Ajou University held the Ajou International Week event with Ajou University in Tashkent (AUT) in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Celebrations took place across Ajou University’s campus, including Gaon Garden, over the three days from November 7th to 9th, bringing together current and former students of different nationalities for networking and bonding. Ajou International Week with AUT was co-organized with Ajou University in Tashkent (AUT), and proceedings were streamed live on YouTube.[KH1]

AUT was established by Ajou University in February 2021 in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. A joint endeavor of the Uzbek government and Ajou University, AUT combines government-supplied land and buildings with Ajou education. At present there are six departments with students taking four-year programs.

Ajou International Week with AUT opened with the homecoming of Ajou University’s international alumni on the evening of the 7th, in which seven graduates took the stage to speak to those present on their time at Ajou University and the journeys that followed. Current international students at Ajou University attended the event for refreshments and to listen to the former students’ stories. The event was held in Lounge 027 on the first floor of the library.

The homecoming alumni, now active in their respective fields around the world, were encouraged by the International Exchanges Team at Ajou University to write an essay on how their time at Ajou University has shaped their lives. Also accepted were essays by current people at Ajou University that reflect on memorable international alumni. 

Aanu Afolabi, an Ajou political science graduate who is now a lawyer in the UK, was one of the alumni that spoke at Ajou International Week with AUT. He said, “If, as a foreign student, you think certain opportunities will not come your way, it’s up to you to actively search them out,” adding that “Ajou University is always ready to give you a chance.” “Dream big!” was how he ended his speech. 

Afolabi began his studies at Ajou University in 2013, and in 2014 he became the first international student at Ajou University to become head of student residence. During his time at Ajou University, he spoke of his aspiration to become an international lawyer and help improve education in his home country of Nigeria. Upon graduating he moved to the UK where he is now a lawyer at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. 

The other international alumni that participated in the day’s event were Rize Jin of China, a professor at Tiangong University in China; Douglas Asuako-Ferkah Arhinkorah of Ghana, an official at the Environmental Protection Agency in Ghana; Erin Poindexter of the US, a partnership and resource development coordinator in the field of family and children's development in the US; Liaochen Liyin of China, a developer with the Alibaba Group in China; Tegegne Tesfaye Haile of Ethiopia, an assistant professor at Suwon University in Korea; and Theresia Ratih Dewi of Indonesia, a professor at the University of Ciputra in Indonesia. Sunniva Bratt Slette of Norway, a portfolio manager at Storebrand Asset Management, and Olimakhon Ergasheva of Uzbekistan, a student, joined in via webcam. 

The second day of the event saw the 2023 Study Abroad Fair and an international student conference. Held in the Innovation Lounge in the Yulgok Building from 2 to 4 pm, the 2023 Study Abroad Fair brought together Ajou students interested in studying abroad and those who have studied abroad for networking and information sharing. The international student conference took place in Conference Room 1 in the Yulgok Building from 6 to 8 pm. The topic was education, on which the participating international students gave presentations reflective of cultures and ideas associated with their respective countries and engaged in discussion. The conference was attended by 20 international students and 10 members of Nubi Ajou, the volunteer community of Korean students at Ajou University. 

On the final day of the event, International Day was celebrated at Gaon Garden on the Ajou University campus. International students ran booths dedicated to the food and culture of their home countries, which included Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, and Indonesia. The event began with an opening parade in which the students entered the event grounds in traditional attire and holding their national flags. Participants in the International Day event participated in a tug of war and traditional Korean games and saw K-pop and traditional Korean dance performances.

Alumnus Aanu Afolabi speaking at the international alumni homecoming

Participants in the international alumni homecoming at the library cafe

Students networking at the 2023 Study Abroad Fair

International students and members of Nubi Ajou at the international student conference