UMass Dartmouth SMAST launches dual degree partnership with INHA University, South Korea

The partnership agreement will allow students to earn a PhD in marine science while taking courses at both institutions

UMass Dartmouth has launched a dual degree partnership with INHA University in Incheon, South Korea. Under the agreement, participating students will enroll at both universities and earn doctoral degrees from UMass Dartmouth and INHA University. 

For nearly two decades, INHA and UMD have enjoyed a collaborative relationship, conducting joint research in coastal oceanography and FVCOM modeling led by Commonwealth Professor & Montgomery Charter Chair Changsheng Chen at the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST). Chen, along with Commonwealth Professor Amit Tandon (SMAST), and Professor Seung Buhm Woo (INHA), spearheaded efforts to build on this collaboration and establish the dual degree program.  

The dual degree partnership will allow students to travel between the two campuses, earn credits at both universities, access the expertise and collaborative research opportunities available at both institutions, and gain a global perspective on shared challenges facing the world's oceans. 

"SMAST represents a significant research strength of our university and plays a critical role in advancing marine science and innovation in Massachusetts. I am proud to see this connection forged with a leading center of marine science research at INHA University, creating new opportunities for collaboration and discovery," said UMass Dartmouth Provost Ramprasad Balasubramanian.  

"Today is about more than signing a document," said INHA University Vice President of Academic Affairs Sung-Hyeon Baeck at the formal signing ceremony on August 27. "This agreement provides the foundation for broader partnership and close cooperation between our universities. We look forward to visiting the SMAST campus and hope to welcome our U.S. colleagues here at INHA as well."   

The partnership builds on complementary strengths in marine science, coastal oceanography and ocean modeling, giving students opportunities to engage with research questions that cross national and geographic boundaries.