CNU Becomes a Member of the Global Network of Study Abroad Foundation
Chonnam National University (CNU) signed an agreement with the Study Abroad Foundation (SAF) on January 13th. CNU President Kim Yoon-su, SAF Korean Representative O. Henry, and Shin Gyong-gu, Director of the International Affairs, CNU participated in the signing ceremony. Now CNU students can study at eminent SAF member universities such as the University of Oxford and Columbia University in English speaking countries.
The SAF is an American nonprofit educational organization established in 2000 in order to provide quality overseas study opportunities, and academic and personal support services to qualified undergraduate students from Asian countries including Korean, Japan and China. Thus, the SAF academic programs have several merits. First, if CNU students earn credits with the SAF program at foreign universities, their credits can be also counted at CNU. Second, they will be treated with the same as local students in all areas of their campus life such as taking a class and joining campus clubs. Third, they can seek to focus full time on language study in the SAF language program (English as a Second Language) before applying for regular academic programs to improve their English ability. Additionally, CNU students can choose among universities in 13 countries and receive financial support, academic and personal support services to study abroad, and internship information. In addition, the SAF provides useful information about socio-cultural and educational differences between countries for students in an orientation program before they leave their home country.
Moreover, this agreement automatically establishes relationships with about 70 English-speaking universities that are members of the SAF International University Network. In effect, CNU students have a huge selection of universities at which they can study abroad, and also CNU is expected to be a more globalized university. Prof. Shin Gyong-gu said, “CNU Students will have more chances to study abroad at highly ranked foreign universities. It will be a great opportunity for students to broaden their range of foreign univerisites they may study at. In addition, it would attract foreign students from other prominent colleges to our school.”
The SAF is now operating half-year and one year programs, and CNU students can apply for the SAF’s 2011 Fall Semester program. The SAF program will be a good opportunity for students to enhance their English competence and global awareness and to get a high-quality education at universities all over the world.
By Ahn Seon-woo, Tribune Reporter
안선우 기자
anseonwoo@naver.com