Strengthening ties with institutional partners around the world is essential to increasing Brock’s reach as a global leader.

It’s a core value that Brock University President Gervan Fearon felt strongly about as he departed on a five-day, two-country tour of Japan, and South Korea in early November.

Dr. Oh, Deog Seong, President of Chungnam University met with Brock University, President Gervan Fearon on Nov. 4 at Chungnam University in Daejeon, South Korea.

Brock has long-standing relationships with several universities in the region and the goal of the trip was to explore opportunities for collaboration and strengthen those relationships even further.

Throughout the trip, Fearon discussed opportunities for student mobility, research, joint programs, faculty exchange and more.

“We are now engaged in building a new stage of this relationship in support of Brock students having the opportunity to gain greater international experience and context as part of their educational and professional development by studying at Brock,” Fearon said. “Additionally, we are opening the door to innovation in co-ordinated and shared academic and student experiential programming between Brock and partner institutions in Japan and South Korea.”

Fearon was joined by Leigh-Ellen Keating, Director, Brock International and Helen Song, Brock University Relationship Manager, Global Business Strategy.

The group started their tour on Nov. 4 at Chungnam University in Daejeon, South Korea. They were greeted by Dr. Oh, Deog Seong, President of Chungnam University along with other senior managers from the institution.

Moeka Suzuki, left, and Kyogo Ishii, right, from Toyo University in Tokyo, Japan met Brock University President Gervan Fearon on Nov. 7 following a lecture he delivered.

Afterwards, Fearon delivered a lecture to students entitled, “Renting Goodwill in International Marketing Channels: An Analysis of Pricing Strategies and Bargaining Power.”

“Presenting the paper on international trade and goodwill was very timely given the current trade negotiations and matters affecting the global economy,” Fearon said. “It was an opportunity to show how the education and research activities at Brock are relevant to global questions and there was a positive and strong response to the presentations. It was also an opportunity to engage directly with student and faculty members in the two countries and to learn about their teaching and learning approaches and how Brock can support their success and educational goals.”

He also delivered the presentation to students from Jeonbuk University on Nov. 5, Toyo University on Nov. 7 and Bunkyo Gakuin University on Nov. 8.

Throughout his travels, Fearon was greeted by students who attended Brock University’s English as Second Language (ESL) program, where they shared their positive academic and life experience while attending school in Canada.

Kyogo Ishii, and Moeka Suzuki from Toyo University in Tokyo, Japan were particularly honoured to meet the President. The pair spent six months studying ESL at Brock University from February to August.

The trip helped establish Brock as an engaged global citizen and a welcoming place for international students.

Building on international partnerships, such as those from Japan and South Korea, will benefit faculty, staff and students by advancing research initiatives, providing more opportunities for faculty and student exchanges, and creating transnational collaboration with university partners.

More information on Brock University’s international partner institutions can be found here.