KF뉴스레터-Fostering an Internationalized Learning Environment

Fostering an Internationalized Learning Environment

Jörg Plassen, a former professor of the Korean Studies Department at Bochum University, has recently been appointed as the chair of the Department of Korean Studies at the University of Hamburg, where he intends to emphasize the importance of Korean language education and to upgrade cultural studies.

Q First, congratulations for your recent appointment as the chair of the Department of Korean Studies at the University of Hamburg. In this regard, what are your thoughts about this new position?
A To start with, the Asia-Afrika-Institut (AAI) is not only the largest institution of its kind in Germany, but one of the leading European institutions in the field of Asian and African studies. Thus, I feel most privileged to be allowed to work in this stimulating environment, and of course also a burden, due to the expectations of this assignment. What has really impressed me during the short time I have been here is the great spirit of cooperation among colleagues, even across departments. I feel that everyone, including the teaching staff, librarians, and IT specialist, is working for a common purpose.

Q Please describe the current status of Korean Studies at the University of Hamburg, along with your comparison of the Korean Studies programs at Bochum and Hamburg.
A First, what comes to mind is that the AAI maintains a four-year B.A. program. This curriculum comprises a one-half year of language training at a Korean university. What is really different about Korean Studies at Hamburg is that our subjects are embedded, within the broader interdisciplinary curriculum of an “International Bachelor of East Asia.” This means that our B.A. students, and their fellow students of Chinese and Japanese studies, are exposed to joint classes on the general East Asian context, which are collectively offered by the East Asian departments. From the very beginning, the students thus become accustomed to an interdisciplinary approach and learn to interpret Korean developments against the backdrop of an East Asian context.
Similarly, the local M.A. program differs from other programs in that our students are required to spend one term abroad, either at a Korean or a European partner university. Much more important, however, is the unique environment provided by the AAI. During their M.A. studies, the students can benefit vastly from a rare concentration of research expertise on subject matters relevant to Asia as a whole, and related methodological resources. Thus, students can broaden their perspective by attending various Asian Studies courses.

Q What are your plans for the development of Korean Studies at the University of Hamburg?
A Building up a flourishing department will primarily be a matter of steady work and enduring commitment to the students and to research. As for my thoughts on the direction we intend to head – in the B.A. program, modern Korean should come first. Our students will experience thorough language training, followed by an obligatory sojourn in Korea. The remainder of the curriculum will be oriented toward cultural studies. In addition, for all students of the East Asia B.A. program, there will be courses in methodology, as well as job-oriented training to enhance the students’ career prospects. As stated before, one of the advantages of our B.A. curriculum is its special consideration of the East Asian context. Another characteristic will be an added emphasis on media. For a more research oriented M.A., our research focus, like on the history of thought, will be further accentuated, but we will also give the students leeway to pursue their own interests in modern culture and other areas. The same approach is true for our PhD. candidates as well.
Of course, in the medium term, we are interested in enlarging our course portfolio through cooperation with the social sciences. Even more important. However, is gukjehwa. Thus, we will do our best to foster an internationalized learning environment, which hopefully will help to also attract more Korean Students to Europe, in order to study Western methodology.

Q How would you describe the status and outlook for Korean Studies in Germany?
A Despite the difficult times for the Humanities programs in Germany, Korean Studies has made slow, but steady, progress. In Bochum there is a flourishing department bringing forth a new generation of promising students, while the position in Hamburg has been secured and Berlin university is about to fill a long-vacant position, thus making up for the loss of Korean Studies at Humboldt university.
On the other hand, with German universities experiencing severe financial problems, and thus being more and more operated like business organizations, and it is feared that in the years to come “minor disciplines,” like Korean Studies, are likely to come under further pressure. Fortunately, the need for countermeasures has been recognized by federal politicians, but we will have to see what results an imminent federal initiative will mean for minor subject areas. Under these presently rather unfavorable circumstances, a sustained growth of Korean Studies in Germany can be only achieved with considerable support efforts from the Korean side.

Q What kinds of efforts would be helpful to further promote Korean Studies in Germany?
A Quite frankly, we have to make Korea better known. The decision for or against enrolling in a given department usually is less motivated by the actual curriculum, but rather by hearsay among friends, along with the attractiveness of a given city. In a similar vein, the reason why Korean Studies continues to lag behind Chinese and Japanese studies is due to the trivial circumstances that the importance of Korea, as an export nation, is less widely known.
Of course, we have plans to go into the local schools and intend to draw on events featuring popular culture, to increase public awareness. However, at present, we need the help of Korean institutions to organize these kinds of cultural events.

Q Do you have any suggestions or comments about the Korean Studies support programs implemented by the Korea Foundation?
A First of all, I should express our thanks for the ongoing support of the Korea Foundation’s research program. At this occasion, while refraining from drawing up a long list of desirable areas of future support, I will limit myself to request that you continue to back up our efforts, as you have done in the past. We will do our best, and I am very much looking forward to our continued cooperation.

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Fostering an Internationalized Learning Environment

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