416 students dispatched overseas such as in the overseas volunteer corps (Cambodia, Laos, etc.) and 'Window to the World' (Europe, USA, Japan)
Overseas culture exploration, language studies, and other tuition support programs continuously expanded
[January 7, 2016]
<The launching ceremony of the 30th overseas volunteer corps was held in the afternoon of the 6th at the College of Education auditorium.>
YU students will start off 2016 all around the world.
Students are planning to spend a very busy winter vacation. YU operates various overseas dispatch programs using vacation periods of every year to provide students with the opportunity to experience the world.
This winter break, 416 YU students will travel around the world.
The 'overseas volunteers corps', which 2,260 students participated in over 29 sessions since 2001, is YU's most famous overseas dispatch program. The 30th overseas volunteer corps will send 80 students this winter break to Cambodia, Laos, Philippines and India. They held the launching ceremony at the YU College of Education auditorium at 3 p.m. on the 6th and the four teams will be sent to their assigned countries from the 10th to the 24th.
The volunteers will visit local elementary schools and provide educational and environmental improvement services. During the volunteer period, they will engage not only in education environment improvement activities such as repairing old facilities and painting walls, but also organize various education teams such as in art and physical education. They will make pinwheels, draw pictures, teach traditional Korean games, as well as Taekwondo and Korean language classes to spread Korean culture.
Park Sung-hoon (23, junior in the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy), who is the team leader for the Cambodia team, said, "I am very excited as this is my first time to go on overseas volunteer activities with support from the school. It is a short two weeks, but I will do my best to help the local students and schools and raise the reputation of Korea and our school." He added, "I will improve global capacities by participation in various overseas dispatch programs supported by the school until I graduate."
Among the overseas dispatch programs supported by YU, the most important program among students is 'Window to the World'. 'Window to the World' is a backpacking program in search of themes relevant to school and it is so popular that competition is at a rate of 3 to 1. Selected students are provided with round-trip airfares from the school. Since first starting in 2002, over 2,000 students traveled all around the world. This winter vacation, 101 students will travel all around the world including Europe, USA, Australia, Japan and China in teams of twos and threes.
'OPP' (Outbound Pilot Program) is another overseas dispatch program supported by the school. Freshmen and sophomores interested in studying abroad are selected to receive a seven week intensive English education course. During vacation, they are given the opportunity to study English abroad so that they can make thorough preparations for student exchange programs that they can apply for when they become juniors. OPP, which began in 2009, was joined by 1,360 students in total now and in this winter vacation, 122 students will be sent to the Philippines through the OPP.
Also, 113 students will also be sent abroad for overseas cultural explorations and short-term language programs for a total of 416 YU students to travel all around the world this winter vacation.
