reference).
In 2008 and 2009, The Confucius Institute at Soonchunhyang University was rated first in Korea and third in the world for overall achievement by Confucius Institute headquarters. (reference: http://college.chinese.cn/article/2009-10/23/content_77852.htm, http://college.chinese.cn/node_3653.htm)
Asian Studies
The Asian Studies Program is a special university program that brings students from several countries to Soonchunhyang for one-three semesters. The program includes approximately 50 courses conducted in English, such as Korean Studies, Asian culture classes, history, politics, economics, and Korean Language. Cultural field trips within South Korea, volunteer education programs, and global leadership programs are also part of this program. Visiting international students live on campus in the dormitories alongside local Korean students.
English, Chinese, and Japanese Village Programs
The English Village, Chinese Village, and Japanese Village programs complement the Asian Studies Program by aiming to focus on the global-oriented educational needs of Soonchunhyang’s local Korean students. Students wishing to practice English, Chinese, or Japanese with native speakers live together with international students participating in the Asian Studies program and cooperate in language exchanges, group meetings, field trips, and other various events.
University Clubs
Hansori
Hansori is the band that performs ‘samulnori’, the genre of traditional percussion music in Korea. Playing Korean traditional instruments, you can learn Korean’s unique rhythm, melody and the history hidden in the music. About 50 members practice every week for playing regular and temporary performance.
Byuk
Since 1981, the Byuk studies the play like play-acting, lighting, script etc. There are about 90 members in the club now. They has performed 2 regular plays a year, and casual play sometimes. Sometimes senior members provide financial support for undergraduate students.
Korean Traditional Percussion Group
Since 1985, the Korean Traditional Percussion Group has explored Korean musical traditions. Currently, there are 50 members to this club, including 34 undergraduate students. Throughout the school year, members participate in activities such as the orientation show, the welcoming party for new students, the annual summer and winter gatherings, and festival performances, in addition to semi-weekly practices.
Thu. G. (Hip-Hop Music Club)
The Thu.G club meets regularly to practice rapping and beat box skills. The name ‘Thu. G’ is an acronym for ‘The Highest under God’. This club has 127 members (50 of whom are undergraduates), participating in four main performances throughout the school year, including the Welcome Party for New Students, the annual field trip, and alumni events.
Sun C.A (Cheerleading Squad)
The Sun C.A Cheerleading Squad meets weekly to practice dances and movement for cheerleading. With 38 members (30 of whom are undergraduates), this group participates in activities like the freshmen orientation, welcome party for new students, annual summer and winter field trips, alumni events, and performances both on and off campus.
DENIS (Dance Circle)
DENIS (Dance Energy Nation In Soonchunhyang) practices street dance and always welcomes new members of varying skill, from beginner to advanced. Currently there are 91 members (47 undergraduate students). Throughout the year, DENIS participates in activities such as annual summer and winter field trips, regular practices (including B-boy, poppin’, and girls’ hip-hop), alumni activities, and various festival performances.
CHORD
CHORD is one of Soonchunhyang’s longest-standing clubs. Established in 1986, this club currently maintains 200 members (including 50 undergraduate students), who regularly perform at events such as the annual regular and open concerts, mini concerts for new students, SCH Music Festival, and periodic field trips. This club won first place in the KBS TV Academic Music Festival in 1988, and took second place in the same festival in 1991. In 2006, CHORD won first place in the Korean Amateur Music Festival.
M. Giuliani (Classical Guitar)
M. Giuliani , or Classical Guitar Circle, currently has 99 members, 40 of whom are undergraduate students. This club offers guitar lessons to its members and participates in mini concerts and regular concerts annually. This club was founded in 1990.
Soongumhoi (Geomdo Circle)
Soongumhoi is the campus fencing club, with 150 members (30 of whom are undergraduate students). The group meets for weekly practice and accepts members of all skill levels. Annual activities include field trips, summer training, performing demonstrations at the welcoming party for new students, participating in fencing-related exchange programs with other universities, local competitions, and the annual winter trip.
Tae Kwon Do Circle
The Tae Kwon Do club was established in 1992 with 20 members, and has expanded to 60 members (including 37 undergraduate students). This club meets for regular weekly practice and participates in national club competitions. Annual activities include the orientation performance for freshmen, festival performances, and inter-university practice meetings.
Calligraphy Group
The Calligraphy Group at Soonchunhyang was founded the same year as the university, in 1978. Currently, 38 members (30 of whom are undergraduate students) maintain membership in this club, participating in activities such as exhibitions, field trips, and regular meetings and practices. During regular meetings, members practice Korean-style calligraphy (called soye) using special brushes, pens, and traditional papers. The group promotes this practice as a meditative activity.
Notes
- ↑ "QS University Rankings: Asia - 2010". QS Top Universities. p. 4. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
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