Kookmin University Opens Asia's First OCA-Accredited 'Olympic Graduate School'

The Asia Olympic Graduate School, established by Kookmin University in collaboration with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), held its opening ceremony at the Main Building Conference Hall on September 6, officially marking its launch.

Participants are taking a commemorative photo at the opening ceremony of the Asia Olympic Graduate School held at Kookmin University. Kookmin University

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The Asia Olympic Graduate School at Kookmin University is significant as it is the first Olympic graduate school in the Asian region to receive OCA accreditation.

The opening ceremony was attended by Kim Jiyong, Chairman of the Kookmin Academy Foundation; Chung Seungryul, President of Kookmin University; Na Changsoon, Dean of the Asia Olympic Graduate School (Vice President for Academic Affairs); as well as Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, and 200 key figures from academia and the sports sector.

In his welcoming address, Chung Seungryul, President of Kookmin University, stated, "The Asia Olympic Graduate School represents an important challenge in realizing Kookmin University's grand vision of becoming an 'Entrepreneurial University.' We aim to nurture global talent through an educational program that integrates sports and ESG management."

Kim Byungjun, Director of International Affairs, presented the history of the school's establishment and introduced the process of launching the graduate school.

Notably, the event drew attention as several former national athletes who have won medals at the Olympic Games and Asian Games enrolled as the first cohort of students, including Lee Jungsoo (Short Track Speed Skating, gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics), Seo Youngwoo (Bobsleigh, silver medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics), Kim Soyoung (Badminton, gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games), Lee Namyong (Hockey, gold medal at the 2006 Doha Asian Games), and Jung Junyong (Kurash, silver medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games).

The Asia Olympic Graduate School plans to lead the way in international sports and ESG integrated education by offering two majors: 'Asia Olympic Governance and Policy (Master of Public Policy, MPP)' and 'Global Sports Sustainability and ESG Management (Master of ESG Management, MEM).'

A Kookmin University official stated, "The Asia Olympic Graduate School will take the lead in global sports governance and ESG, contributing to the advancement of world sports through research and educational programs in cooperation with international sports organizations. Going forward, the graduate school will sequentially implement mid- to long-term initiatives such as introducing an international admissions process and launching a doctoral program in 2026, establishing an international education and research collaboration platform, promoting academic seminars, developing integrated courses in ESG and artificial intelligence (AI), and expanding international accreditation through partnerships with the OCA and other international organizations."

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