Interview - Prof. Ercos Valdivieso
- SKKGSB
- Hit7783
- 2019-11-22
Recently, Sungkyunkwan University PR team interviewed with Professor Ercos Valdivieso. The following is the full interview.
Hello! My name is Ercos Valdivieso. My hometown is Santiago, the capital and largest city of Chile. I received a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Engineering from the University of Chile and a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of British Columbia.
'Excellent' Life in Korea
Professor Valdivieso came to Korea in 2017 as an assistant professor at SKK GSB, Sungkyunkwan University. "Briefly speaking, my decision to come to Korea was determined by my professional and personal interests. And now I see that I was not wrong. From the very beginning, having the experience to be an assistant professor at SKK GSB, Sungkyunkwan University, has allowed me to grow in several aspects of my life. For instance, it has been a perfect opportunity to become a member of the best business school in Asia and at the same time, learn more about this great nation! After two years living in Korea, I can say with much confidence that I made the right choice. Korea is a very special country. From its traditional culture to its modern developments across cities, I feel Korea can provide the perfect combination to anyone who is looking for a great place to live, work and grow professionally."
Professor Valdivieso emphasized that Korea is full of surprises. "Whenever I think that I have become familiar with Korea, I encounter something new – especially when I get a chance to travel. I believe this is the most fascinating aspect of Korea. In particular, I cannot help marveling at its traditions, historical venues, unique tourism and hospitality. To be honest, I am certain that Korea will keep surprising me no matter how much time I spend here."
Growth at SKKU
"As an instructor, I always try to make sure my students focus on the forest instead of the trees. I believe that once the big picture becomes intuitive, the understanding of the details becomes not only straightforward but also more permanent. I feel very satisfied when I observe my students conveying their ideas in a coherent and intuitive way."
Professor Valdivieso, who has an educational philosophy of "Focus on Forest”, said to us that he is honored that he had an opportunity to further advance as a scholar by working as an assistant professor of SKK GSB at Sungkyunkwan University. He lavished much praise on SKK GSB, emphasizing that it is indeed Asia's top Business school.
We also inquired about his most memorable moment at SKKU. "The graduation ceremony at SKK GSB, Sungkyunkwan University, is certainly an unforgettable moment in my life. As a professor, I have the chance to see the academic growth of my students over their two years at the program. Then, seeing them at their graduation makes me overwhelmed by pride for their accomplishments. No doubt, graduation ceremonies at SKK GSB are genuinely heart-warming experiences."
Then, Professor Valdivieso explained in detail his view about the Finance courses at SKK GSB. "As an assistant professor of Finance, I see the financial knowledge and the state-of-the-art financial methodology taught to our students at SKK GSB as key factors which will facilitate their future career development. Indeed, our courses will help our students to make accurate data-orientated decisions and increase their leadership in real-world situations."
He also cited "Mergers and Acquisitions" as his most memorable module. "Last winter, I taught a subject called ‘Mergers and Acquisitions’ at SKK GSB. The course was very well-received by students. I believe that this module neatly captured the harmonious combination of conceptual knowledge and practical methods. According to the assessments of the students, the module helped them immensely in their job interviews. I personally think that it was a meaningful experience for me as well."
PIPELINE for the Future
"I currently have an important research pipeline that I aspire to execute over the following two to three years. This will be done in collaboration with numerous co-authors around the world. Undoubtedly, the future looks quite exciting on the research side. Currently, I find myself fascinated with the fast-growing and exciting intersection between finance and technology as well as social networks. Consequently, I believe a legit plan for the future would be to become a leading expert on these fields of study”.
“Teaching-wise, I expect to continue improving as an effective educator. To me, teaching is like working-out. When I see results, I want to continue improving them”.
“Any plans outside my profession? Of course, I hope I manage to spare more time travelling around Korea and Asia!"
To Students of SKKU...
"Always try to take a proactive role in your learning. At SKKU, you will have the opportunity to interact with experts in diverse fields who are willing to help you to explore your passions and skills. Embrace this opportunity and use every single course in your program to tailor your future career path."