Sogang University

Sogang University
서강대학교
Motto Obedire Veritati (Latin)
Motto in English
 Obey the Truth
Type Private Research
Liberal Arts
Established 1960
Founder Theodore Geppert S.J.
Affiliation Roman Catholic, Jesuit
President Park Jong-koo Ph.D.
Academic staff
 432 (full-time)
800 (adjunct)
Administrative staff
 234
Students c. 12,000
Undergraduates c. 8,000
Postgraduates 3,581
Location Seoul, South Korea
Campus Urban, 53 acres
Colors Cardinal     
Affiliations ACUCA
Mascot Albatross
Website wwwe.sogang.ac.kr
Korean name
Hangul 서강대학교
Hanja 西江大學校
Revised Romanization Seogang Daehakgyo
McCune–Reischauer Sŏgang Taehakkyo

Sogang University (hangul: 서강대학교 hanja: 西江大學校) is one of the leading research and top liberal arts universities of South Korea. The university was established in 1960 by the Wisconsin province of the Society of Jesus to provide education based on Catholic beliefs inspired by the Jesuit education philosophy. Sister schools of Sogang founded on Jesuit philosophy include Georgetown University, Boston College, Ateneo de Manila University and Sophia University.

History

Beginnings

At the initiative of the Catholic Hierarchy of Korea, Pope Pius XII gave assurance that a Catholic institution of higher learning would be established in Korea. In 1948 he entrusted the task to the Society of Jesus. In October 1954 Jesuit Fr. Theodore Geppert from Sophia University of Tokyo came to Korea in search of a suitable site to establish a Jesuit college. In February 1955 Fr. Leo Burns, Superior of the Wisconsin Province of Jesuits, came to Korea and, with the Catholic Hierarchy, began negotiations with the government for the foundation of the college. In January 1957 the Society of Jesus purchased a property of 67,075 pyong (217,323 sq. meters, 53 acres) at Nogo San, Sinsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The site was prepared for construction of an Administration Building, which was completed in November 1959. Sogang College was opened in 1960 and was granted university status in 1970.

Development

On April 24, 1985, Sogang's 25th anniversary was commemorated, with Sogang's founder Fr. Geppert as a special guest.

The 1979 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mother Teresa visited Sogang in May 1981 and gave addresses in the auditorium and at the basketball court, appealing for all to practice a charity that is universal.

In 1984 the Korean Catholic Church celebrated its bicentennial. For the celebration Pope John Paul II visited Korea on May 5, meeting with priests along with men and women religious in the gymnasium and with Korean intellectuals in the auditorium.

A Sogang University campus building

University symbol

The cardinal red university color symbolizes love, the Holy Spirit, martyrdom, loyalty, and victory. The silver chevron comes from the first letter 'ㅅ' of 서강 (Sogang), representing the intellectual spirit of Sogang and an ivory tower. The "IHS" comes from the first letters of the Greek name Ιησους (ΙΗΣΟΥΣ) for Jesus and is also found on the seal of the Society of Jesus, the Catholic religious order that founded the University. The medieval crown stands for the Virgin and Trinity, symbolizing wisdom.[1]

Reputation

While Sogang’s freshman intake belongs to the top 1% of their high school academic performance in the country, Sogang University's ranking tends to lag behind its reputation and evaluation results because it has no medical school and a much smaller student body compared to other competitive universities in Korea. Nonetheless, it is widely regarded as among the top 3 private Korean schools and the top 4 universities in the country.

Rankings

  • QS World University Ranking 2018 #441-450
  • QS WUR By Subject Ranking 2018 Modern Languages #151-200 Linguistics #151-200 Business & Management Studies #151-200 Engineering - Chemical #151-200 Arts and Humanities #197 Social Sciences and Management #=213 English Language and Literature #201-250 Economics and Econometrics #201-250 Engineering - Mechanical #201-250 Engineering - Electrical and Electronic #251-300 Physics & Astronomy #251-300 Engineering and Technology #=276 Computer Science and information System #301-350 Natural Sciences #401-450 Chemistry #401-450
  • QS Graduate Employability Ranking 2018 #301-500
  • QS Asian University Rankings 2018 #57

Sogang Business School

In October 2009 Sogang University received accreditation in business from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) .[2]

It is among the top five business schools in Korea. Located near the financial hub in Seoul, it had the highest job-landing ratio for undergraduates among universities in Korea in 2006, 2007 and 2008: the percentages of employment in major companies measured by the Ministry of Education have been 55.1%, 53.3% and 54.9% for these years.

The “Sogang School”

The University has contributed significantly to the rapid economic growth of Korea during the last four decades. Some faculty members have been deeply involved in the design of Korea's economic development program through top-level cabinet positions in the government. Due to these important engagements, a group of economists affiliated with the University and engaged in policy-making came to be called the “Sogang School.” Based on its reputation, the School has consistently attracted young talent of the highest caliber, mostly from the top 1% in the national college entrance exam. Reflecting its excellent research capacity, the Economics Department has been recognized by RePEc as near the top in Korea in international journal publications.

Notable alumni & faculty

Alumni

Politics

Park Geun-hye, the 11th President of the Republic of Korea

Business and finance

Academia

Broadcasting and entertainment

Notable faculty

Controversies

In July 2010 four professors in the department of Business Administration were dismissed after exposing the mishandling of grant funds by a fellow professor. The professors appealed to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. Neither the professors nor the university were satisfied with the Appeal Commission's ruling, with both sides filing suit.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "교표" [University symbol] (in Korean). sogang.ac.kr.
  2. ↑ MBA Channel: South Korea on the rise
  3. ↑ "Sogang Univ. in court battle with whistle blowing professors". koreatimes. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2017-09-27.

Coordinates: 37°33′04″N 126°56′28″E / 37.55111°N 126.94111°E / 37.55111; 126.94111

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