OSU and Inje University establish academic partnership to expand student opportunities

OSU and Inje University establish academic partnership to expand student opportunities

Thursday, March 5, 2026

Media Contact: Desa James | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-2669 | [email protected]

Oklahoma State University and Inje University in South Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue academic cooperation and expand opportunities for students and faculty in engineering, including collaboration between Society of Automotive Engineers competition teams.

The agreement provides a framework for joint research programs, faculty and staff exchanges, and student training opportunities between the two institutions.

Dr. Christian Bach of the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering worked with former OSU Ph.D. student Dr. Hyunjin Park, now an assistant professor at Inje University, to initiate the partnership. The collaboration is expected to result in an Inje-sponsored short course hosted at OSU annually, training students from both universities on the fundamentals of thermal systems.

The partnership was sparked when Park identified an opportunity through Inje University's "Glocal" program, which supports global engagement initiatives. As Inje increases its focus on vehicle systems and electric vehicle development, both institutions recognized a natural alignment through Formula SAE and Baja SAE teams, creating a pathway for technical collaboration and international exposure.

Faculty leaders are exploring ways for MAE students to receive academic credit for participating, potentially through independent projects. The initiative may also connect with Senior Design, HVAC competitions, Formula SAE and Baja SAE. Thermal management of electric packages for SAE competitions is a particular area of shared interest as both institutions expand work in that field.

For OSU's competition teams, the partnership represents an opportunity to elevate an already strong foundation.

"Bullet Racing, OSU's Formula SAE team currently ranks 76th out of more than 800 teams worldwide, earning an invitation to the SAE European Invitational," said Ray Lucas, Zink Competition Hub manager. "However, the team has largely operated on a voluntary basis, relying on students' available time and experience."

Lucas believes a more structured, academically integrated approach could move OSU into the next level of competition and position the team among the top 50 globally.

Expanded collaboration would strengthen analysis and design methodologies while exposing students to global engineering programs, an experience that would improve competition performance and help students build professional relationships extending well beyond graduation.

The timing is significant as OSU advances its EV initiatives. Although Baja EV does not currently compete in the United States, the program provides valuable experience in EV design and architecture. Driven by student interest, OSU has launched a five-year plan to develop its first electric Formula SAE racecar, with competition anticipated in the coming years.

The short course is intended for undergraduate students and is expected to include approximately 10 students from each university annually, with the possibility of growth as demand increases. While no formal end date has been established, the collaboration is expected to continue for multiple years, supported in part by Korean government funding priorities.

The agreement also emphasizes intentional collaboration between U.S. and Korean students. Korean students may lead analytical tasks remotely, while OSU students focus on design and build components. The structure is designed to foster cross-cultural teamwork and expose students to different communication styles and technical approaches.

In addition to the short course, long-term goals include deeper integration between competition teams, with students collaborating on core vehicle architecture and potentially competing together in the U.S. under a joint team model.

Within five years, leaders envision expanding the short course to 20 students from each university and establishing a formal student exchange program, with approximately five students participating in semester-long academic exchanges.

Travel support for OSU students participating in exchange opportunities will follow existing CEAT study abroad scholarship guidelines: juniors and seniors with a GPA between 3.6 and 4.0 may receive $1,000, those with a GPA between 3.3 and 3.59 may receive $500 and sophomores with a GPA between 3.6 and 4.0 may receive $500.

Student experiences will be promoted across campus and shared with alumni and potential donors to build long-term support for exchange opportunities. As an accredited institution able to collaborate directly on curriculum and academic programming, Inje University aligns with OSU administration and OSU Global's broader strategy to expand engagement with South Korean institutions.

"MAE is excited about this partnership with Inje University and the opportunity to further expand our international involvement," MAE School Head Dr. Rasim Guldiken said. "I am especially enthusiastic about the practical, hands-on learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, allowing our students to apply their strong fundamentals to real-world problems while collaborating with peers globally on the Formula SAE and Baja EV teams."

You can learn more about this development here:

• Inje University establishes a US-based "global field campus" to expand its semiconductor and mobility presence
• Inje University Establishes Global Campus in the US