Expertise, English, Travel-Hub Lure Korean Students to Germany
By Park Si-soo, Michael Ha
Staff Reporters
It's an undeniable fact that the United States is the foremost destination for Koreans seeking to study abroad.
Among major reasons are the expectations that they can learn English intensively and studying in the U.S. will offer them opportunities to learn more diverse up-to-date knowledge than elsewhere.
But it's questionable how many Koreans can afford tuition fees of tens of thousands of dollars for each semester in an American university. Given that, Germany could be a good, cost-effective alternative.
``German universities have major expertise, especially in the fields of life science and basic research, which never fall behind the U.S. and some are even superior. Furthermore, most of the degree courses in German universities are run in English,'' said Michael Paulus, director of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Seoul, in a recent interview with The Korea Times. ``Not only will they improve their English, they will also live in a different continent and be able to travel and visit different countries. That's a big advantage. Germany is Korea's gateway to Europe.''
Unlike the U.S., most German universities are public schools. Thus, the tuition fee for one semester at most universities is around $ 770 (700,000 won), far lower than that in the U.S.
DAAD, whose headquarters is located in Bonn, Germany, is tasked with promoting international academic co-operations through the exchange of university students and faculty.
It maintains a worldwide network with 51 information centers, 14 branch offices and 500 consultants.
In 1999, European countries were united in education by introducing the ``Bologna Process.'' The purpose of this is to create a European higher education area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout the 46 member states in Europe.
``Under the accord, you can do your bachelors degree in one country, your masters in another, do your dissertation in a third country and your post-doctorate in yet another country,'' said Paulus.
Increasing Korean Students
The number of Koreans studying in German schools is on the rise. As of 2006, a total of 3,875 Koreans, who got their higher education entrance qualification abroad, are studying in Germany, up from 3,774 in 2004 and 3,729 in 2002, according to DAAD. ``We currently have more than 5,500 Korean students in degree courses. And on top of that, we have language students,'' the director said. ``There are so many Korean students visiting the center to make an inquiry into studying in Germany. Their majors are varied. Some of them are musicians. Some are engineering or electrical engineering students. We also have law students because the Korean law system is based on the German law system.''
The German information service center estimates more than 20,000 Koreans who graduated from German universities or carried out research activities are now in Seoul. But there has been no organization here managing the Korean graduates or creating an alumni network.
In response, the center will start the ``Alumni Network Germany-Korea (ADeKo)'' on May 23 at Korea University in Seoul.
The new network will encompass 40 already existing alumni associations in Korea, and work to link them with each other by giving them individual freedom on the one hand and providing a strong common body at the same time.
``ADeKo's database currently holds around contact information for 5,000 people and it's growing very fast,'' the DAAD director said. ``Our Alumni network will help young Korean graduates who come back from Germany. It would also be utilized for their employment. So there is actually a practical reason behind it.''
The 1st German-Korean Night of Science and Technology will be held on the same day at the same venue.
This event will be organized with the aim of finding a format which on the one hand introduces research institutions and companies in an appropriate ``scientific'' way but at the same time caters to the ``non-experts'' in this field.
For more information, visit www.daad.or.kr or contact (02) 324-0655.