The top ten resource universities in Korea have strengthened ties with The University of Western Australia to develop a global talent in mineral and energy resources development.

Professor Chang Woo Lee of Dong-A University represented the Korean Universities involved in the Korea Energy and Mineral Resources Engineering Program (KEMREP) at an official ceremony to mark the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with UWA and Curtin University.

WA Minister for Education Liz Constable attended the ceremony which represents a significant step in building on UWA's longstanding relationship with Korea in the resources sector and follows the launch of UWA's Energy and Minerals Institute that will help position Western Australia as a national and international hub for resources expertise.

"Through this agreement research leaders will tackle the resource industry's most challenging local and global issues from different perspectives with high-tech facilities," UWA Vice Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said.

The latest negotiations between UWA and Korea's top universities are expected to lead to more student and academic exchanges, greater opportunities for training in Korea as well as joint research projects.    

In the past five years UWA's ties with Korea have developed in the areas of English language teaching at Dong-A University; with the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology; with Korea University and Seoul National University as well as between faculties and individual academics. 

The KEMREP universities include; Chonnam National University, Chosun University, Dong-A University, Hanyang University, Inha University, Kangwon National University, Korea Maritime University, Pukyong National University, Sejong University and Seoul National University.

Photo:  left to right:  UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson, Professor Chang Woo Lee of Dong-A University and Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jeanette Hacket.

Media references

Jill Stajduhar (Energy and Minerals Institute)  (+61 8)  6488 4745
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716