Incheon National University

Incheon National University (INU) in South Korea gained university status in 1988 after starting out as Incheon Technical College in 1979. In 2009 the university relocated from Dowha-dong in Seoul to the International Business District (IBD), or "smart city" of Songdo, 56 km from Seoul.

INU has around 14,000 students across three campuses (two in Songdo and one at the original main site in Seoul), enrolling approximately 2,800 new students every year. The students study across INU’s 12 Faculties, which are: college of law, politics and public affairs; humanities; social science; natural science; arts and physical education; urban science; information technology; engineering; business administration; school of northeast Asian studies; college of education; life science and bioengineering.

By 2020, 10 per cent of the student population is expected to be international, with the aim to have 30 per cent of courses offered in English by then. Some 500 INU students study abroad each year in English speaking countries to enhance "global competency". They can choose from 175 sister universities in 36 countries. Meanwhile, visiting foreign students are offered a "Buddy Program" that pairs them with existing students for guidance and advice.

Some of the various services and facilities available are: post office, bank, bookshop, optometrist, copy shop, stationery store, hair salon, travel agents, a cell phone store, various restaurants, a library, sports centre, gymnasium, student union, computer centre, health clinic, and student support centre.

INU’s research activities range across: applied technology (industry development), global convergence (international trade), knowledge services (specialty workforce), regional cultural studies (language), marine science and urban science (sustainability). The university founded the Industry-Academy Cooperation Foundation (IACF) in May 2004 to collaborate more closely with industry, meanwhile INU Holdings was set up to market technologies developed by students.

INU became one of the South Korean government’s dedicated "Flagship Korean National Universities" in 2013 and receives an annual $70 million to expand education and research activities. Among notable alumni are actors Joo Jin-mo, Jung Suk-won, Sunwoo Sun.