Association for Intl Students Sought
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
The number of foreign students in Korea has continued to increase annually and surpassed 70,000 in number. The trend is likely to continue, as most Korean universities strive to attract more and more international students in the quest for globalization.
International students have started to gather and seek better academic lives here and universities are supportive. Kyung Hee University already has an ``International Friendship and Culture Club’’ and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies supports the ``International Student Organization.’’
Furthermore, the nation’s top university, Seoul National University (SNU), has formed its first-ever association for foreign students, the ``SNU International Students Association (SISA).’’
Now, the largest student association for foreign nationals is seeking to bond all international students in the country to speak for foreign students studying in Korea.
`` I really hope for a `Korea International Students Association’ to represent all foreign students in Korea,’’ Yavuz Selim Kacar, 24 told The Korea Times in an interview Tuesday. ``It will not be easy. We need support from Korean university students, professors and the Korean government. I hope to talk to foreign students at other nearby universities about the association. ’’
Kacar, who was selected as the second president of SISA, said foreign students have many difficulties in adapting to Korean culture and the school system, and his association wants to represent all of SNU’s international students and even all foreign students across the country. ``Foreign students can help the globalization at Korean universities. Balancing social and cultural values is very important. We aim to show Korean people and foreigners how to accept other cultures and languages while retaining their origins,’’ Kacar said.
SISA was formed by university administration in March of 2007 within the student affairs department, officially representing all foreign students at the school, of which SNU has 1,454, accounting for six percent of the student body.
``We are not merely a school club or simple gathering. We’re the only international students association but I expect other universities to create similar organizations,’’ Kacar said
``We’ll help any foreign student settle here, from housing to obtaining cellular phones. They can also get information on scholarship, internship programs and other activities for foreign students,’’ he said.
``However, half of our students are indifferent to our association. Many foreigners face language barriers and cultural differences and many of them feel alienated from Korean students. I will promote our group more and more to other students,’’ he added.
SISA has orientation for freshmen every semester and a ``SISA Ambassadors Meeting’’ every year, inviting ambassadors or representatives from 35 countries to the university, allowing foreign students the chance to meet ambassadors from their home country and receive counseling from the envoys.
SISA also holds a sports festival in which international students gather in one sports hall and play various games. Afterwards, students can enjoy a free buffet thanks to the student affairs department.
During a Korean Cultural Trip, about 200 international students visit traditional Korean villages each semester to experience and learn Korean traditional culture and life for two days.
Sisa has other culture trips thanks to the support of the Korean National Intelligence Agency and holds parties to celebrate the beginning and ending of a semester. It holds volunteering activities as well and recently visited and cared for disabled students in Gwacheon.
The foreign student representative said SISA will continue to volunteer. ``Most of us think Koreans are kind to foreigners. We’re grateful and want to give something back to these beautiful people.’’
SISA has eight board members selected from foreign members and holds meetings weekly. Each board member can speak at least Korean and English fluently and have their country’s students’ information and make announcements in their native language.
``We can translate every announcement into 8 languages in one day and deliver them to students in their native languages. From next semester we are going to send instant mobile SMS messages to all students in their language simultaneously,’’ Kacar said.
SISA is now working on providing information in various languages including Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Mongolian and Spanish on its website. Board members will consult it daily and answer questions in students’ native languages.
``We’re here to help bring all international students at SNU together to help each other for mutual benefit. My board members and I are always ready to help international students at our school and have adopted the motto `SISA is here for you,’’’ Kacar said.