South Korean don pledges to promote ICT

The new South Korean Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science at the National University of Rwanda (NUR), Prof. Sung Han Park, has vowed to promote Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the country. He made the pledge yesterday in an exclusive interview with The New Times at the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) offices in Kigali. “I started my career as a professional lecturer in the area of technology back in 1974. Basing on my vast experience in this field, I will collaborate with the university staff to take the university, and the country in general, to another level in terms of ICT,” Prof Sung said. He promised to use his extensive global network to help NUR and other universities in the country and connect them with Korean universities, which are extremely experienced in technology. Speaking to The New Times the Rector of NUR, Prof. Silas Lwakabamba, noted that Prof Sung would assist lecturers in the Faculty to attain more skills to improve their teaching techniques and skills. “Prof Sung is coming from a country which is internationally recognised in the sector of ICT. I believe that he is going to bring a tremendous change in as far as the promotion of telecommunication and electronics engineering is concerned, both at NUR and countrywide”. The Korean government, through KOICA, assisted the university to put up an ICT school by providing the university with modern ICT equipment. Prof. Lwakabamba said that the new head of faculty will be paid by the Rwandan government and will head the faculty for two years. His contract will be renewable Prof Sung has a Ph.d in Electronics and Computer Engineering from University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Electronic Engineering from Seoul National University. steven.mugisha@newtimes.co.rw