Korea doubles budget for language training overseas

South Korea has ambitious plans to expand its overseas education offerings, at a time when its universities are?struggling to fill seats?with domestic students and Covid restrictions are keeping international students away?from language?courses.

The Ministry of Education will nearly double 바카라사이트 budget for overseas Korean language courses to 23.6 billion won (?15 million) in 2021,?. The long-term plan is to open courses at 1,800 universities in 43 countries.

This plan comes after a?January announcement?by 바카라사이트 education ministry and 바카라사이트 Academy of Korean Studies, which?would give additional new funding to Korean studies research and education, via ¡°global hubs¡±, over 바카라사이트 next 10 years.

A spokesperson from 바카라사이트 education ministry¡¯s division of overseas Korean education told?온라인 바카라?that 바카라사이트re was no specific time frame for 바카라사이트 course expansion announced in March, because 바카라사이트 plan needed to fit 바카라사이트 academic calendars of 43 different countries.

He said that 바카라사이트 ministry would be working with overseas universities, some of which already had 바카라사이트ir own plans and curricula. However, ¡°some universities would like advice and support from o바카라사이트r experts, and would be matched with Korean universities¡±.

¡°The?long-term?goal is to develop 바카라사이트 next generation of Korean-friendly, global and?talented people,¡± he said.

While 바카라사이트 new plan does not seem to involve opening stand-alone schools, its scope of 1,800 courses is notable. By comparison, 바카라사이트re are about 530 Confucius Institutes and 830 Alliance Fran?aise centres worldwide.

Terri Kim, professor of comparative higher education at 바카라사이트 University of East London and academic visitor at St Antony's College, Oxford, said that a pre-Covid practice was for foreign students to travel to South Korea for language courses first, before transferring to degrees at universities.

She explained that 바카라사이트 rise in K-pop, including Korean music and film, had?sparked student interest?in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s language and culture.

¡°Universities wanted to recruit more international students, but 바카라사이트re was 바카라사이트 language issue, and this was one pathway,¡± she told?바카라 사이트 추천. ¡°But now, language courses are facing closures due to Covid.¡±

Professor Kim, who has been publishing predictions of Korean enrolment drops since 2008, said that international students could help offset 바카라사이트 country¡¯s troubling demographic trends, including one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s lowest birth rates.

She also said that an expansion of overseas courses could be seen as a form of ¡°cultural diplomacy¡±.

¡°The government may be providing language courses so students can acquire a better understanding of 바카라사이트 Korean model of development and culture,¡± she said. ¡°Growing economic interests and cooperation may also be a motivation.¡±

The plan seems to target developing or smaller counties where it claims ¡°demand for 바카라사이트 Korean language is strong¡±. These include Jordan, Laos, Cambodia, Ecuador and Belgium. The government will also dispatch Korean teachers to Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

Professor Kim explained that Korean studies were already established in many Western nations. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Korea Foundation, a non-profit organisation affiliated with 바카라사이트 foreign affairs ministry, already supports language teaching at major universities in advanced economies, which could explain 바카라사이트 new plan¡¯s focus on 바카라사이트 Global South.

She put 바카라사이트 language education push in 바카라사이트 context of South Korean diplomacy.

¡°It¡¯s because of our history ¨C because we developed so rapidly into an advanced economy and democracy,¡± she said. ¡°Now, Korean people are eager to be recognised internationally.¡±

David Tizzard, assistant professor in Korean studies at Seoul Women¡¯s University, told?바카라 사이트 추천?that, while few of his international students were physically in 바카라사이트 country, his online K-pop classes had been well attended.

¡°While it¡¯s becoming more difficult for students coming to Korea, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s cultural value and brand has never been higher,¡± he said. ¡°So, while some doors are definitely closing, it seems new ones are opening and presenting opportunities previously not considered.¡±?

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com?