In the summer of 2016, Konkuk University will hold the “Asian Leadership Program” from June 27 to August 5 at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. A total of 53 students will be take Chinese language classes in the morning, then join cultural programs as well as lectures to prepare for the New HSK in the afternoon. They will also have opportunities to explore Shanghai and cities in the vicinity, such as Wuzhen and Suzhou.
In order to assess their language acquisition through the program, all students are expected to take the New HSK immediately after the end of the program. Previous sessions demonstrated that the intensive program was highly effective. Eighty-four percent of the students who participated in the program last winter obtained their target grades and 87 percent of the students without prior exposure to Chinese passed Level 2.
“Given that China has become a major player in the world and Korea’s largest trading partner, it is mandatory for university students to speak the language and understand its culture,” said Vice President for International Affairs Kwangsoo Kim. “By providing an opportunity to experience China, the program aims to train students to become leaders in the Asian region.”