UNews - Ulsan

U of L student receives scholarship from Korean government

caroline.zentner — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:44:07 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge student Braden Alexander had lived in Canada most of his life when he decided a change of scenery would broaden his learning.

“��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is a time where we, as students, should learn about ourselves and expand our horizons. What better way to do that than an exchange overseas?” he says.

Alexander opted to do an exchange at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ulsan (UOU) in South Korea. He’s been living in Ulsan since the end of August, taking business, sociology and Korean language classes. Recently, at the recommendation of UOU, he received a $1,200 US scholarship from the government of South Korea.

“I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I got it. I knew that quite a few students applied for the scholarship, so I wasn’t anticipating receiving it,” Alexander says. “I was told that my personal statement about why I came to Korea and what the exchange would do for my personal growth was exceptional.”

UOU, with a student population of about 16,000, is located in Ulsan, a city built around the Hyundai Motor Company. Alexander has been soaking up the exchange experience, both on and off campus.

Alexander has enjoyed visiting temples in South Korea, including this pagoda containing ancient Buddhist relics.

He has found a vibrant student life at UOU with many activities on campus, including English lessons, music performances and club events.

“I find it kind of neat that there are dedicated buildings for clubs and student groups. I saw some student elections and the campaigning is much more intense than Canadian student elections,” he says.

Alexander has met other students at UOU through a program where English speakers are paid to tutor UOU students.

“If a student knows you are an English speaker, they want to get to know you, be your friend and learn English. It’s not uncommon to have other students approach you and practice English or for a professor to ask an English-speaker to talk to some of their students,” says Alexander.

The ability to speak English is important in Korea. Alexander says resumés must include a TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) score to be considered by a Korean company. As a result, English cram schools and conversation groups are very popular, as are English speakers themselves.

“It’s nice to see older Koreans practice their English when they see you and their smiles grow even wider when you speak to them in Korean,” says Alexander.

While at UOU, Alexander has been living in the dormitory and enjoying Korean food, especially the trend of having food delivered.

“You can have food delivered to the soccer stadium, a movie theatre or a classroom. Even McDonalds delivers here in Korea,” he says.

He’s also managed to get in a few sightseeing trips, both around Ulsan and to Busan, South Korea’s second largest city after Seoul. Alexander says he plans to visit Seoul over the winter break. Travel opportunities to other Asian destinations like Hong Kong or Singapore are within reach because of reasonable travel costs.

Alexander does not hesitate to recommend the exchange experience.

“Being abroad not only gives you a chance to look at different perspectives around the world, but the people you meet and the memories you acquire stay with you for a long time. I’ve only been here for three months and I am already counting the things that I’ll miss from Korea,” he says, adding he plans to return to Canada early next July.

The U of L’s International Centre offers exchange programs to six other universities in addition to UOU, including Southern Cross ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Australia, Otto-Von-Guericke ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Germany, Hokkai-Gakuen ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Japan, Muskingum College in the United States and, newly available in the fall of 2015, Universidad Intercultural Maya de Quintana Roo in Mexico, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Essex in the United Kingdom and Gakushuin Women’s College in Japan.

“An exchange semester abroad gives students an experience that is not only rewarding academically, but also personally,” says Diane Minamide, the U of L’s International Programs and Exchange co-ordinator. “When students come back to see me after an exchange semester they have changed. Studying in another country opens a person to new perspectives and viewing the world from a different framework.”

In addition, the International Centre offers shorter Study Tours to Japan and South Korea and can facilitate internships and externships. The Faculty of Management also offers full semester exchanges with partner universities in more than 20 countries.

The deadline to apply for an exchange program is Feb. 15. Interested students can contact the International Centre by sending an email to exchanges@uleth.ca

Student blog offers tour impressions

trevor.kenney — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:41:37 +0000

Ulsan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in South Korea has long been a valuable partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and for the first time, U of L students are enjoying the opportunity to participate in a one-month study tour to learn Korean culture, history, society, business and language.

"We've had a longstanding agreement with Ulsan where we offer four-month exchange programs and they send a number of their students here to participate in our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program," says Laura Ferguson of the U of L's International Centre for Students. "This study tour is for one month only, is quite inexpensive and is completely in English, so there are no language requirements."

The tour began June 27 and runs through July 26. IDST 2850: Study Tour of South Korea is for course credit and is available to just 20 qualified students. A list of participating students can be found below, as well as a link to a student blog about the experience.

A South Korean monastery stay is one of the highlights of the study tour.

"This course really fits well within the interdisciplinary studies category, given the broad base of what they are learning," says Ferguson.

Ulsan is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million, and is the industrial powerhouse of South Korea, forming the heart of the Ulsan Industrial District. Home to the world's largest automobile assembly plant, operated by Hyundai Motor Company, the world's largest shipyard, operated by Hyundai Heavy Industries, and the world's second largest oil refinery, owned by SK Energy, it also neighbours the historic city of Kyung-ju, the capital of the Silla Dynasty from 57 BC to 935 AD.

Dr. Ian MacLachlan of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's geography department is accompanying the tour participants this summer. While in South Korea, they get the chance to experience every facet of the South Korean lifestyle. The tour includes trips to Hyundai Heavy Industries, a one-night home stay with a Korean family, a night in a Buddhist temple, a week of study in Seoul and many more opportunities.

"You can't really do something like this as a tourist, you don't get access to this type of experience on your own," says Ferguson.

Students advanced through an application process in order to be chosen for the tour.

"They needed to write an essay of about 1,000 words about why they wanted to participate in the program, and what value they thought they'd get from this kind of exchange," says Ferguson.

"We looked for ambassadors of the U of L, people who would go there and show our partner university how great U of L students are."

It's also an opportunity to take advantage of a partnership agreement between the two institutions that sees Ulsan send many more students to Canada.

"This summer program gives students the opportunity to go and study in Korea completely using the English language, which is much less intimidating and allows a lot more people to participate."

Study Tour Participants and Blog Contributors:

Ian MacLachlan (Instructor); Ashley Boras; Mike Burland; Kenny Davey; Jeremy Heidebrecht; Basil Jefferies; Crystal Kensley; Aaron Kurmey; Sang Ha Park; Tyler Ramsay; Jayne Simpson; Derrick Smithson; Brett Stephenson; Evan Strangward.

To follow their study tour blog or send a message to someone on the tour, click on this link.

South Korea tour students offer blog

trevor.kenney — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:27:03 +0000

Students from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge are giving people the opportunity to join them on a cultural tour of South Korea, if only through their eyes.

The new IDST 2850: Study Tour of South Korea class is currently in South Korea and participating students, under the tutelage of Dr. Ian MacLachlan of the Department of Geography, are penning a blog so that others can also experience the tour.

The blog is available by following this link, and gives people a look at many facets of the South Korean lifestyle.

The credit course is provided through the U of L's International Centre for Students and is a one-month tour of South Korea given completely in English. It is offered in partnership with Ulsan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and is based out of Ulsan, South Korea.

South Korea beckons with summer study tour

trevor.kenney — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:02:04 +0000

Application deadline extended to Jan. 22

Ulsan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in South Korea has long been a valuable partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and for the first time this coming summer, U of L students will get the opportunity to participate in a one-month study tour to learn Korean culture, history, society, business and language.

"I expect this program will be very popular," says Laura Ferguson of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's International Centre for Students.

"We've had a longstanding agreement with Ulsan where we offer four-month exchange programs and they send a number of their students here to participate in our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program. This study tour is for one month only, is quite inexpensive and is completely in English, so there are no language requirements."

Scheduled to run June 27 to July 26, 2010, IDST 2850: Study Tour of South Korea is for course credit and is available to just 20 qualified students. Depending on scholarship funding, the study tour will be priced at $2,500 per student and include the cost of tuition, flights, accommodations, meals and a host of activities.

"It really fits well within the interdisciplinary studies category given the broad base of what they will be learning," says Ferguson.

Participants in the summer tour will be accompanied by a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ faculty member and experience every facet of the South Korean lifestyle. The tour includes trips to Hyundai Heavy Industries, a one-night home stay with a Korean family, a night in a Buddhist temple, a week of study in Seoul and many more opportunities.

"You can't really do something like this as a tourist, you don't get access to this type of experience on your own," says Ferguson.

Interested students must advance through an application process in order to be chosen for the tour. Applications are due to the International Centre by the extended deadline of Jan. 22.

"They'll need to write an essay of about 1,000 words about why they want to participate in the program and what value they think they'll get from this kind of exchange," says Ferguson.

"We're looking for ambassadors of the U of L, people who will go there and show our partner university how great U of L students are."

It's also an opportunity to take advantage of a partnership agreement between the two institutions that sees Ulsan send many more students to Canada.

"This summer program gives students the opportunity to go and study in Korea completely using the English language, which is much less intimidating and allows a lot more people to participate."

For more information, contact Laura Ferguson via e-mail at laura.ferguson2@uleth.ca or visit the International Centre for Students.

South Korea beckons with summer study tour

trevor.kenney — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:00:54 +0000

Ulsan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in South Korea has long been a valuable partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and for the first time this coming summer, U of L students will get the opportunity to participate in a one-month study tour to learn Korean culture, history, society, business and language.

"I expect this program will be very popular," says Laura Ferguson of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's International Centre for Students.

"We've had a longstanding agreement with Ulsan where we offer four-month exchange programs and they send a number of their students here to participate in our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program. This study tour is for one month only, is quite inexpensive and is completely in English, so there are no language requirements."

"It really fits well within the interdisciplinary studies category given the broad base of what they will be learning," says Ferguson.

"You can't really do something like this as a tourist, you don't get access to this type of experience on your own," says Ferguson.

Interested students must advance through an application process in order to be chosen for the tour. Applications are due to the International Centre by Dec. 15.

"They'll need to write an essay of about 1,000 words about why they want to participate in the program and what value they think they'll get from this kind of exchange," says Ferguson.

"We're looking for ambassadors of the U of L, people who will go there and show our partner university how great U of L students are."

For more information, contact Laura Ferguson via e-mail at laura.ferguson2@uleth.ca or visit the International Centre for Students.

South Korea beckons

trevor.kenney — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:59:33 +0000

"I expect this program will be very popular," says Laura Ferguson of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's International Centre for Students.

"We've had a longstanding agreement with Ulsan where we offer four-month exchange programs and they send a number of their students here to participate in our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program. This study tour is for one month only, is quite inexpensive and is completely in English, so there are no language requirements."

"It really fits well within the interdisciplinary studies category given the broad base of what they will be learning," says Ferguson.

"You can't really do something like this as a tourist, you don't get access to this type of experience on your own," says Ferguson.

Interested students must advance through an application process in order to be chosen for the tour. Applications are due to the International Centre by Dec. 15.

"They'll need to write an essay of about 1,000 words about why they want to participate in the program and what value they think they'll get from this kind of exchange," says Ferguson.

"We're looking for ambassadors of the U of L, people who will go there and show our partner university how great U of L students are."

It's also an opportunity to take advantage of a partnership agreement between the two institutions that sees Ulsan send many more students to Canada.
"This summer program gives students the opportunity to go and study in Korea completely using the English language, which is much less intimidating and allows a lot more people to participate."

For more information, contact Laura Ferguson via e-mail at laura.ferguson2@uleth.ca or visit the International Centre for Students.

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U of L student receives scholarship from Korean government

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