Joseon. Contemporary University Period (1945~Present) The period of development, the third period of the modern university period, means the contemporary university period. In 1945, the Japanese Empire was defeated. In November of the same year, Kim Chang-sook led the Sungkyunkwan University preparatory association. Sungkyunkwan University was established by collecting some of the property of the Hyanggyo and collecting donations from Confucian scholars. After the Korean War, as the nation modernized and underwent social, political, and economic reforms, SKKU played an important role in academic freedom in higher education and also kept traditional ethics and morality alive in Korean society. Partnership with Samsung Samsung partnered with SKKU in the period of 1965–1977 and renewed the partnership in 1996. The partnership has helped SKKU realize its vision in pursuit of globalization and fostering talented graduates. Through the partnership, SKKU has developed high-quality research infrastructure and achieved excellent human resource management. The partnership also enabled SKKU to develop world-leading academic programs in software development, mobile communications engineering, energy engineering, nanotechnology, business, medicine, and law. Through the Samsung Global Scholarship Program (GSP), each year 15–25 students are selected for Seoul National University's engineering program or SKKU's Graduate School of Business (SKK GSB). Selected GSP students currently study for three semesters. Previously, it was four semesters, including a possibility of spending a semester at one of SKK GSB's top partner universities in the United States (MIT Sloan School of Management, Columbia University, Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business or Indiana University's Kelley School of Business). Rankings and reputation According to the ranking of South Korean universities annually published by national daily newspaper JoongAng Daily, Sungkyunkwan University is ranked nationally as the second best university in South Korea after Seoul National University. For several years, U.S. News & World Report ranked Sungkyunkwan University second university in South Korea after SNU. Internationally, SKKU is ranked 88th in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world university rankings 2021. In the Times Higher Education 2019 world university rankings, SKKU is ranked 82nd. In the QS Asia rankings, SKKU is ranked 15th. The reputation of the university stems from SKKU's international engagement including short-term study abroad programs and dual-degree programs, as well as its industrial partnerships, and its graduate reputation as evidenced in the high employment rate of SKKU graduates. In the Financial Times, SKK GSB's MBA is ranked