In this interview, Mr. Joshua Han, the Program Manager of the Center for International Students and Scholars at Sejong University, gladly agreed to have an interview for stuvisor.com to discuss the International Student Program.

Stuvisor.com: Hello, Mr. Han? It's good to see you again and thank you for having this interview. How are you?
Joshua: I’m good. Thank you.

Stuvisor.com: Please tell me about yourself. For example, how long have you worked at Sejong University and what is or work duty?
Joshua: My name is Joshua Han. I am the program manager of the Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS). I have been working at the CISS for 8 years and I have been making and building a relationship with many overseas institutions as well as developing various educational programs for Sejong students.

Stuvisor.com: How did you feel about K-conference, hereunder as KC, on Jeju Island?
Joshua: It was my first time to participate in KC except for the KC mini last year. I have had many experiences participating in other conferences such as NAFSA, APAIE and etc. I felt that the KC was quite unique - I could meet many enthusiastic people and recruit professionals from all over the world.  I had a chance to sit with them and have meaningful conversations.  Not only I could fulfill the business needs but I was also able to make many great friends working in the same field.

"Before we, Sejong, participate in K conference, 

 we did not really have much information about the foreign agents.

               After the experience of K conference,

                       we could think of a very effective way to recruit many wonderful international students." 
                                                 
 - Joshua Han, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea

Stuvisor.com: Was there progress or approach of a new idea via meetings with foreign agents?
Joshua: Before we, Sejong, participated in the conference, we did not really have much information about the foreign agents.  After the experience of the conference, we could think of a very effective way to recruit many wonderful international students.

Stuvisor.com: Also, I heard that the agents from the K-conference had visited your school. How was it?
Joshua: Yes, we invited some of them to Sejong University and we had a chance to show them around our campus. They could get a real sense of studying and living on campus and I hope that they can convey it to many good students.  I wish and am planning to invite as many as guests to Sejong and show them around our beautiful campus next year.

Stuvisor.com: It is thankful to hear a positive comment on the K-conference. Can you briefly describe your University and your department to our readers?
Joshua: Brief introduction seems always the most difficult of all. I have many points to tell about Sejong University, however, I will try to make it short.

Sejong is established in 1940 and is a highly reputable private university in Seoul, Korea, comprising nine undergraduate colleges and nine graduate schools, with 13,000 students currently enrolled. Over the years, we have forged affiliations and partner relationships with over 160 universities overseas, including in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Sejong University is particularly well known for its strong standing in Hospitality/Tourism Management and Art programs, such as cartoon animation and fashion design. The University’s Asia Studies Program offers courses in East Asian languages, history, philosophy, religion, archeology, economics, politics, and education, all taught entirely in English by distinguished faculty. Sejong University also has competitive Science and Engineering programs, which comprise more than half of its student population. 

We have around 25% of all courses offered in English at the undergraduate level. Recently, we have launched the English tracks in Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) and Bachelor in Hospitality and Tourism Management (BHTM). So, students who do not have a Korean Language score can apply for our English tracks.

Established through the joint efforts of the Graduate School of Business of Sejong University and Whitman School of Management of Syracuse University in the United States, the Sejong-Syracuse MBA Program aims to provide comprehensive management education for students who wish to pursue careers in global business. All courses are taught entirely in English. It is one of the few programs in Korea with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation, which is considered the highest mark of a business school’s education quality. Graduates will receive an MBA degree from Sejong University and a Certificate of Completion from Syracuse University.  

We also have an International Language Institute, which offers intensive 10-week programs in the Korean language, open to anyone with a high-school diploma. I believe the programs will help international students assimilate to Korean culture in an easy and effective way.

Stuvisor.com: I see. As a manager of the Center for International Students and Scholars, what is the strength of Sejong University compared to the other universities in Korea?

Joshua: That is a very good question. There are many strong universities in Korea. I would like to tell you about the three most important strengths of Sejong University.

1. Quality Education: One of Sejong University's mission statements is to offer the best education to our students. Sejong always emphasizes the need to of having distinguished faculties from all around the world and to install the most up-to-date educational facilities for the students so that Sejong can keep up the most high-quality education

2. English Tracks for undergraduate and graduate programs: Sejong offers quality English tracks for international students. The English course offering of Sejong is fantastic. International students can get a high quality of education taught in English from distinguished faculties. At the same time, they can learn the Korean language as well as its culture. We have a very good language institute on campus where the students can learn the Korean language. For undergraduates, we offer Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) and Bachelor in Hospitality and Tourism Management (BHTM). For graduates, we offer Sejong-Syracuse MBA (SSMBA) and Asian Studies Program (MA). These are the courses offered in English.

3. Research Oriented: Sejong University has a strong reputation in the research field. If students wish to participate in research and learn about the most up-to-date research findings on various topics, Sejong will be the best choice. Most of the faculty members of Sejong can teach and advise their students in English and Many students are able to participate in their professor’s ongoing research projects.

Stuvisor.com: Thank you for your detailed answer. Alright then, can you tell me how many international students are currently enrolled in your school?
A: As of Spring 2014, we have around 585 international students including undergraduate, graduate, and language program students.

Stuvisor.com: What about your curriculums for the international student? What kind of language or degree courses is your school providing to the students?
A: Curriculums are various for each major but there are some required courses for international students such as Understanding of Korean Culture, and Sejong Leadership. Sejong offers Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. in all majors. Most courses are offered in Korean but Sejong recently increased the number of courses taught in English and the international students will be able to find many interesting courses taught in English

"Sejong recently increased the number of courses taught in English and the international students will be able to find many interesting courses taught in English."

Stuvisor.com: Can you describe the program specifically?
Joshua: For undergraduates, we offer two English programs which are Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) and Bachelor in Hospitality & Tourism Management (BHTM). The other courses are offered in Korean, however, we have around 25% of all courses offered in English.

For graduate school, we offer SSMBA (MA) and Asian Studies Program (MA) which are 100% English-taught programs.
 
Stuvisor.com: According to your answer, I believe your school has quality educational programs for the international students, but are there some celebrating events or gathering purpose events for the international students?

Joshua: At the beginning of the semester, we give an orientation to the international students who are new to Sejong and Korea for them to adapt to a new environment quickly. Around the festival period (in May), we hold a special event for the international students. International students come prepared to share their traditional customs with Korean students and other international students. We award the best team a prize. Not only that, we organize other fun events for them to enjoy, such as the pizza night for social meetings for the international students.

"Three students can share a room for $200 USD a month; four students can share a room for $160 USD a month. The cost of the off-campus dormitory is only $100 USD a month."

Stuvisor.com: This question is for prospective international students who are curious about the living environment in your school. What does your school provide to the international students for their necessities for their living?

Joshua: Sejong offers dormitories for international students on and off campus at a very reasonable price. The living cost in Seoul is very high and Sejong knows the importance of providing good housing to the students, especially international students. There are two room types in the on-campus dormitory. Three students can share a room for $200 USD a month; four students can share a room for $160 USD a month. The cost of the off-campus dormitory is only $100 USD a month. And Sejong operates a global buddy program so that the global buddy can help the international students to adapt to a new environment easily.

Stuvisor.com I see. This is a different question, but how many students are being sent out to foreign countries?
Joshua: We send out about 150 students to overseas partner universities each semester. 

Stuvisor.com: Can you briefly tell me about the programs for the Korean students who are sent out to foreign countries as exchange students or to study abroad?
Joshua: Sejong offers various programs to Sejong students who wish to study abroad. Sejong has an exchange, visiting, hybrid, an overseas internship, and short-term study abroad programs which the students found very desirable, and there are always many applicants every semester.

Stuvisor.com: Do you have a new plan or a progressing plan in language or degree course for prospective international students in the future?
Joshua: We are planning to open up more English courses for both undergraduate and graduate students. We are also planning to collaborate with our overseas partners to establish 1+4 and 2+2 programs which international students would find very useful and interesting.

Stuvisor.com: Again, it was great to see you, and I really appreciate your thoughtful answers to the above questions. I hope the K-conference 2014 and this interview can bring a positive effect on your school.
Joshua: Thank you and it was truly nice to talk with you too.

Interviewee: Joshua (JeongHun) Han
Institute: Sejong University, Republic of Korea