Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) will launch an International Summer School this year that brings together domestic and international students to study together.

JBNU's inaugural International Summer School is a program that recruits domestic and overseas students during the summer break, offers a variety of lectures to enhance global awareness and Korean cultural experiences, and enables participants to earn academic credit.

Since 2002, JBNU has invited students from partner institutions abroad every year during the vacation to run the Feeling Korea Program, a Korean cultural experience program. JBNU has upgraded this experiential program into a course in which domestic and international students can study together.

Through the International Summer School, JBNU expects to lay the groundwork for the planned establishment of the School of International Studies, raise its internationalization index, and enhance its standing as a global university.

Accordingly, JBNU will recruit 50 enrolled students and 50 students from domestic and overseas universities, and will run English lectures, Korean language classes, and Korean cultural experience programs for three weeks beginning in July, during the summer break.

The course offerings are substantial. Lectures that provide a comprehensive understanding of Korea — including Korean culture and literature, education, Korean history, and Korean business — will be delivered in English by JBNU faculty. Beginner and intermediate Korean language courses and traditional Korean cultural experiences will also be provided.

In addition, JBNU will invite eight renowned professors from overseas universities, including Professor Lynette Myles of Arizona State University, to offer a range of lectures such as Eastern philosophy and English conversation strategies, African American literature, and Korea's history and culture as viewed through film.

Each course will run for 30 hours and carry 2 credits. Participants can earn up to 6 credits (3 courses) through the International Summer School.

To support this, JBNU has launched an English-language International Summer School website (http://iss.jbnu.ac.kr) that introduces the curriculum and program in detail. The university is actively promoting the program to major alumni associations, such as those in Los Angeles and New York, and to partner institutions.

President Seo Geoseok said, "The International Summer School, which JBNU is implementing for the first time this year, is expected to become a model of a global campus by bringing overseas and domestic students together through diverse curricula and programs. We will continue to develop richer curricula and invite professors from renowned overseas universities to ensure this becomes the leading global program in Korea."