Ranked 35th in Leadership and 37th in Social Responsibility among 1,072 universities worldwide

Acknowledged for achievements in nurturing Saemaul leaders and global leadership through Saemaul Studies of president CHOI

Dedicated to national development and global prosperity

[June 14, 2024]

<Yeungnam University campus>

YU (President CHOI Oe-chool) was ranked 35th in the world and 3rd in Korea in the Leadership category and 37th globally in the Social Responsibility category in the ‘2024 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI)’ announced at the 4th Hanseatic League of Universities (HLU) Conference held at Franklin University in Switzerland on June 7.

 WURI, organized by the Institute for Competitiveness, is co-hosted by HLU, the Swiss Institute of Industrial Policy, the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and the Taylor Institute at Franklin University Switzerland. Since 2020, these rankings have evaluated universities based on case-by-case qualitative assessments of their innovative programs, highlighting not only traditional academic achievements but also responses to industrial and societal needs with practical and innovative outcomes.

In 2024, the rankings evaluated 2,880 cases from 1,072 universities globally. WURI ranks the top 300 global universities overall and the top 100 universities in 13 specific areas. Among them, YU was ranked in the Leadership category, an indicator of innovation means, and in the Social Responsibility category, an indicator of innovation.

In the leadership category, YU received high praise for its innovative leadership in education and community development. This recognition stems from the university’s efforts to develop the Saemaul Movement and Korea’s development experience into sustainable development policies, including modern adaptations such as 'Saemaul 2.0' and 'Smart Saemaul.' Furthermore, YU’s leadership was acknowledged for not only institutionalizing the Saemaul Movement academically but also for its global contribution to human society through initiatives like PSPS, the Institute for International Development Cooperation, various agreements for spreading Saemaul studies, the Global Saemaul Forum, and community development consulting. 

In the social responsibility category, YU was recognized for its efforts through PSPS. YU has been instrumental in educating future leaders of developing countries on the Saemaul Movement, Korea’s development experience, sustainable development education, and leadership training. The successful application and substantial growth demonstrated by students who studied Saemaul studies at YU and returned to their home countries also contributed to the high evaluation.

President CHOI Oe-chool stated, “Being highly rated in the Leadership and Social Responsibility categories is the result of our continuous efforts to nurture talent that contributes to the mutual growth of developing countries and South Korea. In a rapidly changing social environment and the crisis faced by universities, new leadership is necessary to promote sustainable growth. It is important to create an environment where cooperation and innovation can drive national development and global community prosperity, and YU's efforts in this regard have been highly evaluated. We will continue to support all academic fields at YU to elevate educational and research outcomes to a global level.”

 Additionally, in December last year, YU was recognized for its efforts in leading sustainable development in developing countries through the Korean-style ODA project via PSPS, receiving the Porter Prize in the Effectiveness of 10th  CSV/ESG Projects category, co-hosted by the Institute for Industrial Policy Studies, Dong-A Ilbo, and Channel A.