Seoul-based Indian Students & Researchers Assn ISRK engages ACN as Media Partner; Signs MoU

SEOUL/NEW DELHI: Seoul-based apex voluntary students’ welfare organisation Indian Students and Researchers in Korea (ISRK), and Asian Community News (ACN) Network have signed an agreement of cooperation to promote various initiatives being taken to assist Indian origin researchers and students in South Korea.

A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed between ISRK and ACN on March 1 to jointly promote various initiatives taken by the former for the welfare of the Indian origin students not only in South Korea but also for the students based in India.

Dr. Lailesh Kumar, President, ISRK, and Sanjeev K Ahuja, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, ACN Network signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.

Based in Seoul, Dr. Kumar is a Senior Research Scientist with PineTree PosMagnesium Co. Ltd., (Earlier Posco Magnesium Strip Plant). Previously, he was a Post-doctoral Researcher with Seoul National University·

Asian Community News (ACN) Network is an India-based news-media service that specializes in high-quality reportage on Indo-Asian affairs with a special focus on East Asian countries, such as South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and ASEAN. With about 25 years of mainstream journalism experience, the ACN founder Mr. Ahuja previously worked in India’s top-notch media houses including the Hindustan Times where he worked in various capacities, such as Bureau Chief and Senior Asst. Editor for 13 years.

With a representation of more than 3,500 Indian origin students, researchers, scholars and academicians, scientists and professors, and 100 Indian student representatives from more than 50 universities of South Korea, the ISRK has been offering educational, research, social, recreational, career, and community support to them since April 2019.

“For one year, the Asian Community News (ACN) Network has been supporting ISRK by publishing various activities initiated by ISRK, such as Indo-Utsav as well as Special Interactive session series. The MoU formally strengthens this relationship between ISRK and Asian Community News (ACN) Network that has pledged to support ISRK as a media partner,” said Dr. Kumar.

He said that ISRK aimed a connect all the Indian origin students and researchers residing in South Korea and provide them with educational, research, social, recreational, job, and community support.

ISRK is open to all Indian students and researchers, as well as professionals from the industry and corporates interested in its objectives. More than 3500 students and researchers as well as 100 Indian student representatives from more than 50 universities of Korea have joined the ISRK team.

As part of our continuous growth in Korea and mutual efforts to continue to strengthen relationships between Korea and India, ISRK has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Research Center of Indian Culture on Science and Technology (RIST), Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY), SENTBE Remittance and Chakra Indian Restaurant to deepen the collaboration between these associations.

Dr. Kumar said, armed with its mission of establishing the largest community of Indian Students and Researchers in Korea with strong engagement and interaction opportunities, and a vision to promote the better life of Indian students and researchers in Korea, the ISRK endeavours to provide key services in Education & Research, Job opportunities, Networking, Community support in the event of a pandemic such as Covid-19, promote Korean culture and language as well as Indian culture and events

Some of the significant activities and events organized by ISRK last year (2020-2021) include a six webinars series on various scholarship programs for pursuing higher education and postdoctoral research in Korea to help Indian students, especially from smaller towns to learn about Ph.D. and Post Docs programs in South Korea.

ISRK assisted more than 40 researchers through its platform for getting jobs in academia and industries in Korea. It also organised an inaugural event of the “Distinguished Indian Heroes of Science and Technology” interaction series that was conducted for 75 weeks for celebrating the achievement of Indian scientists in Science & Technology.

“Several interactions session with renowned scientists and executives from the industry from India and Korea were organized to enhance networking between students and professionals in Korea. Community support during the Covid-19 pandemic. We also supported researchers to travel from India to Korea through five chartered flights and assisted them in getting visas and quarantine places during their travel. More than 2000 people till now benefited from our efforts,” Dr. Kumar added.

Currently, ISRK is conducting 2-month long series of ‘Live Interactive Sessions’ detailing various Korean scholarship options available in various universities and platforms in South Korea for the benefit of Indian students.