Topic 1
Presenting a Global Model of “the Engaged University”
Growing Together with the Community
Deputy Director JoonKyu Park,
Global Social Innovation Center
- Written by. YeongIm Park
- Photos by. HyeonGu Lee
The Talloires Network aims to realize the Engaged University model to work with local communities in solving social issues.
First Korean University to Join the Talloires Network
“As community engagement rooted in global social innovation and the university’s public responsibility grows increasingly important, Hanyang’s membership in the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities signifies international recognition of our achievements in community partnerships and educational innovation. This is more than just an honor, it is also a responsibility to stand shoulder to shoulder with leading universities worldwide to generate broader social value.”
According to JoonKyu Park of the Global Social Innovation Center Park, the university’s joining of the Talloires Network this past April as the first Korean Engaged Member was a natural step. Guided by its founding philosophy of “Love in Deed and Truth,” Hanyang University has long sought to realize social responsibility across education, research, and service. The Talloires Network, founded in 2005 at a conference in Talloires, France, is a global coalition of higher education institutions committed to civic engagement and social responsibility. Today, 445 universities in 92 countries are active members, including Harvard University, Brown University, and the University of Manchester.
Member universities share educational models, student engagement programs, and local partnership practices to address social challenges while learning from one another and carrying out joint projects. This year, the network is preparing a conference “of youth, by youth, and for youth, ”shifting from faculty-driven initiatives to ones by students. As an engaged member, ERICA plans to participate in global collaborative research and international conferences, compete in the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship, conduct faculty-student exchanges, and engage in multilateral projects addressing local issues.
“Through these activities, Hanyang aims to adopt global best practices in social innovation, provide students with opportunities to cultivate global citizenship, and position itself as a ‘glocal innovation hub’ connecting local communities with global agendas.”
ERICA, Already a Model Member
The central goal of the Talloires Network is to realize the model of an Engaged University which is to contribute to solving public issues in partnership with local communities. ERICA has long set its goal to bring about practical change through education and research, deeply understanding the regional characteristics and social issues of Ansan, a city known as Korea’s “multicultural capital .” Accordingly, ERICA has supported students in cultivating both academic competence and civic values at the same time through multicultural and migrant support programs, capstone design projects, and IC-PBL courses tailored to regional needs.
“ERICA is Korea’s largest university for industry-academia cooperation. Going beyond the campus to collaborate with related industries naturally means collaborating with the local community. Ansan hosts Korea’s largest national industrial complex, attracting many migrant workers of diverse nationalities. This has led us to work on issues ranging from discussing multiculturalism and addressing environmental challenges like Sihwa Lake’s pollution, to robotics education for youngsters in the local community.”
Though a newly joined member, ERICA’s extensive history of tackling community challenges reportedly left the Talloires Network secretariat extremely impressed. Soon after joining, Deputy Director Park visited Tufts University, where the Secretariat is based, to begin official activities as a member.
“At that time, tensions between the Trump administration and higher education institutions were intensifying. This reminded me that universities worldwide face fundamental questions about their roles amid political and economic crises, the information revolution, climate change, and demographic challenges. We discussed forming a joint social-innovation research network among universities in the Asia-Pacific region and creating a platform to share youth-centered social economy initiatives.”
While the Talloires Network already includes an Asia-focused network, Hanyang University plans to broaden its scope to include the entire Asia-Pacific region to play a leading role in further engagement.
- 92country
- Harvard University
Brown University
and the University of Manchester - 445university
Becoming a Global Model of the Engaged University
Recently, ERICA’s Global Social Innovation Center, in partnership with the city of Ansan, advanced to the finals of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Mayors Challenge. Out of 600 cities worldwide, only 50 made it to the final round, each tasked with proposing a pilot project for $500,000 in funding support. The proposal by the Global Social Innovation Center and the city of Ansan to establish a multicultural platform and programs for both local and migrant youth and workers was praised as highly innovative.
In addition, the Global Social Innovation Center signed an agreement with the Gyeonggi-Do Social Impact Creators to foster youth-centered social innovation and vitalization of the social economy. Based on this agreement, ERICA students will benefit from social innovation entrepreneurship education, field training, internships, and startup incubation aimed at solving local issues. Together with the Gyeonggi-Do Social Impact Creators, a Youth Social Innovation Living Lab will also be established, enabling students to tackle pressing challenges across Ansan and Gyeonggi region.
Since joining the Talloires Network, ERICA’s community engagement activities have gained new momentum, bolstered by global allies who share its vision:
“With the vision of becoming ‘the University for a Better World,’ we will continue to connect local challenges with global agendas through the Global Social Innovation Center. ERICA has already restructured its education, research, and community engagement around social innovation, helping students grow into practitioners of love that can change the world for the better. Now, this journey of “Love in Deed and Truth” has expanded onto the global stage. We are committed to nurturing global future-makers who are empowered to transform not only today’s society but also the world of tomorrow.”
Deputy Director JoonKyu Park emphasized Hanyang University’s commitment to cultivating global future-makers who will help shape a better future.
