 | |
| Motto | |
|---|---|
Motto in English | Humanity, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom[2] |
| Type | Privateresearch university |
| Established | 1398; 627 years ago (1398). Given college status in 1946.[3] |
| President | Yoo Ji-Beom |
Academic staff | 4,023 (1,529 full-time)[4] |
| Students | 34,837[5] |
| Undergraduates | 25,194 |
| Postgraduates | 9,643 |
| Location | , South Korea 37°35′14″N126°59′39″E / 37.58722°N 126.99417°E /37.58722; 126.99417 |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Blue Lime Green Orange Dark Green |
| Mascot | Ginkgo |
| Website | www |
.svg) | |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 성균관대학교 |
| Hanja | 成均館大學校 |
| RR | Seonggyungwan daehakgyo |
| MR | Sŏnggyun'gwan taehakkyo |
 | |
Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU orSeongdae,Korean: 성균관대학교;Hanja: 成均館大學校) is aprivateresearch university with campuses inSeoul andSuwon, South Korea.[6] The institution traces its origins to the historicSungkyunkwan founded in 1398 in central Seoul.[7] As the foremost educational institution during theJoseon period, it was governed by the great code of the state administration[8] with royal assent.[9] By a resolution of the Progressive Intellectuals andConfucian scholars, it was restructured as a comprehensive university in the mid-20th century, and has since greatly expanded its academic offerings.
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Sungkyunkwan was established in 1398 and became the most prestigious educational institution inJoseon. Its name means "to make" (성;成;seong), "harmonious society" (균;均;gyun), "institute" (관;館;gwan).[10]
The school focused on in-depth study of theChinese classics,Confucian canon, and contemporary literature; and on how to apply knowledge to governing the nation and to understanding the nature of humanity. It also served as a shrine (seeMunmyo) to Confucian sages, and rituals were held regularly to honor them and their teachings.[11][12]
The school was located within thecity walls ofHanseong (modern-day Seoul), Korea's capital during the Joseon Dynasty. It followed the example of theGoryeo-periodGukjagam, which in its latter years was also known by the name "Sungkyunkwan".[13][14]
Numerous Korean historical figures, includingYi Hwang andYi I, studied at and graduated from Sungkyunkwan. A considerable amount of Korean literature and works ofHanja calligraphy were created and archived by Sungkyunkwan scholars over the centuries.[15][16]
The history of Sungkyunkwan University can be divided into the ancient university, modern university, and contemporary university eras.
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During the ancient university era, traditionalConfucian education was practiced.
From the establishment ofSungkyunkwan during the reign of KingTaejo to the time of KingSeongjong, buildings were constructed, systems were established, operating policies were effected, and the school was cemented as the top national educational center.
A long period of recession followed, from 1495 to 1724, that is, from the time ofYeonsangun to that ofGyeongjong. The beginning of this period was marked by a brief closure due to the tyranny of Yeonsangun, when, in 1505, Sungkyunkwan was reduced to a place to hold feasts. Though it was restored to its original status the next year under KingJungjong, during theJapanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598), Sungkyunkwan was burnt down and rebuilt.
A period of revival followed, from 1725 to 1894, that is, from the reign of KingYeongjo to the time ofGabo Reform. Education at Sungkyunkwan became lively amid political and academic revival, and reformation of the education system was actively developed bySilhak scholars.
A period of enlightenment followed, that is, from Sungkyunkwan's founding as a modern university (1895) to theJapanese annexation of Korea (1910). In 1895, a three-year department of Chinese classics (경학과;經學科;gyeonghakkwa) was established, and various courses such ashistory,geography, andmathematics were taught. At the same time, a professor appointment system, admission examination system, and graduation examination system were implemented; a semester system was introduced; and modern institutional reforms such as setting the number of teaching days per year and the number of lecture hours per week were effected. Under Japanese occupation (1910–1945), however, Sungkyunkwan lost its position as the highest school in Joseon.
On15 August 1945, the Japanese Empire was defeated. In November of the same year, Kim Chang-sook led a foundation that revived Sungkyunkwan as an educational center.[17] Sungkyunkwan University was thus re-established by collecting some of the property of thehyanggyo and donations from Confucian scholars.
Samsung partnered with SKKU from 1965 to 1977, and renewed this partnership in 1996. The university claims that this has helped it to pursue globalization and to foster talented graduates.[18] The partnership has boosted research infrastructure and human resource management, and it has helped the university to develop courses in software development, mobile communications engineering, energy engineering, nanotechnology, business, medicine, and law.[19]
Through theSamsung Global Scholarship Program, 15–25 students are selected annually forSeoul National University's engineering program or to enroll at SKKU's Graduate School of Business (SKK GSB), which partners with top business schools abroad, including theMIT Sloan School of Management,Columbia University,Northwestern University'sKellogg School of Management,University of Michigan'sRoss School of Business,Dartmouth College'sTuck School of Business,Indiana University'sKelley School of Business, and theSingapore Management University.[20]
| JoongAng National[21] | Domestic | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| QS National[22] | General | 5 | |
| THE National[23] | General | 4 | |
| ARWU National[24] | Research | 2–3 | |
| QS Asia (Asia version)[25] | General | 16 | |
| THE Asia (Asia version)[26] | General | =19 | |
| USNWR Asia[27] | General | =58 | |
| ARWU World[28] | Research | 151–200 | |
| QS World[29] | General | =126 | |
| THE World[30] | General | 87 | |
| USNWR World[31] | General | =271 | |
According to the ranking of South Korean universities annually published by the national daily newspaperJoongAng Daily, Sungkyunkwan University is ranked third in South Korea afterSeoul National University andYonsei University.[34] For several years,U.S. News & World Report ranked Sungkyunkwan University second in the country.[35]
In theQuacquarelli Symonds (QS)world university rankings (2023), SKKU is ranked 99th globally, and 36th in Asia.[36] In theTimes Higher Education 2023 world university rankings, SKKU is ranked 170th internationally.[37]
In theFinancial Times rankings, SKK GSB's MBA ranks 82nd worldwide, 15th in Asia, and first in Korea.[38]
The university's Humanities and Social Sciences Campus, also housing arts departments, is in central Seoul on the same hill asChangdeokgung andChanggyeonggung (two of the royal palaces of Joseon). The 1,394,154 m2 campus lies in Myeongnyun-dong, nearDaehangno. The nearest subway station isHyehwa onLine 4, and the university operates shuttle buses between the station and the campus.
The Natural Sciences Campus, housing natural science, engineering, medicine, and sports departments, is within walking distance ofSungkyunkwan University Station in Yuljeon-dong, northwestSuwon. The 101-hectare campus, 45 km south of Seoul, was established in 1978. At 2,199,187 m2, it is more spacious than the campus in Seoul, so sports facilities and a botanical garden are located on this campus.
SKKU's motto is "Humanity, Righteousness, Propriety, and Wisdom" (인의예지;仁義禮智), and reflects the basic spirit ofNeo-Confucianism.[39]
The university's symbol—theginkgo leaf—is derived from the giant ginkgo trees (Natural Monument No. 59) atMyeongnyundang. Both trees are male, and thus do not bear fruit. They are believed to have been planted circa 1519 by Yun Tak, a former chief scholar of Sungkyunkwan.[40]
The university has several on-campus dormitories. The Humanities and Social Sciences campus in Seoul has ten dormitories and housing facilities, namely C-house, E-house, G-house, I-house, K-house, M-house, Crownville A, Crownville C, LWG House, and Victory House, while the Natural Sciences Campus in Suwon has five dormitories, namely In-Kwan, Ui-Kwan, Ye-Kwan, Shin-Kwan and Ji-Kwan.[41]
The university spends heavily onresearch and development, mostly sponsored bySamsung,Hyundai, and government agencies. Notable researchers includeClarivate Citation Laureate Park Nam-Gyu (2017),[42] and physics professorLee Young-hee, director of the Center for IntegratedNanostructurePhysics in theInstitute for Basic Science. Both scientists frequently publish inNature.[43]
Sungkyunkwan Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology (SAINT) was founded on 1 March 2005 as one of the four core programs of Sungkyunkwan University's VISION2010+ plan to be ranked in the top 100 universities in the world. With financial support fromSamsung Advanced Institute of Technology, it aims to become one of the world's top five nanotechnology institutes. The current director of SAINT is Sungjoo Lee.[44]
The N-Center houses the Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics in theInstitute for Basic Science, led by physics ProfessorLee Young-hee,[45] and the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), led by Prof. Seong-Gi Kim.[46]
Students from the School of Medicine train atSamsung Medical Center's hospitals, and many students on campus are first-year undergraduates and postgraduate students.
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Over 10% of the university's undergraduates are international students. There were over 2,700 international students enrolled at SKKU in 2013, and each year more than 2,000 Korean students from SKKU go abroad. SKKU maintains partnerships with over 653 universities in over 73 countries, and has agreements with 21 overseas institutions to offer dual-degree programs.[47]
In 1946, with the re-establishment of the university, Jongyeonggak, Bicheondang and Myeongnyundang were used as libraries until a new library was built. Another library opened on the Natural Sciences Campus in 1979, and a Library of Medicine was established in 1998. In 1999, the Law Library opened, and in 2000, Jongyeonggak was newly established. Samsung Library was built in 2009, and the Central Library was refurbished in 2011.[48] In total, SKKU's libraries hold more than 2.15 million books—the ninth largest collection of books in university libraries in South Korea.
Built in 2009,[48] this library, alongside typical library functions, houses a digital media room where students can watch movies, and a sleeping arena.[49]
SKKU Learning Factory is a student facility at the Natural Sciences campus where creative ideas can be made physically as prototype products using 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC router, and Arduino. The center was established by the Fusion Based Creative Informatics Human Resources Development Team.[50]
Operating under the College of Sports Science, there are several student sports clubs including a baseball club, floor ball club, tennis club, basketball club, soccer club, volleyball club, and cricket club.[51] There is a full-size soccer field, basketball court, tennis courts, athletics track, and baseball fields on the Natural Sciences Campus.
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