National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) President Wu Chung-yu headed for South Korea Thursday to strike cooperation deals with three renowned universities in that country as part of the school's drive to upgrade its international profile. During his visit, Wu will sign memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with National Seoul University (NSU), Hanyang University and Sungkyunkwan University on academic exchanges and cooperation, an NCTU spokesman said. In the initial stage, NCTU and the three South Korean universities will offer mutual student exchange quotas, arrange for exchange visits between their faculty members and jointly organize academic forums, the spokesman said. 'The cooperation programs will enable NCTU to attract top-notch South Korean students to study on our campus, a development that will not only accelerate our globalization drive but will also help Taiwanese enterprises absorb South Korean talent to facilitate their global business expansion plans,' the spokesman explained. Noting that NSU is South Korea's top-ranking university, the spokesman said the school has made brilliant achievements in natural sciences and mathematics, as well as in engineering and computer science. In addition, South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group has invested US$1.6 billion in setting up an advanced automobile research center there to cultivate engineering talent. According to the spokesman, NCTU will also promote cooperation with NSU in biomedical engineering, energy and environmental research programs in the future. 