Life Asset Management, Korea's largest engagement fund manager, and Ewha Womans University's Graduate School of Business have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cultivate women experts in the field of corporate governance.
According to the financial investment industry Tuesday, Life Asset Management and Ewha's Graduate School of Business signed the MOU to that effect at the Ewha-Shinsegae Building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, the previous day. The agreement was concluded to identify women corporate executives and to train women experts who will play key roles in the field of corporate governance.
The two sides plan to share information, including knowledge and technology, to develop and operate educational programs, and to cooperate in securing faculty for training women governance experts, finding field practice opportunities, and developing domestic and international participation programs. They also pledged to cooperate across multiple areas, including curriculum research and consulting, recommendation and participation support, and the joint hosting of special events.
In particular, Ewha's Graduate School of Business will provide Life Asset Management with information on independent director candidates, and Life Asset Management will give priority consideration to graduates of the graduate school's "Women Independent Director Professional Course" in accordance with relevant laws and internal procedures. Through this, the firms aim to provide opportunities for independent director appointments and expand the entry of qualified women talent into corporate boards.
Ewha's Graduate School of Business is Korea's first institution to offer master's and doctoral education in business administration for women, and has led the way in nurturing women leaders. As demand for diversity and expertise on corporate boards has grown recently, it is operating a Women Independent Director Professional Course that teaches corporate management, environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, accounting and finance, law, and governance.
"This agreement is a meaningful starting point for expanding women leaders' participation in corporate decision-making and building healthy corporate governance," said Kim Bong-jin, dean of Ewha's Graduate School of Business. "Through close cooperation between the two institutions, we will continuously cultivate women independent directors equipped with expertise and capabilities."
"To establish sound corporate governance, it is important to secure a board of directors with independence and expertise," said Lee Chae-won, chairman of Life Asset Management. "We will identify a pool of capable women independent director candidates and contribute to improving corporate governance in the capital markets."
