By Genevieve Balance Kupang
The World University Network of Innovation for Presidents (WUNI-P), Leaders (WUNI-L), and Experts (WUNI-E) participated in an enlightening webinar organized by the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) on December 5, 2024. Before this webinar, the WUNI Leaders held two online meetings facilitated by WUNI-L President Sir Robert Frederick Hayden. The webinar featured distinguished speakers who provided valuable insights into the future of higher education and innovation. Mr. Sang-Hyun Kim, Vice Chair of WURI Ranking 2025, warmly welcomed participants, setting a positive tone for the discussions that followed.
Mr. Sang-Hyun Kim warmly welcomes participants, while Dr. Dong-sung Cho sets the tone for the webinar with insightful opening remarks, igniting inspiration and innovation.
Dr. Dong-sung Cho, the Founder of WURI, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing some changes in the WURI 2025 framework. In contrast to the 13 categories in 2024, he outlined 16 categories that address two critical questions: “For whom do we innovate?” and “How do we innovate?” The first half consists of eight categories targeting different stakeholders: students (2 categories), industry (2 categories), society (2 categories), and the global community (2 categories). The second half focuses on innovation methods, including leadership (2 categories), environment (2 categories), resources (2 categories), and mechanisms (2 categories).
Dr. Cho highlighted that innovations can vary in type and significance, whether they are novel contributions—such as a world’s first, or nation’s first—or initiatives that may be unique to a specific institution but have been implemented elsewhere. He encouraged participants not to be overly concerned with the classification of their innovations, stating, “Even if just one university can learn from your innovation, it holds value.”
The participants and he agreed that innovations should be viewed as components rather than final products; each case of innovation can contribute to a larger innovative program or project. He ended his sharing by providing examples of innovative practices from institutions like aSSIST University in Korea, illustrating how diverse approaches can lead to meaningful advancements and benefits to the stakeholders of higher education.
Dr. Kyung-Sung Kim, Chair of WURI 2025, explains how the WURI entries will be evaluated.
Dr. Kyung-Sung Kim, the spirited Chair of WURI 2025, provided an insightful overview of WURI 2025, shedding light on the critical deadlines and evaluation processes that lie ahead. As the clock ticked toward the end of 2024, he emphasized that WURI applications must be submitted by the end of 2024. The first peer evaluation is set for February 15, followed by the second expert judgment on March 30, and a final review on April 30. The excitement will culminate in June 2025 with the announcement of winners.
Dr. Kim also addressed frequently asked questions, clarifying how universities can participate in the WURI ranking, how submitted applications are evaluated, and reassuring everyone that participation is entirely free of charge. He drew a compelling analogy between conventional ranking systems and the Olympic Games—highlighting that it’s not just about who takes home gold or number 1, 2, 3, but also about who contributes uniquely to the landscape of innovation. Dr. Kim likened the WURI ranking to the Academy Awards. It considers who stands out as truly unique in this new standard of university rankings.
Reflecting on the previous WURI conference 2024, he noted that attendees experienced a festival-like atmosphere rather than a cutthroat competition. The pride in being part of this community was palpable as participants exchanged ideas and learned from one another’s innovations. Summarizing his message with a powerful word—CONFIDENCE—Dr. Kim expressed that participants left with renewed assurance in their innovative endeavors. He warmly invited all to join in on the exciting journey of WURI Ranking 2025, reinforcing that every contribution holds value in shaping the future of higher education.
Dr. Ho Hwan Chun, Prof. Robert Frederick Hayden, and Dr. Jude William Genilo shared updates about their various initiatives as part of WUNI-P, WUNI-L, and WUNI-E.
This was followed by introductions to various initiatives under the WURI umbrella, including WUNI-P by Dr. Ho Hwan Chun from Tongmyong University, Korea; WUNI-L by Prof. Robert Frederick Hayden from the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies, Philippines; and WUNI-E by Dr. Jude William Genilo from the University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh (Details of this will be featured in the next article).
Hanseatic League of Universities Conference 2025 Announcement
Dr. Joel Limson, former President, and Dr. Noel Marjun Yasi, the newly elected President of Negros Oriental State University (NOSU), proudly announce that the Philippines will host the Hanseatic League of Universities 2025 Conference, with NOSU, Silliman University, and St. Paul University Dumaguete serving as the host universities.
The webinar featured significant announcements that set the stage for exciting developments. Dr. Joel Limson, former President of Negros Oriental State University (NOSU), representing the Hanseatic League of Universities (HLU), shared the news that the Philippines will host the upcoming HLU 2025 Conference.
This conference will be held at NOSU, in partnership with Silliman University and St. Paul University in Dumaguete, creating a dynamic consortium of academic excellence. A highlight of the session was the official acceptance to host the conference by Dr. Noel Marjun Yasi, the newly elected President of NOSU. Dr. Yasi outlined the unique offerings of these three universities, showcasing their amenities while highlighting what this beautiful part of the Visayas has in store for HLU conference participants.
He also shared compelling statistics about board pass rates across various programs in the three universities, emphasizing Dumaguete’s recognition as the 7th best place to retire in the world according to Forbes Magazine—an enticing detail for any attendee considering a longer stay! Dr. Yasi proudly mentioned that these universities are among the top-performing institutions in the Philippines, reinforcing their commitment to educational excellence. He then presented a video showcasing the charm of Negros Oriental, generating excitement among participants.
Announcement of the 2nd WURI Global Conference 2025
Dr. Jin-suk Kim, Chair of the WURI Global Conference Executive Committee, announces that the 2nd WURI Global Conference will take place from September 24-26, 2025, in Busan, Korea.
Dr. Jin-suk Kim, Chair of the WURI Global Conference Executive Committee, announced the 2nd WURI Global Conference 2025, set to take place from September 24 to 26, 2025, in Busan, South Korea. Reflecting on the previous year’s success, she noted that the last conference attracted 235 presidents and senior officials from 88 universities across 22 countries. A notable achievement from that event was the establishment of three pivotal networks: WUNI-P (World University Network for Innovation – Presidents), WUNI-L (Leaders), and WUNI-E (Experts).
Dr. Kim underscored the vital role of collaboration among institutions to drive innovation and effectively tackle global challenges. She warmly invited universities to actively participate in the upcoming conference by sharing their innovative practices and engaging in meaningful discussions about the future of higher education. Highlighting Busan as Korea’s second-largest city and a vibrant hub of culture and innovation, she expressed her enthusiasm for the event, concluding with an encouraging note: “See you in Busan next year!”
Dr. Ho Hwan Chun, President of Tongmyong University and gracious host for the 2025 WURI Conference, assures the participants, ‘We’ll sweat the small details and make sure everything is well-prepared so you can focus on the big ideas of innovation!’ Get ready for an unforgettable experience in Busan!
The webinar was brought to a close by Dr. Ho Hwan Chun, President of Tongmyong University, who delivered a heartfelt message on behalf of the host university for the upcoming conference. He highlighted some of his university’s achievements and extended a warm welcome to participants, showcasing what Busan has to offer.
Mr. Sang-Hyun Kim, the webinar’s host, expressed his sincere hope for everyone’s active participation in the WURI Ranking. He emphasized that participation will not only contribute to the innovation and advancement of universities but also play a significant role in creating a better world. He further expressed gratitude to all participants for their involvement in this enriching experience.
This endeavor reflects a collective commitment to advancing educational innovation and fostering collaboration on a global scale. As institutions engage with international initiatives, they reinforce their dedication to creating environments that encourage innovative thinking, creativity, impactful research, and future-proofing their organizations. Indeed, all navigate an ever-evolving educational landscape, ensuring that universities, in partnership with industries, governments, NGOs, and faith communities, remain at the forefront of addressing societal needs and challenges.
Let us embrace this journey together as we shape the future of education and innovation for a better world.
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#GenevieveB.Kupangwritesinnovation
About the Author:
Genevieve Balance Kupang serves as the International Relations Officer of Baguio Central University. She is a member of the Board of Directors for both the Cordillera Association of International Relations Officers (CAIRO) and the World University Network of Innovation for Leaders (WUNI-L).
