Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) and Busan University of Foreign Studies will jointly hold the "2024 Southeast Asian Language Camp" for two weeks at Busan University of Foreign Studies from July 1, 2024 (Mon) to July 12, 2024 (Fri).

The camp will provide intensive instruction in seven government-designated special foreign languages: five Southeast Asian languages (Malay‑Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, Burmese, and Filipino (online)), as well as Arabic and Italian. In addition to 45 hours of language instruction, expert lectures to aid understanding of the Southeast Asian region will be offered. Until last year the program was offered twice a year (summer and winter breaks) in separate beginner and intermediate courses, but from this year both levels will be combined into a single annual program held during the summer break.

The Southeast Asian Language Camp's operating expenses, including instructor fees, teaching materials, and accommodation support, are funded by the Special Foreign Language Project Group at Busan University of Foreign Studies (Director Bae Yang-su) and JBNU's National University Development Project. The Jeonbuk National University Institute for Southeast Asian Studies (Director Jeon Je-seong) will provide the expert lectures on understanding the Southeast Asian region. Participants may attend both the language classes and expert lectures free of charge. Students who are not residents of the Busan area will be provided free accommodation in the Busan University of Foreign Studies dormitory (double occupancy).

The application period runs until May 31, 2024 (Thu). Applications can be submitted online via the poster's link and QR code. Detailed information about camp operations can be found in the notice posted on the JBNU Institute for Southeast Asian Studies website (http://jiseas.jbnu.ac.kr) and on Facebook (http://facebook.com/ISEAS.JBNU).

Each language course has a maximum enrollment of 10 students. If applications exceed capacity, priority will be given to undergraduate and graduate students recommended by member universities of the "Korean University Alliance for the Southeast Asian Language Camp." If some courses fail to meet enrollment, capacities for languages with high demand may be increased.

The Southeast Asian Language Camp was launched to expand nationwide access to special foreign language education, which had been limited due to the scarcity of educational institutions and regional concentration.

To this end, led by JBNU and Busan University of Foreign Studies—which provide budget support and handle program operations—30 universities, 44 departments, and research institutes nationwide formed the "Korean University Alliance for the Southeast Asian Language Camp (UNSEASK)" to recruit students and continuously seek ways to improve camp operations.

As a result, participation has continued to grow to include undergraduates and graduate students nationwide, as well as scholars and civil society activists, with a total of 498 participants through the 2023 winter camp. In satisfaction surveys conducted after the camp over the past five years, participants gave an average rating of 4.63 out of 5, indicating high satisfaction.

Undergraduate students enrolled at JBNU are eligible for special benefits. Under the agreement signed between JBNU and Busan University of Foreign Studies in 2021, taking the beginner language course offered as a BUFS seasonal-term course earns 3 credits. If students meet the evaluation criteria in both the language course and the regional understanding lectures and complete the program, tuition will be fully covered by JBNU's National University Development Project.