image: Korea University's Institute for Environmental Health, Director Choi Jae-wook(4th person from left), and Korea University faculty with members from Karakalpakstan Medical Institute
Credit: KU Medicine
Korea University's Institute for Environmental Health (Director Choi Jae-wook) invited faculty members from Karakalpakstan Medical Institute in Uzbekistan from August 24nd (Sun) to 31st (Sun) to complete a training to strengthen their competence in the field of environmental health.
This training, conducted as part of the 2025 International Cooperation-Leading University Cultivation and Support Project, aims to check the operations of the Department of Environmental Health at Karakalpakstan Medical Institute in Uzbekistan and improve the level of environmental health in the region.
Four faculty members from Karakalpakstan Medical Institute, including Narimbetova Roza, Director of International Cooperation participated in the training. From Korea Univeristy, attendees included An Hyong-gin, Director of Graduate School of Public Health; Choi Jae-wook, Director of the Institute for Environmental Medicine; Na Jin-oh, Vice Dean of External Affairs at the School of Medicine; Kim Kyung-hee, Research Professor; and Seo Ji-eun, Professor at the University Research Institute Industry Collaboration Center.
During the training, the faculty members of Karakalpakstan Medicine Institute visited the domestic environmental health-related institutions such as Incheon Research Institute of Public Health & Environment, Sejong Environmental Technical Development Co., Ltd., Nanji Water Reclamation Center, and Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation. They also had on-site training sessions and attended special lectures on water quality and atmospheric analysis and management, and waste disposal. In addition, through a meeting with the Institute of Environmental Medicine, they fostered collaboration in environmental health research encouraged knowledge exchange.
Absattarova Venera, Chair of the Department of Environmental Health, Karakalpakstan Medical Institute, said, “We hope to work closely with Korea University to solve the environmental health problem in Karakalpakstan and especially to actively conduct joint research in the field water quality.”
Choi Jae-wook, Director of Korea University's Institute of Environmental Medicine (Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine), stated, “We will shape the future direction of advanced education in Karakalpakstan and actively promote student exchange programs to further strengthen our collaborative research.”
The Karakalpakstan Medical Institute, established in 1991, is located at the southern end of the Aral Sea in northwestern Uzbekistan. It has 198 faculty members and 2,049 students, and operates 8 departments including the Therapeutic Sciences, Preventive Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and of Nursing.