KU International Summer Campus has begun.
With 1,860 participants from approximately 230 schools in 33 nations, this summer’s course is the largest in its history.
The course aims at offering opportunities for future global leaders from across the world to gather and share their dreams.

It is the largest international summer campus in Korea. The Korea University International Summer Campus (KU ISC) started its 6-week course on June 27 with college students at home and abroad and pre-college students as participants.

Since the course first opened its doors in 2004, the number of participants has increased over the last 13 years; this year saw a record-high 1,860 participants.   
 

▲ (Figure) Number of KU ISC participants per year. Despite the MERS outbreak in 2015, over 1,300 students enrolled the ISC course.

A total of 1,860 students from around 230 colleges in 33 nations, including the United States, Singapore, Canada, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China, and Australia, joined the 2016 KU ISC course. They started the 6-week course by attending the 2016 ISC Orientation, which took place in KU’s Inchon Memorial Hall on June 27.

The orientation was honored by the presence of June-Seek Choi, Associate Dean of the KU ISC. During his remarks, he placed an emphasis on some of the programs that the university has arranged. “We are very keen to listen to the voices of our students whose demands are ever-changing. To accommodate their needs, we have made some innovative changes to our ISC course. Aside from the existing 6-week lectures, we will offer the Cultural Immersion Program and internship opportunities,” said Choi. He also added that the 6-week course is not just a chance for participants to gain short-term experiences in the university, but to be Korea University ambassadors, so to speak. “Once you enrolled yourself in Korea University, you become one of our alumni forever.”

On behalf of the KU ISC faculty, Professor Thomas Lancaster from Amory University in the United States delivered his welcoming speech to the students. “It surely is a golden chance for all of you to be taught by great teachers from across the world. I hope you to remember that they are not only professors in a classroom, but also renowned scholars in the world. You will be offered a precious opportunity to learn from them and consult them about what you have wondered in your field of study,” said the professor. He also encouraged the students to work hard so that they could earn something more than just diplomas. “Try to improve your insight and let your curiosity tackle the problems. Speaking of curiosity, I recommend all of you to discuss what you are curious about with friends from other countries and different cultures. In doing so, you may find an answer to satisfy your curiosity. Do not hesitate to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the KU ISC. What I can see now is wonderful summer days lying ahead of you,” said Lancaster.

Nikki Michelle Spurdle from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom stood on the podium to deliver her remark on behalf of the participants. “Born in Hong Kong, I was raised by a British father and Chinese mother, who had given me a great deal of chances to experience different cultures. Attending the KU ISC will be another good opportunity for me to indulge myself into the Korean culture and get a glimpse into Korean language. I believe that the summer campus will serve as a platform for us to communicate with others from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Hopefully, these mutual communications will lead us to understand each other. Every moment we share will become an unforgettable memory. I encourage all of you to share a common goal and dedicate yourself to the course,” said she.

During the orientation, the students were introduced to the programs and invited to learn cheerleading movements from the KU cheering squad.
The KU ISC is known for providing world-class lectures by prestigious professors and scholars invited from educational institutions at home and abroad.

Professors from top universities around the world, such as Stanford University, the University of Cambridge, Cornell University, the University of Oxford, The University of Tokyo, and the National University of Singapore, joined the course in order to teach approximately 120 subjects including business administration, economics, politics, law, humanities, sciences, engineering, and arts. Eugene Terentjev of the University of Cambridge and G. Marcus Cole of Stanford University, to name a few, are among the 55 world-renowned scholars teaching in the 2016 KU ISC course.

Korea University also prepared the KU Pre-college program for those who were scheduled to study at universities in other countries beside Korea. Through the program, pre-college students can get a glimpse into what their college life would be like by taking the same classes with current university students.

The ISC has the Cultural Immersion Program in which the participants can have first-hand experiences regarding temple stays, K-Pop culture, traditional Korean cooking, and Taekwondo. The course also provides internships for the students to work in large conglomerates, state-run companies, or public offices in Korea.