INTERNATIONAL TIE-UP (From left): UCSI University deputy vice-chancellor (Academic Affairs and Research) Professor Emeritus Dr Lim Koon Ong exchanging the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with professor of Woosong University (Korea) of the Department of

Woosong University (Korea) master chef and specialist of Korean royal cuisine Professor Dr Shin Mi Kyung conducting a Korean culinary presentation after the MoU exchange ceremony.

Woosong University (Korea) master chef and specialist of Korean royal cuisine Professor Dr Shin Mi Kyung conducting a Korean culinary presentation with a visiting secondary school student after the MoU exchange ceremony.

KUALA LUMPUR: UCSI University (UCSI) and Woosong University, Korea (WSU) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to incorporate Korean cuisine into UCSI's Diploma in Culinary Arts programme - a two-year work-based learning programme under UCSI's Faculty of Hospitality & Tourism Management - and the much awaited MoU exchange ceremony took place on Feb 19, 2013. 

Since its inception in 1954, WSU has received recognition as a university that provides a specialised curricula - based on practical foreign language and high-tech IT education - for every major field of study in the Daejeon region of South Korea. 

And it is anticipated that this collaborative effort will elevate gastronomical dining on home ground through the integration of top-notch Korean culinary arts education into the community that will surely forge closer ties between Malaysia and Korea in the Korean cuisine frontier. 

"I believe that this collaboration (between UCSI and WSU) will popularise and raise awareness of Korean cuisine among Malaysians on the local front," said UCSI deputy vice-chancellor (Academic Affairs and Research) Professor Emeritus Dr Lim Koon Ong. 

"It is a privilege for UCSI to collaborate with WSU as this will result in more qualified graduates who are well-versed in Korean cuisine know-how in the industry." 

Apart from fortifying international co-operation between the two institutions, this partnership also hopes to encourage staff and student mobility between UCSI and WSU, and has garnered positive comments from industry experts who have expressed much excitement about the tie-up. 

"For my last project, I introduced Malaysian education to (a university in) Korea and it was very successful but I wanted to contribute more," said Korean food specialist and Hannah Press publisher Mr Lee Young Seol, who contributed the idea of a tie-up between the two institutions. 

"(It is without doubt that) the K-pop wave has spread rapidly throughout Malaysia, especially among the younger generation - I wanted Korean food and our culture to be just as popular. (With this collaboration), I am sure that this will be a possibility." 

Daorae Restaurant chain director Mr Cho Seh Yeon also heaped further praise on the partnership, highlighting that the tie-up would reduce the dilemma faced by Korean restaurants - in terms of employing qualified local chefs who were well-versed in Korean cuisine. 

"It would be very helpful once UCSI incorporates Korean cuisine into the syllabus (of their Diploma of Culinary Arts programme)." 

"We'll be happy to employ UCSI students as interns or even as full-time employees in the future," he said, adding that Daorae would soon be collaborating with UCSI on a separate project where Daorae will subsidise special Korean materials and send their chefs as guest lecturers to UCSI 

The ceremony was officiated by Professor Emeritus Dr Lim and professor of WSU's Department of Global Korean Culinary Arts Professor Dr Kim Hyeyoung. 

Other prominent industry leaders and academicians like WSU's master chef and specialist of Korean royal cuisine Professor Dr Shin Mi Kyung, CEO of Dinett Korea Mr Han Il Kwang, directors of Shin Sun Mi Market Mr Park In Geun and Ms Yoo Joo Eun, and UCSI deputy vice-chancellor (International Relations) Professor Dr Lee Chai Buan, among others, were also present at the event.