Sungshin Women’s University (President Yi Seong-keun) held the Inaugural Plaque Unveiling Ceremony for the Sungshin Women’s University Chinese Alumni Association on the 21st at Hebei Academy of Fine Arts in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China, officially launching a unified alumni organization representing graduates across China.

The establishment of the Chinese Alumni Association was initiated to integrate previously region-based alumni networks into a single, cohesive body. This move reflects the growing number of Chinese nationals who have earned Sungshin Women’s University degrees (bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral) through active international exchanges, including Korea–China joint academic programs, as well as alumni currently working throughout China.

The ceremony was attended by President Yi Seong-keun, officials from the Office of International and External Affairs, Sungshin alumni active in various regions of China, and local education representatives. Zhang Hua, who completed the doctoral program in Sculpture at Sungshin Women’s University in August 2024, was elected as the inaugural president of the association. Zhang currently serves as Vice Dean of the College of Sculpture and Public Art at Hebei Academy of Fine Arts and plans to actively promote a virtuous cycle of international cooperation linking international students, alumni, and the University.

The plaque unveiling ceremony was recognized as a meaningful achievement in terms of key evaluation criteria of the Ministry of Education’s International Education Quality Assurance System (IEQAS)—under which Sungshin Women’s University has been designated a Top-Tier Certified University for 11 consecutive years—including ▲the establishment of overseas alumni networks, ▲the strengthening of post-graduation support systems for international students, and ▲the development of sustainable internationalization governance. In particular, Hebei Academy of Fine Arts, the venue for the ceremony, is a partner institution that shares a foundation of educational and academic exchange with Sungshin Women’s University, making this event a notable example of the practical operation of internationalization governance linking overseas partner universities with alumni organizations.

Going forward, the Sungshin Women’s University Chinese Alumni Association plans to focus on initiatives directly aligned with IEQAS evaluation indicators, including ▲local alumni mentoring for international students, ▲post-graduation management and career support for international graduates, ▲linkages for Korea–China industry–academia and educational cooperation, and ▲feedback into the University’s internationalization policies. Through these efforts, the Association aims to systematically strengthen exchanges and solidarity among alumni across China and to establish a comprehensive post-graduation support framework encompassing academic success, career development, and long-term settlement for international students.

President Yi Seong-keun of Sungshin Women’s University stated, “The establishment of the Chinese Alumni Association goes beyond the launch of a simple alumni organization; it represents an institutional strengthening of our capacity for post-enrollment management and global network governance following the recruitment of international students.” He added, “We will continue to build a sustainable internationalization model in line with the objectives of the Ministry of Education’s International Education Quality Assurance System.”

Zhang Hua, the inaugural president of the Sungshin Women’s University Chinese Alumni Association, remarked, “The Association will serve as a hub for a continuous support system in which the experiences of international students extend well beyond graduation.” He added, “Through mentoring for junior international students and employment linkages, we will actively contribute to enhancing the global competitiveness of our alma mater.”

Meanwhile, in accordance with its mid- to long-term internationalization strategy, Sungshin Women’s University is systematically expanding its overseas alumni organizations. Building on the launch of the Chinese Alumni Association, the University plans to further advance a comprehensive internationalization management system covering the entire cycle from recruitment and education to graduation and post-graduation support.