The world is gathering at YU (President Noh Seok-kyun). There has been a stark increase in international demand among those who want to become experts in international development by leraning the ‘Saemaul Science’ and the knowhow of Korea’s Saemaul development.
Applications for the second part of 2015 ended recently for international students wishing to come to the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (Director Park Seung-woo, hereinafter ‘Saemaul Graduate School’). In result, a total of 277 people from 45 countries applied for the 31 spaces for a high competition rate of 8.9 to 1. This is the highest competition rate since inviting international students for the first time in March 2012.
It has been making news as senior officials from around the world applied. Former assistant vice-minister Maria Bermeo (female) of Ecuador’s Education and Science Technology Ministry stands out the most. Despite her young age of 30, Miss Bermeo earned her master’s degree and served as a professor, while also serving as an aide to the Minister of Education and Science Technology, and serving as assistant vice-minister until recently from 2013. She is said to be a core next-generation leader of Ecuador. She said that the reason why she applied was because she “wanted to learn international development from a global perspective and Korea’s development experience at the YU Saemaul Graduate School and contribute to the social development of Ecuador.”
Also, eleven countries such as East Timor, Jordan, Palestine (Asia), South Africa, Sierra Leone, Egypt (Africa), Banuatu (Oceania), Azerbaijan (Europe), Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru (Latin America) also applied for the first time, showing the explosive increase in international interest for Saemaul development.
This is assessed to be highly influenced by graduates who are actively working in their own governments and society as experts in Saemaul development after graduating from the YU Saemaul Graduate School. Students who graduated from Saemaul Graduate School have been highly active in all areas of emerging countries including Gasana Richard (40), who was recently elected as mayor of Gatsibo. It is also judged that a seminar held for diplomatic envoys of 24 countries in Seoul last April also had a big impact.
International Development Cooperation Director (Vice-President) Choi Wae-chul, who was the first dean of the YU Saemaul Graduate School, said, “It is a wonder that the Saemaul Graduate School, which began with just 15 students in its first year, grew so rapidly in such a short time.” He added, “This is evidence that the world recognizes the excellence of the Saemaul development program amassed by YU.”
The YU Saemaul Graduate School will announce the final passing students for the second half of 2015 on September 4 (Friday). A total of 85 new students including 31 international students and 54 new students for the consigned education program of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI) and the international organization, Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFOCO) will being their master’s degree program for one year and six months starting in October.
Meanwhile, the YU Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul was established in November 2011 to share the Saemaul Undong and Korea’s development experience to public officials and workers in the public sector in emerging countries, while fostering them into global Saemaul leaders. A total of 258 international students from 52 countries were admitted and as of August 2015, 125 received their master’s degree. The Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul was selected for the KOICA ‘Regional Community Development Instructor Fostering Master’s Degree Course’ by KOICA in March 2014, and in April 2015, it was selected as the consigned institute for KEITI’s ‘Master’s Degree Course for Public Employees in Emerging Countries’.
