The Environment Consortium of the Humanities and Social Sciences Convergence Talent Development Project (HUSS), organized by Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with GORD (Gulf Organization for Research and Development), a sustainability research and development institution in Qatar, on Tuesday, September 1, at the Kookmin University Administration Building, marking the start of full-scale cooperation in education and research in the green industry sector and the development of global climate talent. The signing ceremony was attended by representatives from five participating universities, including Kookmin University—the lead institution of the HUSS Environmental Consortium—as well as Duksung Women’s University, Ulsan University, Inha University, and Chosun University.
 
Founded in 2009 by Dr. Yousef Alhorr, GORD is a quasi-governmental organization responsible for the sustainability sector under Qatar National Vision 2030. It operates the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSIS) and conducts applied research in the fields of carbon, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water resources, as well as provides training to strengthen the capabilities of professionals and carbon neutrality advisory services. Its affiliate, the GCC (Global Carbon Council), operates an international carbon credit program that fully meets GORSIA standards—the first of its kind among Global South countries.
 
This agreement focuses on enabling HUSS Environmental Consortium students to broaden their understanding and practical experience of the global carbon market and climate industry, as well as to secure global career, employment, and research opportunities based in the Middle East.
 
Based on this agreement, the two institutions plan to pursue the following initiatives: ▲ expanding education and practical experience related to the voluntary carbon market and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement; ▲ educational and research exchanges with GORD and Qatar University; ▲ facilitating student research and startup projects in the climate tech sector; and ▲ building a career and employment network in the Middle East.
 
In particular, it is expected that through internships and practical training programs in collaboration with the Global Carbon Council (GCC)—an affiliate of GORD—students will be able to gain firsthand experience in the international carbon market and enhance their professional competencies in related fields. Furthermore, the university plans to expand its collaboration with GORD to include Qatar University and other relevant institutions, broadening the scope of cooperation to include joint educational programs, research, and international partnerships for student startups and research projects in the climate tech sector.
 
As Qatar is fostering climate tech as a strategic industry at the national level, this agreement is expected to expand opportunities for students participating in the HUSS Environmental Consortium to enter the Middle Eastern market, while also serving as an opportunity to disseminate the achievements of domestic education and research in the environmental and climate fields to the global stage.
 
As the lead institution of the HUSS Environmental Consortium, Kookmin University is promoting interdisciplinary education that transcends the boundaries of individual universities and academic disciplines under the theme of “Coexistence and Mutual Prosperity in the Era of the Climate Crisis,” in collaboration with Duksung Women’s University, Ulsan University, Inha University, and Chosun University. Through this initiative, the university is striving to cultivate future-oriented talent equipped with problem-solving capabilities and interdisciplinary thinking—enabling them to understand environmental issues from a humanities and social sciences perspective and propose practical solutions. Meanwhile, marking its 80th anniversary, Kookmin University is preparing for a new leap toward the next 100 years under the vision of “a university that sets the standard for higher education.” To this end, the university has established “KMU VISION 2035: EDGE,” its mid- to long-term development strategy, and has designated the “water, energy, and environment” sectors as one of its eight key areas of specialization to intensively strengthen the university’s competitiveness.