By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
OFFICIALS from Korea University on Wednesday met with Northern Marianas College President Dr. Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero to follow up on discussions about forming an artificial intelligence education program.
Led by Korea University Professor Jung Changduk, Ph.D., the delegation, along with representatives from Korean institutions involved in technology development, paid the NMC president another visit to further discuss an academic exchange program through a memorandum of understanding.
The AI partnership was first proposed during their initial visit in November.
On Wednesday, Jung, who is also the president of Naju University and Global University and chairman of the Korea University Society, reiterated his enthusiasm and optimism for future collaboration. He thanked Deleon Guerrero and other officials for the warm welcome and said he looks forward to an AI forum in the future to launch the inter-university partnership.
Deleon Guerrero expressed admiration for their commitment to education and innovation, saying, “We can learn from you all how to commit to education and how to innovate.”
“Thank you very much for visiting again, and to those visiting for the first time, welcome to Saipan. I also want to thank you for being here, and I am very excited about the opportunity to work together,” he added.
“In our world today, it seems like there’s a lot of war — trade war, culture war, and real war. But what you all represent is not war but collaboration. AI is all about connection. Business is all about connection, and that is what you all represent. These connections between you and us are something we all appreciate,” he said.
Joe B. Palacios, founder of JB Palacios & Associates, which helped arrange the meeting, said, “This endeavor, like all others we are involved in — whether with our Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, or British associates — started with the simple gesture of two friends sharing an idea, driven by a passion for ‘what can we give back to our community to make life a little easier, if not better.’”
He added that the sharing of ideas occurred multiple times with associates, government officials, business leaders, and, most importantly, the community, “so that we can then package a holistic approach.”
Palacios said the culmination of bringing Korea University and NMC officials together is the signing of a memorandum of understanding for an off-campus site for Korea University’s Science and Technology program, which will bring expertise and resources to the CNMI at no cost to the local government.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
