Purpose & Background of SUNWe aim to realize our vision of ‘serving the world’ by undertaking diverse projects that restore the historical value of the ancient Silk Road which, as the birthplace of four major civilizations, has been a source of immense pride for centuries. The most valuable lesson from the history of the Silk Road is that the key to peaceful coexistence and collec-tive prosperity is to treat individual differences as a cause for celebration rather than segregation, best captured in Silkroadia-the spirit of ancient Silk Road. In line with this thinking, we believe that the coming together of universities can help realize this vision through fostering an exchange of ideas culminating into decisive action between intellectuals transcending national, religious and cultural boundaries. In addition, universi-ties through educating and training the youth can create future leaders better equipped to promote peace and harmony in line with Silkroadia.

Silkroadia (the spirit of ancient Silk Road): • Recognizing and acknowledging individual

differences as reason for celebration rather than segregation.

• Diversity is beauty; a source of strength and vitality for human flourishing.• Pursuing peace and prosperity through mutual

understanding, dialogue and collective action.

History of SUN

www.sun-silkroadia.org

Room 722, Cyber Building, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies107 Imun-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02450, Korea

TEL. (+82+2)2173-3581 FAX. (+82+2)2173-3582

Date Events

Nov. 4, 2014 Symposium on Silk Road at the National Assembly of Republic of Korea.

Nov. 28 Organizing Committee for the inception of SUN established.

Feb. 2, 2015

MOU signed between Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) and the Provincial Government of Gyeongsangbuk-do for co-hosting the Inaugural General Assembly of SUN as part of Gyeongsangbuk-do’s Silk Road Festival 2015.

April-June Visiting prospective member universities in Mongolia, China, Russia, India, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan.

July 13-15 First meeting of the International Organizing Preparatory Committee for Inaugural General Assembly of SUN at HUFS, Seoul campus.

Aug. 21-24 Inaugural General Assembly at the city of Gyeongju, Korea.

Sept. 15MOU signed between Changwon National University and SUN for designating the university as principal organizer of expeditions along the Silk Road.

Oct. 21

MOU signed among HUFS, the Provincial Government of Gyeongsangbuk-do and SUN regarding financial support for the activities and operations of SUN. Gyeongsangbuk-do Province as honorary Chair Institution and HUFS as Chair University of SUN promised US$250,000 and US$50,000 per year for five years, respectively.

Dec. 31 Registration of SUN at the Branch of Korean Judiciary as a legal entity.

Jan. 13, 2016 Official bank account of SUN opened.

Mar. 9 Local Assembly of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province approved financial support (US$450,000) for SUN.

Mar. 16-20 Preparatory meeting between National University of Mongolia and Secretariat of SUN for establishing the Silk-road Digital Library.

Apr. 14 MOU signed between Korea Academy of Korean Studies (KAKS) and SUN for academic affairs on Silk Road.

Apr. 14-30

Visiting 11 universities along the Asian part of sea Silk Road namely Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Japan to introduce SUN and extend an invitation for the General Assembly of SUN, 2016.

May 4 Daegu University joined SUN as a new member university.

Organization of SUN• UPSUN (United Presidents of the Silk-road Universities Network) A body composed of presidents,

rectors, and vice-chancellors of member universities who authorize and institutionalize the academic, cultural, athletic, and philanthropic initiatives of SUN.

• IASS (International Association for Silk-road Studies) An international academic network composed of professors and researchers recognizing the economic, political, scientific, historical

and cultural significance of the Silk Road and collaborating in order to establish Silk Road studies as an independent academic field of study.

- President of IASS : Dr. Bing Lin Zheng, Director, Dunhuang Research Institute of Lanzhou University, China - President Elect of IASS : Dr. German Kim, Director, Center for Korean Studies in Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan

• USSUN (United Students of the Silk-road Universities Network) A body of students representing each member university of SUN who

generate new dreams and ambitions keeping SUN young and lively. The body also serves as volunteers for providing assistance and

relief work in disaster affected regions making use of their individual knowledge, talent and skills.

- President of USSUN: Ms. Nurzhamal Shabazova, Kazakh Institute of Management Economics and Strategic Research under

the President of the Republic of Kazakstan, Kazakstan

• SPO (Silkroadia Philharmonic Orchestra) The cultural body of SUN, with its diverse members comprising students

majoring in music and playing a wide variety of instruments in perfect harmony and beauty, profoundly captures Silkroadia-the Silk Road spirit.

Governance of SUN• Chairman of the General Assembly and Board President: Dr. Inchul Kim, President of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies(HUFS)• Honorary Chairperson: Dr. Kwanyong Kim, Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Korea• Secretary General: Dr. Sungdon Hwang, Professor, HUFS• Treasurer: Dr. Taeyoung Kim, Professor, HUFS• Auditor: Dr. Myungsook Yoon, Vice-President, Chonbuk National University & Mr. Ze Feng You, Vice-Director, the Institute of Ancient Chinese Ships, Shanghai, China

The 2nd Annual International Academic Conference of SUN on Silk Road- Date: September 26-29, 2016- Venue: Dunhuang, China- Co-organizers: International Association for Silk-road Studies (IASS) of SUN and Dunhuang Research Institute of Lanzhou University

Major Events in the year 20161. MOA to assist the National University of Mongolia’s project to modernize its library with funds provided by the Provincial Government of Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. - Date: June 9, 2016 - Venue: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

2. Silkroadia Philharmonic Orchestra Performance - Date: June 23, 2016 - Venue: HUFS, Seoul campus

3. Silk Road Photo Contest and Exhibition - Application Deadline: End June - Venue: HUFS, Seoul campus - Exhibition: August 9, 2016

4. Silk Road Expeditions - Mongolian and Chinese routes: July (organized by HUFS Research Centre for Silk Road Studies) - Central Asia route (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan): June-July (organized by Keimyung University) - Cultural expedition of Marco Polo route: Organized by Ca Foscari University of Venice

5. Silk Road International Cultural Forum - Date: November, 2016 - Venue: Seoul & Andong, Korea - Co-organizers: SUN and UN World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO)

Time 8/8 (Mon) 8/9 (Tue) 8/10 (Wed)

MorningArrival

&Check-in

- Opening ceremony & keynote speeches- General Assembly- Introductory speeches by heads of member universities- Exhibition of Silk Road Photo Contest

Check-out &

Cultural Tour of Seoul

AfternoonWelcome Reception

- Workshops for UPSUN, IASS, USSUN- Board of Directors Meeting - MOU/MOA signing between member universities- Farewell dinner and award ceremony for the winners of

Silk Road Photo Contest

Farewell&

Departure

Schedule for the 2nd General Assembly of SUN Participating Universities & Institutions

(★ : Member of the Board of Director)

Nation(21) City(38) University & Institution(48)

Republic of Korea

Seoul Hankuk University of Foreign Studies ★Andong Provincial Government of Gyeongsangbuk-do ★

Greece Athens National and Kapodistrian University of Athens ★India Delhi University of Delhi ★

Iran Tehran Allameh Tabataba’i University ★Qazvin Imam Khomeini International University

Italy Naples Naples University "L'Orientale" ★Venezia Ca Foscari University of Venice ★

Japan Nara Tenri UniversityJordan Amman Jordan University ★

Kazakh-stan Almaty

Al-Farabi kazakh National UniversityKazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World LanguagesKazakh National Agrarian University ★KIMEP (Kazakhstan Institute of Management Economics and Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan) ★The Eurasian Technological University

Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Mongolian State University of Culture and ArtsNational University of Mongolia ★

Myanmar Yangon University of YangonOman Muscat Sultan Qaboos University ★

People's Republic of China

Beijing Beijing Foreign Studies University ★Lanzhou Lanzhou UniversityShanghai Shanghai International Studies University ★

Portugal Coimbra University of Coimbra ★

Republic of Korea

Changwon Changwon National University ★Daegu Keimyung University

Gyeongju Dongguk University at Gyeongju ★

GyeongsanDaegu Haany UniversityDaegu UniversityYeungnam University

Jeonju Chonbuk National University ★Mokpo Mokpo National Maritime University

Pohang Handong Global UniversityPohang University of Science and Technology ★

Sejong KDI School ★Seongnam Gachon University ★

Seoul Korea National University of ArtsYeongju Dongyang University

Romania Bucharest University of Bucharest ★

Russia Irkutsk Irkutsk National Research Technical UniversityEkaterinburg Ural Federal University

Spain Valencia University of ValenciaSri Lanka Kelaniya University of Kelaniya ★

Turkey Kayseri Erciyes University ★UAE Dubai British University in Dubai

Uzbeki-stan

Tashkent University of World Economy and Diplomacy

Samarkand Samarkand Agricultural InstituteSamarkand State Institute of foreign languages ★

Vietnam Ho Chi Minh University of Social Sciences and Humanities