- Expand Global Education Network Through Strengthened Cooperation with Portuguese Universities

On Thursday, October 23, 2025, the University of Seoul visited NOVA University Lisbon to sign a new exchange agreement (MOU) and decided to strengthen educational and research cooperation with the Portuguese university.

President Yongkul Won met with President Joao Saagua of NOVA University Lisbon to discuss how to strengthen joint research and academic exchange between the two universities and continue their ongoing cooperation. At the MOU ceremony, the world-class research achievements and educational capabilities demonstrated by NOVA University Lisbon in the fields of Business and Economics, Data Science, and Health and Environment were lauded.

Through this MOU, the two universities plan to pursue various cooperative initiatives, including ▲joint research projects ▲ student exchange programs ▲and international collaborative projects. They specifically agreed to strengthen student exchanges and research collaboration centered on NOVA University Lisbon’s School of Information Management and Data Science and School of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Founded in 1973, NOVA University Lisbon is a leading research-oriented university in Portugal, with approximately 20,000 students enrolled. Through this MOU, both universities plan to broaden the horizons of global education by expanding not only academic and research exchanges but also cultural exchanges.

President Won stated, “Through this agreement with NOVA University Lisbon, we expect both universities to continuously expand practical cooperation that leverages each other’s strengths,” and added, “We particularly hope cooperation flourishes in diverse areas, such as student exchange, joint research, and cultural content collaboration.”

Meanwhile, President Won visited ISCTE Business School in the afternoon of the same day and renewed an academic and student exchange agreement. During this visit, he discovered ISCTE Business School’s excellent educational and research infrastructure in person and explored ways to invigorate academic exchanges using the University of Seoul’s international academic exchange support program, expand student exchanges, and promote joint research.

The University of Seoul plans to use these agreements with major Portuguese universities as an opportunity to continuously expand academic and cultural exchanges with European universities, thereby strengthening its position as a central institution for global educational cooperation.