Recognized for Global Leadership Among 13,211 Cases from 1,927 Universities Across 96 Countries

International Achievements Highlighted Through ‘Saemaul Studies’-Based Global Development Talent Training and Expansion of Global Networks

Ranked World No. 3 in Student Mobility and Openness, Building a Comprehensive Support System for Both Academic Expertise and Global Competencies

[May 26, 2026]

<CHOI Oe-chool, President of YU>

YU (President CHOI Oe-chool) was ranked third in the world in the “Student Mobility and Openness” category and fourth in the world in the “Visionary Leadership” category in the 2026 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), announced at the 6th Hanseatic League of Universities (HLU) Conference recently held at National Chi Nan University in Taiwan.

 The WURI rankings have been announced annually since 2020 through the HLU Conference, organized by the Institute for Industrial Policy Studies and co-hosted by the Institute for Policy and Strategy on National Competitiveness, the Hanseatic League of Universities, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and the Taylor Institute of Franklin University Switzerland.Unlike conventional university rankings focused primarily on academic achievements, WURI evaluates universities based on qualitative assessments of innovative programs and their practical contributions to industry and society. In particular, the rankings are considered highly credible as they are determined through a rigorous three-stage verification process that includes peer review among universities and expert evaluations.

In 2026, WURI evaluated 13,211 cases submitted by 1,927 universities from 96 countries around the world. This year’s rankings announced both the Global Top 500 Universities and the Top 100 Universities across 24 specialized categories. Among them, YU achieved top-tier global rankings in both the “Visionary Leadership” and “Student Mobility and Openness” categories.

 Notably, YU has shown steady growth in the leadership category over the past three years, rising into the top ranks globally. After ranking 35th in the world in 2024 and 23rd in 2025, YU surged to fourth place this year, earning international recognition for its achievements in leading university innovation.

 YU’s fourth-place global ranking in leadership is attributed to President CHOI Oe-chool’s innovative leadership philosophy grounded in global social contribution values, which has been embedded throughout the university’s overall operational strategy.President CHOI systematically established “Saemaul Studies” by academically integrating the Saemaul Undong (New Community Movement) and Korea’s development experience, and applied it to university administration in connection with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and ODA (Official Development Assistance). By transforming Korea’s regional development model into a future-oriented global agenda, President CHOI elevated the Saemaul Undong into a major topic of international discourse. He reinterpreted the values of the Saemaul Undong as a framework for addressing contemporary global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and environmental issues, and expanded its application beyond education and research to include development models for developing countries and international cooperation between nations. Through these efforts, YU has been recognized for developing into a global hub for creating public value. In addition, YU has established cooperative networks with major developing-country governments and international organizations, significantly strengthening the university’s sustainability and global competitiveness.

 In particular, President CHOI led the establishment of the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul in 2011 and served as its inaugural dean, laying the foundation for its growth.Within just 15 years of its establishment, the graduate school has grown into a globally recognized institution attracting approximately 1,000 young talents from 81 countries, including officials from seven international organizations such as the World Bank and the World Food Programme. These students complete master’s degree programs based on “Saemaul Studies” and are now working as international development specialists around the world. Such achievements are regarded as exceptionally distinctive on a global scale and have received high international recognition for contributing to the cultivation of human resources dedicated to poverty reduction in developing countries.

 YU also ranked third in the world in the “Student Mobility and Openness” category, further demonstrating its world-class competitiveness in student-centered international education.The university has established a comprehensive educational support system that simultaneously enhances students’ academic expertise and global competitiveness.Through practice-oriented programs such as student-led overseas field research linked to academic majors and global capstone design projects, YU supports students in transforming specialized knowledge into practical problem-solving capabilities. At the same time, YU has built a comprehensive internationalization roadmap that includes foundational foreign language education programs, overseas exchange programs, short- and long-term international dispatch opportunities, and global cultural exchange programs available not only on the YU campus but also at overseas partner universities and institutions. These programs systematically strengthen students’ global competencies by enabling them to study and accumulate experience in multicultural environments. Through the organic integration of curricular and extracurricular programs as well as academic policies, YU has been recognized for establishing a comprehensive support system that fosters both students’ professional expertise and global capabilities.

 President CHOI Oe-chool stated, “Achieving world-leading rankings in the areas of leadership and student mobility and openness demonstrates that YU’s university management innovation based on social contribution values and its student-centered educational system have gained international recognition.” He added, “The creation of global public value through ‘Saemaul Studies’ and our student-centered university management principles will continue to enhance YU’s global competitiveness and credibility, ultimately driving the university’s sustainable development.” He continued, “I regard this achievement as encouragement and support to continue pursuing university innovation in order to cultivate the talent demanded by our times. We will continue to innovate not only in education and research, but also across overall university administration, while strengthening global competitiveness in other fields as well to further elevate YU’s standing on the world stage. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all faculty and staff members who have devoted themselves to advancing university innovation.”