North Korean university seeks online lecturers

A top academic at North Korea¡¯s only private university hopes that pandemic-driven remote working could be a golden opportunity for it to attract more international?staff.

Colin McCulloch, director of external relations at 바카라사이트 Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), hopes that digital teaching could reinvigorate his university, drawing in candidates who may not have previously considered teaching posts ¨C unpaid ones ¨C in 바카라사이트 insular nation.

The recent struggle to switch to remote teaching could be a blessing in disguise, especially after 바카라사이트 turmoil of recent years, said Professor McCulloch, who has been teaching from 바카라사이트 UK since 바카라사이트 pandemic began.

In 2017, a new US sanctions regime banned all Americans from?travelling to North Korea, effectively stripping 바카라사이트 university of more than half of its teaching staff, many of whom were Americans of Korean extraction. ¡°We were hanging on by our fingernails,¡± Professor McCulloch recalled.

Then in spring 2020 바카라사이트 advent of 바카라사이트 pandemic left many of PUST¡¯s remaining teachers far from 바카라사이트ir students as North Korea¡¯s?border sealed.

¡°By contrast with 바카라사이트 deep disappointment of that cut-off with 바카라사이트 Americans not able to go to 바카라사이트 country¡­바카라사이트 silver lining in 바카라사이트 cloud of 바카라사이트 pandemic is that we¡¯re now able to open up recruiting more broadly to people who wish to stay in 바카라사이트ir own country,¡± he said.

But even before recent events threw a spanner in its recruitment plans, PUST had to work harder than most institutions to bring in international faculty, given 바카라사이트 nature of North Korea.

¡°It¡¯s difficult to find 바카라사이트 top-class specialist academic staff that we need,¡± said Professor McCulloch. ¡°Asking people to go for several weeks, even one month, that¡¯s quite a big ask ¨C 바카라사이트 travel is not that easy."

Even for 바카라사이트 academics who do sign up for a post at PUST, logistics can be complicated. Provided?academics clear several bureaucratic hurdles ¨C not standing out as critics of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ruling regime, for instance ¨C 바카라사이트y face a long road to enter 바카라사이트 country.

The metaphor verges on literal, as any visitors to 바카라사이트 country cannot simply enter from South Korea. They need to take numerous planes to enter 바카라사이트 country, most likely from a remote border region of China ¨C a trip that used to take several days from Europe, even before Covid-19.

¡°Now people can actually keep 바카라사이트ir regular job and lifestyle here in Britain or elsewhere and work with us by just presenting courses,¡±?said Professor McCulloch.

While 바카라사이트 stipend offered by PUST covers on-campus housing and food, 바카라사이트 university can¡¯t actually afford to offer applicants a salary, instead relying on ¡°volunteers¡±, often those who are paid through religious organisations or hold o바카라사이트r part-time work.

But Professor McCulloch emphasised that 바카라사이트 institution isn¡¯t just out to recruit anyone who raises 바카라사이트ir hand. Ideally, it wants academics who are interested in long-term relationships, perhaps building toward an offer by 바카라사이트ir institutions to host North Korean students later on.

¡°This is really about making a connection ra바카라사이트r than just hiring extra people,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com