The University Must Stand at the Center of Educational Reform
Mr. Lee Chun Soo, a former Vice-Minister in the Ministry of Education, takes office as the second President of Cheonan University

As the Second president of Cheonan University, Former Vice-Minister of the minister of Education Mr. Lee Chun Soo was inaugurated this past March. In his inauguration speech, he stressed that the University must stand at the center of education reform, a task of our times. The University should have to play a leading role for the sake of real education reform", he said. Setting forth as a premise that today's Universities have to seek out their role and mission in education reform, president Lee noted quantitative growth and external performances must be backed by higher qualitative levels and greater substance. On the current educational circles' circumstances, he pointed out that discussions concert new paradigm and new knowledge concepts are in progress. In this regard, Cheonan University is preparing diverse education programs through the strengthening of Human nature education based on a Christian Spiritual perspective.
President Lee said, "To help Cheonan University to become the education institutional that the region needs, we will carry out these functions to fulfill the desire of the region's citizens by opening all university facilities to them". Moreover, he stressed that Cheonan University will concentrate its efforts on securing and developing excellent personal resources by making the best use of its comparative advantages. Cheonan University was selected as the most excellent University in a survey conducted by Korea University Education Council on national universities last year. Particularly, in recent years it is drawing attention by seeking the reform of university education, preparing 'Cheonan Edutopia 2005 project'.
*The following is the inauguration address that President Lee Chun Soo made at his inaugural ceremony.-Ed.
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude and honor to God who allowed me to be able to play a role as the second president of Cheonan University. I cannot restrain the heavy sense of responsibility toward the mission that Cheonan University should carry out while, being reborn as a pivotal prestigious university in a new metropolitan area. This place is above all a place in which we commit ourselves to strive to establish Cheonan Edutopia 2005, that the former president, Cheonan University's faculty and students began to develop upon a strong foundation through efforts. The 21st century, a new era that we greet, is a era of cultural change. Changes are appearing in all fields. Openings attendant upon globalization are being accelerated more and more. The education field is not an exception. As the importance of education is rediscovered, the crisis of education is being raised seriously all over the world. At this moment, what we should recognize clearly, is the fact that the university must stand at the center of education reform, the task of our era. No one can deny the fact that for the sake of the success of real education reform, the university has to play a spearheading role.
The university is a place for the creative knowledge, and free and open thought. Today, the mission & responsibility of universities is to fulfill their role & function as training of high skill manpower that will bear the responsibility for the nation's prosperity & happiness. Based on the accomplishment and confidence that we achieved 'An evaluation of the most excellent University in the country', let's put the following directions into practice.
First, by securing the most excellent personal resources and strengthening human nature education for them, we should do our best to train them to be of extensive use. Second, in order to become the pivotal university of this new metropolitan era, Cheonan University plans to promote state-of-the-art science programs and further prepare diverse & characterized education programs to reflect of region's needs.
The 21st century gives us a new mission and hope with strong challenges. In order to lead the new era, a great paradigm shift and a new way of thinking are being demanded. Let's all keep in mind that today this place is a place in which we commit ourselves to cooperate with each other and make a definite promise for the glory of God and for the victory of truth, freedom and love. ■