Florida State University (FSU) and Kyungpook National University (KNU) have formalized a partnership aimed at promoting international collaboration in research and education. Last month, FSU hosted KNU President Young-Woo Heo and several KNU administrators on its Tallahassee campus for discussions that culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Stephen McDowell, FSU’s assistant provost for International Initiatives and interim dean of The Graduate School, commented on the significance of the agreement: “This partnership with Kyungpook National University represents an exciting step forward in FSU’s commitment to global engagement. By working together, we can create new opportunities for our students and faculty to collaborate across cultures, advance impactful research and foster meaningful connections that benefit both our universities and the broader international community.”
Located in Daegu, South Korea, KNU is recognized as one of the country’s leading universities. It holds the third position globally in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which evaluates over 2,500 institutions from 130 countries or territories based on their progress toward United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The KNU delegation included Jinseok Bae, dean of External Cooperation; An-Su Lee, dean of Student Affairs; and Hunwoo Lee from the Office of International Cooperation. Jaejin Lee, a professor at FSU’s College of Communication and Information who graduated from KNU in 2003, helped organize the visit. Jongwook Lee, an associate professor at KNU who completed his graduate studies at FSU in 2016 and is currently on sabbatical at FSU, also participated.
During their time at FSU, the delegation met with university leaders including President Richard McCullough and Provost James Clark to discuss shared objectives and explore potential avenues for joint research projects.
“One of the most exciting aspects of our partnership with Kyungpook National University is the opportunity to pursue joint research initiatives,” said McDowell. “By bringing together the expertise and perspectives of faculty and students from both institutions, we can tackle complex global challenges and generate innovative solutions that have a far-reaching impact.”
The group also visited facilities such as the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. They met with Dean Suvranu De; Richard Liang, director of the High Performance Materials Institute; and Sastri Pamidi, associate director of the Center for Advanced Power Systems to discuss mutual interests.
The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion titled “Advancing Academic Collaboration and Global Engagement: A Roundtable with the President of Kyungpook National University of South Korea.” Participants explored ways to support each other through research collaborations, cultural exchanges, and academic partnerships.
Reflecting on her role in facilitating this connection between her alma maters, Jaejin Lee stated: “It was truly meaningful to help bring together two universities that have shaped my academic journey. This partnership will open doors for students and faculty at both FSU and KNU to learn from each other, share perspectives and build lasting connections through research and cultural exchange.”
More information about international agreements at Florida State University can be found at https://global.fsu.edu/. Details about Kyungpook National University are available at https://en.knu.ac.kr/.
