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Is CNU Attractive to International Students?

 

By Kim Bo-bae, Student Editor


International Students in fornt of
Residence Halls
Last August 4th, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology announced ways to develop the Study Korea Project which has operates to attract international students to Korean universities beginning in 2004. The new plan is to lure foreign students who have excellence and potential to Korea. Chonnam National University (CNU) is no exception with the current government policy and has been making efforts to attract more foreign students to CNU in order to bolster its international competitiveness. These efforts have increased the number of foreign students on campus over the past few years. Chonnam Tribune examines CNU’s programs and activities for international students by focusing on their evaluations on the basis of interviews.

Language and Cultural Programs

According to the statistics compiled by the Office of International Affairs (OIA), Korean students are studying with approximately 1,100 international students who take regular courses and Korean language courses at CNU. Chinese students make up about 80% of them, and the rest are from other countries, such as Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Vietnam, India and Tanzania. CNU supports foreign students in various programs and services operated by the OIA and the Language Education Center (LEC) so that they can adjust to our culture and learn about how to deal with the difficulties of daily life on campus.

Foreign students has been assisted by the OIA with such things as obtaining immigrant visas and alien registration certificates and paying additional costs for receiving medical care and operating a cultural education program, the Cultural Field Trip (CFT). They can also have the opportunity to take some free Korean language lectures at the LEC, which operates support programs to promote a strong relationship between Korean and foreign students: a “Buddy Program” and a “Korean Mentoring Program (KMP)” "Global Festival" and "Sports Festival".

Most foreign students have been satisfied with Korean culture and language support programs for them, as Yu Ya Jing (Dept. of Communication) said, “Before I came to CNU, I couldn’t speak Korean at all. However, I took Korean language courses at the LEC and I could talk with Korean friends.” Li Dong-he (Dept. of Mathematics) said, “Most foreign students like the CFT. Thanks to the trip around Jeollanamdo, I could foster a sense of belonging to the CNU community and be intimate with many other foreign students.”

Educational Circumstances and Facilities

Foreign Students are taking Korean language course

Many foreign students seem to be satisfied with CNU’s housing and support facilities, educational circumstances like computer classrooms to conduct multimedia activities and use the Internet, interactive lecture formats. Yelena (Dept. of English Lang. & Lit.) said, “CNU’s facilities are very nice. Both professors and students can use computers in a classroom as a presentation tool at any time they want.” Aschariya (Dept. of Communication) said, “CNU’s campus is very beautiful. Besides, I have been satisfied with teaching methods such as cooperative learning and a group discussion in which professors and students can communicate actively.” Some students are likely to be content of CNU’s curriculum which is composed of various classes in the fields of major and liberal arts. Ty Sansouci (Dept. of English Lang. & Lit.) said, “University students can take only major-related classes in Cambodia, but at CNU I can take many classes in various fields in which I have interest.”

School Affairs and Daily Life

However, some foreign students seem to have difficulty in obtaining information about school affairs. Teen Ekateriana (Dept. of English Lang. & Lit.) said, “I suffered from regular course registration. I was also confused with the terms and conditions for graduation.” Rueorei (Dept. of Food and Nutrition) said, “I wanted participate in the KMP, the deadline for application had passed and I couldn’t participate in it. I wish there are websites or notices that give information for international students.” Meanwhile, many foreign students are appealing for urgent intensive support to make them understand their major lectures. Ho Quing-anh (Dept. of Korean Lang. & Lit.) said, “Now I can understand Korean culture and adjust to campus life, but I can not understand my major lectures and academic events. I need help from my department. I wish I had some friends to help my department campus life.”

Others pointed out the lack of meticulous attention to their daily life on campus because they sometimes had much trouble in their everyday lives. Nidhi Sin Ha (Division of Animal Science) said, “Korean professors and students are very nice. So, I could adjust to campus life easily.” Hasan (School of Business Administration) said, “Some foreign students including me from Muslim countries can’t eat pork for religious reasons. When pork was served, I couldn’t take a meal. I wish CNU offer self-service restaurant for Muslims in Residence Halls.”

Relationship with Korean Students

Many foreign students feel a pity for relationships with Korean and foreign students. Li Dong-he said, “I think both Korean and foreign students were sometimes surprised at cultural differences. I wish I could be intimate with Korean friends in my everyday life.” Jin Xiaowei (School of Mechanical System Engineering) said, “Foreign students and some Korean students are participating in programs such as the KMP and Global Festival. I thought such an activity was very effective for their relationships between Korean and foreign students.” Ning Huizi (Division of Forest Resources and Landscape Architecture) said, “I wish that CNU made more programs for foreign and Korean students together to participate in extracurricular activities like a volunteering-service.”

Regarding these inconveniences of foreign students as mentioned above, the OIA is making efforts to establish the foundation that foreign students can adjust to Korean culture and live comfortable daily lives on campus. Shin Gyeong-gu, Director of the OIA said, “It is more important than any other thing to establish the foundation for foreign students’ convenient campus life. So, the OIA will turn over international student affairs to their departments so that they can get help more frequently from service and support programs offered by each department. Besides, it has plans to make and provide a counseling casebook for foreign students who have trouble with various things at CNU. Foreign students will be able to solve their problems themselves by using the book.”


Foster International Talents

International students pointed out that CNU has to offer more practical support for them in order to make them better adjusted to department campus life even though most of them are satisfied with educational circumstances and support facilities at CNU. They also said that the authorities of CNU have to provide useful information about all the academic affairs and everyday life on campus. Some students said that diverse study programs in which Korean and foreign students participate together could be a good alternative for promoting their relationships and increasing international students’ understanding of Korean language and their major classes and helping foreign students adjust to their department campus lives.

The population of international students will increase in the future. Therefore, CNU needs to consider the current regular courses and support programs for international students. And pay more attention to their campus life. Director Shin adds, “If CNU can lure foreign students of potential ability to this campus and cultivate them here, Korean students who study with them can get educational benefits and expand their academic and cultural exchanges and relations all over the world. CNU students can also have a global vision of the world through activities with foreign students.” It is necessary for CNU to make more of an effort to assist in the displaying of their ability and potential at CNU in order to strengthen its international competitiveness. If so, CNU will become one of the leading universities in the world before long.

저작권자 © Chonnam Tribune 무단전재 및 재배포 금지