(From left) Dr. Byung-Gul Lee, Acting Vice President for International Affairs at Jeju National University; Dr. Ueng Jinn-Pyng, President of National Penghu University of Science & Technology (Taiwan); Dr. Elsa P. Manarpaac, President of Western Philippines University; Dr. Song Seok-Eon, President of Jeju National University; and Dr. Austin J. Shelton, Executive Director of the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability.

UOG Builds Regional Ties, Represents Guam at Jeju Forum

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability strengthened ties with other Asia-Pacific universities and represented UOG as a regional sustainability partner at the 13^th Jeju Forum for Peace & Prosperity, held June 26–28, 2018, in the Jeju Province of South Korea.

Dr. Austin J. Shelton III, the Executive Director for CIS, presented on a conference panel titled "The Role and the Vision of Island Universities in the Asia-Pacific Region for a Sustainable Island Development" alongside university presidents from the Philippines, Taiwan, and South Korea.

The South Korean forum serves as a regional, multilateral dialogue for promoting peace and prosperity in Asia while welcoming world leaders and other high-profile participants to discuss and share visions on various issues in the region.

"Building relationships with other island universities provides opportunities to innovate and develop solutions to the unique environmental challenges of islands," Shelton said.

The international exchange built upon the strong ties between the University of Guam and Jeju National University (JNU). Earlier this year, the president and vice president of JNU’s International Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UOG during a Presidential Dialogue on Island Sustainability Forum hosted by UOG President Robert A. Underwood.

JNU also hosted Shelton on a visit to JNU’s Sea Grant Program. Shelton also serves as UOG’s Director of the Sea Grant Program.

Shelton discussed opportunities for future collaboration with JNU, including creating marine biology–related educational materials for Korean visitors to Guam.

Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary General of the United Nations; and Dr. Austin J. Shelton, Executive Director of the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability.

 

University of Guam Sea Grant and Jeju Sea Grant members in Guam during UOG’s 9th Regional Conference on Island Sustainability held in March 2018. (From left) Jihye Cho, Research Associate at Jeju Sea Grant; Dr. Austin J. Shelton, Director of UOG Sea Grant; Dr. John Peterson, former Director of UOG Sea Grant; Rebecca Elmore, Science Communicator at UOG Sea Grant; Fran Castro, Program Leader at UOG Sea Grant; Dr. Byung-Gul Lee, Director of Jeju Sea Grant; and Tae-Seog Kang, Manager of Jeju Sea Grant.