The Catholic University of Korea (President Choi Joon-Kyu) hosted B4 UniConnect, an exchange meeting among four universities located in Bucheon—The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon University, Seoul Theological University, and Yuhan University—on October 17 at the Kim Sou-hwan Hall (K) 3rd-floor conference room.

The event aimed to establish a cooperative network among the four universities in Bucheon and to explore strategies for mutual growth between the universities and the local community by creating a foundation for collaboration in various fields, including education, research, international exchange, and the sharing of spaces and facilities. A total of 55 participants attended, including the presidents of the four universities, key administrators, and working-level staff.

The program consisted of the following sessions: opening, introduction of presidents and academic board members, welcome remarks, university introductions (sharing of key features and areas of specialization), signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), campus tour, discussion on joint agendas, and closing.

Through the MOU, the four universities agreed to move beyond short-term exchange toward building a sustainable framework for collaboration, focusing on enhancing university competitiveness and contributing to regional development through the mutual sharing and utilization of educational, research, human, and material resources.

The participating universities held in-depth discussions on six key areas of cooperation: joint course offerings, shared infrastructure (spaces, facilities, equipment, etc.), university innovation initiatives, RISE projects, international exchange, and research collaboration (industry-academic partnerships).

In his welcoming remarks, President Choi Joon-Kyu of The Catholic University of Korea said, “This exchange meeting is a meaningful occasion where universities in Bucheon come together to share a vision for the future of education and explore new possibilities. I hope this event will serve as a stepping stone for continued collaboration and development among the universities in various areas, including education, research, and community engagement.”

Moving forward, the participating universities plan to take turns hosting regular exchange meetings to strengthen the foundation of inter-university cooperation and establish a sustainable development model for local higher education institutions.