By Kang Seung-woo
A total of 258 international students on a government scholarship program will graduate later this month, the education ministry said, Friday.
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), launched in 1967, is designed to provide international students with opportunities to study at graduate and undergraduate schools in Korea, which in turn will contribute to promoting international exchanges in education and to deepening the mutual friendship among countries.
Those who will receive degrees this time are from 86 countries ― 107 from Asia, 60 from Africa, 46 from Europe and 45 from the Americas ― and 115 will earn bachelor's degrees, with 108 to be awarded master's degrees and 31 receiving doctorates. Four will receive degrees in research.
So far, the scholarship program has produced more than 5,000 graduates, who now work in a variety of fields in each country. They include a former president of China's Harbin Normal University and a Korean professor of Thailand's Srinakharinwirot University, among others.
“The education ministry plans to further boost the GKS program through enhancing supports such as appointing promotional envoys and inviting graduates,” a ministry official said.