Kuala Lumpur, 10 March 2025 – The Jinju City Partnership Forum, hosted at HELP University’s Center for Humane Entrepreneurship, marked a historic milestone in global collaboration as His Excellency Mayor Jo Kyoo-il of Jinju City, South Korea, joined forces with academic, governmental, and industry leaders to advance the philosophy of humane entrepreneurship.
Professor Datuk Dr Paul Chan, the Chancellor and Co-Founder of HELP University, set the tone in his address, that emphasises the Center for Humane Entrepreneurship as a ‘global nexus for inclusive collaboration’. He underscored its mission to unite stakeholders worldwide in fostering values and driving actionable initiatives that prioritise ‘the dignity and self-esteem of people besides profit in a disruptive era’. Datuk Chan said that “We must be other-centred. Our duty is to serve and help through education and the way to do this is to humanise what we think and do.”
Mayor Jo Kyoo-il and Professor Kim Ki-chan, Chairman of the International Council of Small Business (ICSB), presented the inaugural Human-Centered K-Entrepreneurship Award to Professor Chan. The accolade recognises his four decades of visionary leadership in humane entrepreneurship, which has inspired cross-border partnerships and equitable economic practices.
Mayor Jo captivated over 200 participants from 15 countries with insights into Jinju City’s pioneering ‘K-Entrepreneurship Model’, blending Korea’s cultural heritage with innovative, human-centric policies. He highlighted Jinju’s journey in nurturing SMEs, social enterprises, and creative industries that balance tradition and modernity. He explained how four of the largest Korean companies were founded in Jinju.
HELP University and Jinju City formalised a strategic partnership to collaborate on projects spanning government policy, industry innovation, and education. Key initiatives include:
- Joint research on humane business practices.
- Exchange program for students and entrepreneurs.
- Cultural immersion projects to bridge Asian and global markets.
The forum drew leaders from governments, NGOs, multinational corporations and listed companies, and academia, including other senior executives from 15 countries.
Mayor Jo Kyoo-il shared that “Jinju’s success lies in valuing people as our greatest asset. This partnership is a beacon for cities and institutions worldwide to unite compassion with commerce.”
“Practising humane philosophy and values should be the central purpose of business. Then sustainable profit ensues. The Experiential Learning practice of HELP APEL.Q is pivotal in its execution.” said Professor Chan.
The alliance will roll out programs such as the ‘Global Humane Entrepreneurship Summit (2027)’ and an Advanced Management Program on Humane Entrepreneurship. A digital platform will connect stakeholders globally across Asia. These efforts aim to scale impact, empower marginalised communities, and redefine success in the 21st-century economy.
For further information, please contact:
Associate Professor Dr Nicholas Lum
ELM Graduate School
HELP Tertiary
E: lum.yc@help.edu.my
Ms Saisundary Sundra Kumar
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & Public Relations
HELP Tertiary
E: saisundary.sk@help.edu.my
About HELP University
HELP University was founded in 1986, and it has developed into a leading institution of higher learning in Malaysia. HELP University offers a wide range of social science, and humanities programmes, and is renowned for its psychology, accounting, business, law, education, and IT programmes. The university has embarked on a transformation journey to become the Analytics-Driven Entrepreneurial University.
In 2019, HELP University was awarded the Premier Digital Tech Institution (PDTI) status by the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) for being a leading digital tech-focused institution that produces high quality graduates for the workforce.
In 2020 it was awarded an overall 5 Stars rating by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) an annual publication of university rankings. QS also awarded 5 Stars to HELP for the following categories: Teaching, Employability, Academic Development, Internationalisation, Facilities, Social Responsiveness, Inclusiveness, and Business and Management Studies (MBA). In 2021, HELP University was ranked No 1 among 650 universities in Asia for Outbound Student Exchange programmes by QS Rankings World University Ranking: Asia 2021. Besides standing as MDEC’s Premier Digital Tech Institution, HELP University was rated BERDAYA SAING (Competitive), the highest category, by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia in 2022, and awarded the Employers’ Choice of University by Talenbank in 2024.
Visit https://university.help.edu.my for more information on HELP University.