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Let's Find Out About Office of International Affairs

The Cheongdae Times Editor-in-Chief Jo So Yeon

The Cheongdae Times Senior reporter Jin-won Seo

Do you know about Cheongju University international exchange program?

As daily life, which had been suspended for about three years due to COVID-19, has recovered, international exchange programs are also being actively carried out with the interest of many people.

Along with this, students are expected that there will be a lot of curiosity about international exchange programs.

In order to solve the students' curiosity, The Cheongdae Times conducted an interview with the Office of international affairs, "Teacher Jongmin Lee."

-interview contents-

Q. What kind of work is the Office of International Affairs in charge of?

A. The Office of International Affairs is mainly responsible for exchanges with overseas universities, attracting and managing international students, and planning and operating international student exchange programs.

In addition, the main tasks include solving problems among enrolled international students, supporting international students, and developing and managing various support programs.

Currently, 1,338 students from 20 countries are studying at our university, and one of our main tasks is to support students to study without safety accidents through various education and programs.

Q. Please introduce the work that the Office of International Affairs is in charge of.

A. There are three main tasks I am in charge of at the Office of International Affairs. It operates an international exchange program (overseas dispatch program), attracts foreign students, and manages foreign students.

The international exchange program mainly coordinates and supports matters related to the overseas dispatch program and exchange student program of Cheongju University students.

We are working on the development, planning and operation of international exchange programs, and selecting students.
As for attracting international students, we are striving to recruit international students from various countries abroad through participation in various online and offline study information sessions and student counseling.

Lastly, the management of international students is the operation of various programs to support the study and life of international students who finally enter our university, and we support students to adapt to Korean life and studies.

Q. What programs are run by the Office of International Affairs?

A. The program currently operated by the International Exchange Office to support domestic students is the International Exchange Program, which is an overseas dispatch program during the semester and vacation.

It operates mentoring, language exchange, and international ambassador programs to interact with international students enrolled in Cheongju University.

Support programs for international students at our university include Korean cultural experience programs, international student safety education, international student festivals, and employment-related programs for international students.

Q. Why did this international education program and exchange students proceed later than last semester?

A. It was delayed due to detailed adjustment and coordination issues of the operation program.

Q. What is the purpose and business purpose of the international exchange program?

A. The purpose of the international exchange program is to improve the international competence of participating students through international understanding, various cultural experiences, and academic exchanges.

The purpose of the project is to promote international exchange in various aspects such as academics, culture, and language to promote academic growth and strengthen international capabilities.

Q. What is the difference between our school's overseas dispatch and that of other schools?

A. Among our university programs, there is a world scholarship program that students can design and participate freely, and we provide various subsidies compared to other schools.

Q. What international exchange programs are currently in progress?

A. There are 12 international exchange programs currently in operation. There are regular programs, which allow students to take regular classes at sister universities abroad, exchange students programs, scholarship English programs and internship programs that students can participate in field practice at overseas institution during the semester.

Also, there are short-term cultural training programs with sister universities, short-term field training programs, short-term language training programs, and world challenge scholarship programs that students can choose the topics and be sent abroad, during vacation.

Q. How many students apply for the international exchange program? (Are they interested in the international exchange program?) What is the actual percentage of students dispatched?

A. Although the number of applicants for each semester is different, on a pre-COVID-19 basis, about 300 students were dispatched every year, and the number of applicants was 1.5-2 times that of the actual number dispatched. After COVID-19, students who wished to be dispatched have decreased a lot.

Q. How are the students' satisfaction and reviews after participating in the international exchange program?

A. Although, the level of satisfaction is different depending on the program, but, overall generally students show a high satisfaction.
Also, we make adjustments to the program and dispatching organization every year according to the students’ satisfaction.

Q. What kind of criteria are considered when selecting program participants?

A. Students are selected for each program through the combined score, students' total score average, interview score, and official language score.

Q. Does our school have a high rate of overseas dispatch, compared to other schools?

A. The overseas dispatch rate is estimated to be moderate, based on universities nationwide.

Q. Which overseas university has a sisterhood relationship with our university? Is it more common compared to other schools?

A. The number of sister universities is likely to be similar to other universities. As of now, we have sisterhood relationships with 283 universities in 31 countries.

Q. What procedures do international students who come to our school go through and what classes do they take?

A. We are recruiting international students through various study abroad briefing sessions and overseas business trips (local briefing sessions).
We are selecting students through document screening and interview screening by country.

Programs in which international students participate in our university include the Korean Language Education Center program, the undergraduate program, the graduate program, the transfer program, and the bilingual program (foreign language class).

Q. What are the nationalities of international students?

A. A total of 20 countries, including China, Vietnam, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Thailand, India, and South America.