SEOUL — An international partnership between USF and Sungkyunkwan University strengthened
in June as faculty from both universities presented at a biannual joint research conference
in South Korea.
Faculty from the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance at the Muma College
of Business traveled to Seoul June 8-12 to discuss their research at the International
Conference, where hosts celebrated the opening of the Center for AI Finance at SKKU.
The trip solidified the partnership between the two academic institutions, which began
in 2025, as well as USF’s growing international research collaborations and global
engagement efforts.
“The rapid advancement of fintech, AI, and financial analytics makes international collaboration more important than ever,” said Jung Chul Park, the Fintech Professor of Finance and associate director in the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance.
As part of the partnership, students from SKKU can start their graduate studies at
SKKU and complete their graduate degree at USF.
“Our partnership with SKKU creates opportunities for talented Korean students to pursue
graduate study at USF,” said Park, who also served as a session chair for the joint
conference. “It enriches all our students' educational experience and prepares them
for careers in a global, technology-driven financial industry.”
We are building relationships that advance scholarship, strengthen global engagement, and prepare graduates to succeed in an interconnected world by bringing together outstanding faculty, sharing innovative research, and expanding opportunities for students.
Gary Patterson, dean of the USF Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance
“International partnerships like the one with SKKU are central to our vision for the
Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance,” said Gary Patterson, dean of the business school and a joint conference session chair.
“We are building relationships that advance scholarship, strengthen global engagement,
and prepare graduates to succeed in an interconnected world by bringing together outstanding
faculty, sharing innovative research, and expanding opportunities for students,” he
said.
The two-day conference sessions covered topics in accounting, fintech, and finance.
Muma faculty members presented the following topics:
- Kiyoung Chang, a professor who teaches corporate finance and financial management, discussed his research on the integrity credibility gap — the disconnect between a company’s stated ethical values and its actual practices.
- Jong Chool Park, an associate professor in the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy, presented on the enactment of merger and acquisitions laws and its impact on takeover pressures.
- Jared Williams, the Bank of America Professor of Finance, presented on the impact of broker geography on retail investor behavior.