Sogang University, the Korea Association of Women IT Entrepreneurs and Sogang University Technology Holdings

Sign an Industry–Academia Agreement to Cultivate Women in ICT

▲ (From left) Koo Myoung-wan, CEO of Sogang University Technology Holdings; Park Yu-kyung, President of the Korea Association of Women IT Entrepreneurs; President Shim Jong-hyuk

On Thursday 28 October, the University, the Korea Association of Women IT Entrepreneurs and Sogang University Technology Holdings signed an 'Industry–Academia Agreement to Cultivate Women in ICT'. The signing ceremony was attended by senior figures from each organization, including President Shim Jong-hyuk, Association President Park Yu-kyung, Sogang University Technology Holdings CEO Koo Myoung-wan, Head of the Industry–Academic Cooperation Foundation Chung Hyun-sik and Honam chapter president Ko Cheong-sim.

The Korea Association of Women IT Entrepreneurs was established to contribute to national industrial development by strengthening the competitiveness of women entrepreneurs in IT, cultivating women in ICT and expanding the economic participation of women returning to work after career breaks. It currently supports women-led businesses, talent development, women returning after career breaks, and digital inclusion.

Under the agreement, and with the aim of cultivating women in ICT, the organizations will cooperate on ▲exchanging information and materials relating to research and development activities for women IT entrepreneurs, ▲holding short courses and seminars to strengthen the capabilities of women IT entrepreneurs and their staff, ▲conducting joint research programmes with the industry–academia clusters of Sogang University's Industry–Academic Cooperation Foundation, ▲supporting mentoring and corporate internships for Sogang University's women students in science and engineering and its women leaders, and ▲management and technology consulting by Sogang Technology Holdings.

At the ceremony President Shim Jong-hyuk said: "I expect this agreement to make joint research and development for women IT entrepreneurs, education and seminars, and mentoring and internships for Sogang University's women students in science and engineering all the more active, and we will spare no institutional support so that women can be active in the IT field." He added: "I hope this industry–academia cooperation will make joint research in the industry–academia clusters more active still and develop into an exemplary industry–academia–research model for the University."

President Park Yu-kyung said: "I am pleased to be able to lend our strength to cultivating women in ICT together with Sogang University and Sogang Technology Holdings," adding: "We will cultivate global women professionals by strengthening the capabilities of women in ICT."

The University, which focuses its research and education on IT fields such as software, artificial intelligence and the metaverse, is developing a range of undergraduate and graduate programmes for women students in science and engineering in order to cultivate women in ICT, and is steadily expanding its industry–academia–research support services connecting the University with ICT companies and research institutes through its industry–academia clusters. Sogang Technology Holdings will also build an industry–academia cluster in ICT and support technology introduction and technology transfer to the University through technology and management consulting for women IT entrepreneurs.