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Chung-Ang University (CAU; Korean: 중앙대학교) is a privateresearch university in Seoul, South Korea.[2] The university operates two campuses, with its main campus located in the Dongjak District, of the city, and an additional campus in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. CAU consists of 16 undergraduate colleges and 16 graduate schools.
Founded as a church-run kindergarten in 1916,[3] it transformed into a school for female kindergarten teachers in 1922.[4] CAU was granted university status in 1953.[5] The university held its centennial anniversary in 2018. It has more than 33,600 undergraduate students, 5,200 graduate students, 700 professors, and 500 more part-time teaching staff.[6] The symbol of the university is a blue dragon.[7]
The history of Chung-Ang University began with the establishment of the Chung-Ang Kindergarten, as an annex to the Chung-Ang Methodist Church located in Insa-dong, Seoul.[8]
The kindergarten was originally founded as a branch of the Jungdong Church in 1916. The kindergarten was separated in April 1918.
The institute established a teacher training program. Graduates were posted in cities across Korea, such as Hamhung, Hweryung, Busan, Masan, Jeonju, among others. Thus, the Chung-Ang Kindergarten teacher training program took on the role of a professional educational institution.
In 1922, the program, in partnership with the Community Education Movement of various Japanese resistance organizations, was promoted to a kindergarten teacher training school. However, its official legal status remained as a miscellaneous school.
The institute continued to face obstacles in management. With just ten students, the school was forced to relocate to a private residence in 1932 due to financial and personal circumstances.
In 1933, Louise Yim took over the institute's leadership and was appointed as the principal. Her savings of 30,000 dollars earned from farming, truck driving, and vegetable wholesale operation in the U.S. were used to purchase a site at Heukseok-dong, where a school was built. Under Yim, Chung-Ang grew significantly.
Despite its relocation to Heukseok-dong, the Chung-Ang teacher training school lacked facilities. Thus, Yim rented the Pearson Bible School to host classes. However, due to Yim's personal financial troubles, alongside the Japanese prohibiting contributions, the development of the school continued to face financial difficulties. Believing that the only solution was to raise funds from the United States, Yim worked to promote donations in the country. As a result, she was able to return home, now able to financially support the school.
With this, the school's first stone building was erected on the grounds in April 1937, which later became the Young-Shin Hall upon its completion in May 1938. Students subsequently founded the Chosun Kindergarten Education Society, and hosted concerts, plays, and literary activities.
In 1937, the Japanese Empirewaged war against China. In 1941, Japan attackedPearl Harbor, which began the Pacific War against the United States. Chung-Ang was heavily targeted as Yim was educated in the United States and was a Christian. By the end of WW2, under pressure from Japanese forces, the school was no longer able to admit new students, and it was subsequently closed in 1944.
Following the defeat of Japan and the liberation of Korea, Yim reopened Chung-Ang, on 28 September 1945.
In October of the same year, the Chung-Ang Teacher Training School was re-organized under the name of the Chung-Ang Professional School for Women.
In April 1947, the school was again reorganised into the Chung-Ang College for Women, and then to the Chung-Ang College in May 1948, establishing itself as a co-educational institution.
While Yim served as a national diplomat in the United Nations, she continued her efforts in developing the college and was appointed dean and chairman of the board.
Though the college celebrated its first conferment of a bachelor's degree in May 1950, it was again closed indefinitely due to the outbreak of the Korean War. The school's management and students fled to Busan, where a temporary office was established. The Chung-Ang College continued its education in its temporary Busan center, during the duration of the war. The college was officially granted university status in February 1953. Yim was then appointed as chancellor of the university.
Following the declaration of ceasefire in July 1953, the university's management and teaching faculty returned to the original site in Heukseok-dong, Seoul. However, lectures continued to be taught in temporary buildings as the site was occupied by the U.S. Army. The site was eventually recovered in April 1954.
The university continued to expand. By 1959, it encompassed 19 educational departments under four faculties, with a student population of over 2,000. Concurrently, the university established the International Culture Research Institute, in an effort to enhance research activities.
In 1960, CAU students protested against the March 1960 South Korean presidential election. CAU was appointed Sung-Hee Yim as its second chancellor on 2 October 1961, before being re-elected as the third chancellor.
In 1965, the university, and its subsidiaries and affiliated schools, underwent a significant reorganization, in an effort to develop a unified education under the CAU name, from kindergarten to graduation. In 1968, the university was reorganized once again into the eight component faculties. CAU celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1968. Chull Soon Yim became the university's fourth chancellor. Louise Yim died on 17 February 1977.
In March 1980, amidst another expansion, lecture halls, dormitories, and a students' union in Anseong, formulating the Anseong campus.
Following the end of his term as the fourth chancellor in May 1980, Chull Soon Yim was succeeded by the professor of philosophy, Suk-Hee Lee, as the fifth chancellor.[9] During his tenure, Lee oversaw significant improvements and modernizations to Seoul and Anseong campuses.[10]
Bum Hoon Park was inaugurated as the 12th university president in February 2005. His first major responsibility was overseeing the evaluation conducted by the Korean Council for University Education, along with initiatives involving capital marketing, the BK21 project, the establishment of the Professional Graduate School of Law, and other national programs.
Following the restructuring of undergraduate programs, the university conducted a comprehensive review of new student admissions, current student registration, financial status, and overall management of its three professional schools and 11 specialized schools. The goal was to identify areas for improvement and enhance the quality of education. Consequently, 32 out of 42 faculty members from the professional and specialized schools were reassigned to the general graduate school, and 10 positions were eliminated. The reassigned faculty formed the core of a newly established Research Priority Group.
The development plan known as DRAGON 2018 (2001–2004), initiated under the 11th president to guide the university toward its centennial vision, was rebranded as CAU2018+ (2005–2008). CAU2018+ included detailed valuation indices for various sectors and outlined projected revenue sources. The plan was executed in two phases to achieve its strategic goals.
During the first four years of Park's presidency, significant investments were made in educational and research infrastructure. In February 2007, the nation's largest Law Hall was completed. A master plan was also developed for constructing the Pharmacy and Natural Sciences R&D Centers near the main entrance of Campus 1, and an Engineering R&D Center adjacent to the gymnasium.
In November 2007, the university obtained approval from Hanam-si for the development of a tertiary campus in Hanam. The site, formerly Camp Colbern, a U.S. Army installation spanning 86,000 pyeong, was to be redeveloped for academic use, with dedicated teams organized by subject area.
244 full-time teaching staff were recruited between 2005 and 2009. In the first semester of 2009, 25 full-time and part-time staff were recruited. Law and Medical Schools were established in March 2009.
Between 2005 and 2009, the university secured KRW 40 billion in development funds, KRW 166.3 billion in external research grants, and KRW 17.3 billion in government funding. The total, KRW 223.6 billion, represents the largest amount of financial support in the university's history.
In May 2008, the Doosan Group, a global corporation, was incorporated as the university's educational foundation, and Yong-Sung Park was elected as the ninth chairman of the board. Chairman Park, who led Doosan's transition from consumer goods to heavy industry, symbolized a new era for the university. Within 80 days of his appointment, he met with faculty on August 27, 2008, to present the CAU2018+ Mid-Term Development Plans and a new strategic direction, summarized as "Choice and Concentration, Strengthening Executive Capability, and Establishing a Virtuous Cycle Structure."
The direct election system for the university presidency was abolished and replaced with an appointment system. Consequently, President Park was reappointed as the 13th president, serving consecutive terms.
As of February 2009, Chung-Ang University had developed into a comprehensive institution comprising one general graduate school, five professional graduate schools, 11 specialized graduate schools, and 18 modularized colleges across campuses in Seoul and Anseong. The university had conferred a total of 147,196 bachelor's degrees, 29,940 master's degrees, and 4,275 doctoral degrees.
In March 2014, Chung-Ang University began accepting competitive video game players into its Department of Sport Science, reflecting a broader embrace of emerging disciplines.[11][12]
The faculty-based system was replaced by a vice presidential system in 2014. Each college is operated by its respective dean. As of 2014, there are 12 colleges and 49 departments.
The postgraduate programmes in Chung-Ang University are categorised into general graduate school, professional schools and specialised graduate schools.
The international student population in Chung-Ang University reaches approximately 2,000. Approximately 200 exchange students are admitted per year.
The admissions ratio at Chung-Ang University is 7.45% based on 2014 statistics. (73,021 applicants for 5,443 places)
CAU ranked third in the category of social sciences and fifth in education among Korean universities in the 2020 Times Higher Education (THE) University Rankings.
According to the 2019 Korea University Rankings by JoongAng Ilbo, CAU ranked first in the fields of film, drama and theatre studies.[26][27]
Libraries: Chung-Ang University is home to the Central Library and Law Library.
Main Administration Building: The university headquarters can be seen upon passing the Middle Entrance. This white building is where the offices of the President, Student Affairs, General Affairs and Public Relations Department can be found.
Emancipation Square, in the center of the university, is sheltered by Seorabol Hall, the Central Library and the Student Union Hall. The area is enjoyed by students seeking relaxation, and also during festivities.
The Blue Dragon Monument and Blue Dragon Pond, near the Middle Entrance, were installed in 1968 to commemorate the university's 50th anniversary. The Blue Dragon Monument depicts the moment of ascension from its embrace of the Earth, with the blessing of seven miniature dragons, and is symbolic of the prosperity of Chung-Ang University.
Young-Shin Hall, situated by the Main Entrance, was completed in May 1938. During the oppressive time in Korean history when Japanese colonialists prohibited the collecting of financial aid, donations had to be amassed from the U.S. As a result, the Pfeiffer Foundation was born.
College buildings include the College of Law (Law Building), Seorabol Hall, Bobst Hall, Pfeiffer Hall, College of Natural Science (Natural Science Building), College of Medicine (Medical Building), College of Pharmacy (Pharmacy Building), and the Institute of Performing Arts.
The College of Law Building, constructed in 2007, is shared by the School of Business Administration, College of Education and the College of Law. Facilities include student cafeterias and staff cafeterias, computer rooms, the Law Library, assembly hall and postgraduate rooms.
Blue Mir Hall was constructed in August 2010. It can accommodate 955 students and has been equipped with restaurants, convenience stores, sports facilities and cafes.
Seorabol Hall is an eight-story building across from the College of Law, home to the College of Liberal Arts and College of Education.
Bobst Hall: As the first of two Engineering Buildings, the space is mainly used by Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Chemical Engineering students. The building is behind the Student Cultural Hall and is furnished with labs and research space.
Engineering Building 2 supplements the first Engineering Building. The space is mainly used by students of Computer Science and Engineering and Architectural Engineering, working in the computer labs and design labs.
Natural Science Building is constructed of distinctive red bricks and is inhabited by the Department of Physics, Chemistry, Life Science and Math Statistics.
Medical Building is spread over two sites near the Student Union Hall and the Central Library consisting of Medical Building 1 and Medical Building 2.
Pfeiffer Hall and R&D Center: The College of Pharmacy is in Pfeiffer Hall, which boasts an array of laboratories.
Art Center building, also known as the Media & Performance Theatre, is stage to the School of Mass Communication and School of Drama and Film Studies. University functions and performances are held in its halls.
Gymnasium is located by the back entrance together with the Professor Research Center. The grounds are host to the Career Fair each term.
The Anseong Campus is located in Daedeok-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. The secondary campus was established in 1979, subsequent to the recognition of Chung-Ang as a university in 1948.
College of Arts Precinct consists of four buildings, including the Modelling Hall, Theatre, Crafts Hall, and Sculpture Hall. The College of Arts is an art institute that teaches ten genres from literature, sculpture and performance to visual and design. The lectures are open to students in Creative Writing, Korean Painting, Western Painting, Arts & Crafts, Photography, Dance, Sculpture, and Industrial Design,
School of Music Precinct has three buildings in the School of Music Precinct: Music Building 1, Music Building 2, and a third named Young-Shin Music Hall. The School of Music is mainly frequented by students of composition, Voice, Piano and Orchestral Instruments.
Korean Traditional Music Building is a stroll down the path lying between the Music Buildings and the Young-Shin Music Hall, towards the Water Surface Stage. All areas of the Korean Music Building are open to the public. The theatre and lobby are on the second floor in a gallery formation, whilst private practice rooms are available to students on the third floor.
Lakeside Theatre is a stage erected at the side of a lake, serving as an open-air arena for summer performances. The surrounding garden is equipped with trees and benches.
College of Biotechnology & Natural Resources Precinct has five buildings in the Biotechnology & Natural Resources Precinct: Circular building (Won hyung gwan), Biotechnology building 1, Biotechnology building 2, Biotechnology building 3 and a Living Modified Organisms Laboratory. The College of Biotechnology & Natural Resources is an important institution that leads biotechnology and research to Chung-ang University.
Chung-Ang University Healthcare System provides healthcare to the residents in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, running two hospitals, each located in Seoul and Gwangmyeong.
Founded in 1968 as the first domestic association of medical school professors, Chung-Ang University Hospital established its foundation for a new takeoff by moving from Pil-dong to Heukseok-dong in 2004. In 2011, Yongsan Hospital finished its 27-year-old history and relocated to merge with the Chung-Ang University Hospital. CAUHS opened its fourth hospital, Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital in March 2022.[28]
