미주리대학교 총유학생회
How Can CNU Become a True Home for International Students? This is the second part of the 2-part special series on topics covered through the 2012 Winter Overseas Coverage of the CNU Press and Broadcasting Center. This second article is about international student organizations. – Ed. According to statistics released by Chonnam National University (CNU), CNU has reached a peak of receiving more than 2,500 international students on campus. This means that the university, on average, has 6.8 percent1 of its students coming from different countries all-over the world, and that our university is gaining more attention on the world stage in its 60-year history.
By Rigoberto Banta Jr., Head Student Editor
With this increasing number of international students, it is inevitable that management of them will be a challenge not only to the university administration, but first and foremost, to them. In order to aid the small number of programs available for international students on campus, several nation-based groups were formed by these students to answer the need of others from the same country under one flag. These organizations include the CNU Chinese Student Council, Mongolian Students’ Association at CNU, Vietnamese Students Association in Korea-CNU, among others. Does the university do its part in recognizing these organizations? What is the role of the university to address the welfare issues of international students on campus? As the university can only do so much, the formation of a student organization that will represent the international student population on campus is an irrefutable step towards the internationalization of CNU.
MU’s Missouri International Student Council (MISC)
The University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) in the United States has 2,100 international students, 6.1 percent2 from the total number of enrollment to the university. MU, similar with CNU, initially had country-based international student organizations on campus to serve the purposes only of students from the same nation. However, MISC was created in 2006 as a group that aimed to represent the whole international student population. Being under the auspices of the MU Office of the Vice Provost (Vice President/Dean in Korean universities) for International Programs, the organization serves as an umbrella organization that consolidates other country-based international student organizations on campus under one organization. Bonnie Ngo, MISC President, explains that as the number of international students grows on campus, the more diverse their needs become and the more need there is for students to be heard by the university. “While the university in itself tries its best to help international students, all cannot be extended help one by one. This is the main reason why MISC was created: to aid the support that the university would like to extend to its international students,” says Ngo. The organization has been leading the programs for international students of MU, such as welcome parties, assembly meetings, international day and public forums where interactions between international and domestic students facilitates dialogue, and as such, strengthens the voice of the international student community at MU. The organization, which is managed by the 11-member executive board, is still pursuing to become an official student government at MU according to its president.
What drives this organization to help out other international students in need? Nourah Sahuaibi, MISC Vice President stressed that as international students themselves, it is the duty of the active members to seek out better ways for international students to have a better life on campus without the unnecessary discomfort that adjustment generates. “I have been here, and I know how important is it to have a support group always there to help out,” says Sahuaibi.
A Voice for Internationals at Korean Universities
The concept of having an international student council is still new in Korean universities. But the creation of this organization officially under the provision of the university can provide a much more effective way to address the needs of the international student population, and a chance for diversity in a tight-knit Korean society. Some universities already have pioneered it. One of the examples is the Seoul National University’s (SNU), SNU International Student Association (SISA), an official international student organization under the Office of Student Affairs, SNU that started in 2007. The organization, according to an ex-executive member, makes it to a point that their programs are not only aimed to address the needs of international students but also respect Korean traditions and customs. The organization gets financial support for its programs from the school administration and closely works with them for the needs for international students. Other universities such as Ajou University have an international student council as well to not only provide better programs but to give a voice to these scholars from all-over the world as well.
CNU is not too late if it endeavors to engage its international student population and should make steps as it receives more students from abroad. As these international students do not only enter and graduate from the university but join the ranks of domestic alumni as well, the role of these students to the development of CNU as a ‘world-class university’ is inexorably sizable and should be given proper consideration and thought.
References
1CNU Statistics as of April 2012 (http://global.jnu.ac.kr/About/Overview/Facts.aspx)
2 MU Fall 2012 Statistics (http://www.missouri.edu/about/mufacts.php)