As part of its effort to become “Asia’s World University,” Yonsei is expanding its collaborative relationships with a number of top British universities. This semester, for the first time, a Yonsei exchange student is enrolled at King’s College London (KCL), which is currently ranked 16th in the QS World University Rankings. Next semester, Yonsei students will also be able to study at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and the University of Bath. Currently, Yonsei has student exchange agreements with eight universities in the United Kingdom, including the University of Edinburgh, which is ranked 17th in the world by QS. Both Edinburgh and KCL are members of the Russell Group, an association of twenty-four prestigious British universities.
In the future, there are also plans by Yonsei to finalize collaborative relationships with the University of Bristol and the University of Glasgow, ranked 29th and 55th, respectively, by QS. In 2012, Yonsei signed MOUs with the University of St. Andrews and the University of Southampton, and the university hopes to establish student exchange agreements with these institutions in the near future. The number of Yonsei students studying in the United Kingdom each semester is also expected to rise to twenty, up from the current ten.
To further its efforts to increase collaborative partnerships with British universities, Yonsei officials will take part in this year’s European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference, which is being held in September in Glasgow. The EAIE is the European center for expertise, networking, and resources in the internationalization of higher education. While in Scotland, the Yonsei representatives will visit the University of Glasgow and the University of Aberdeen, along with several other Scottish institutions.
Underwood International College (UIC) student Ryu Byong-il, an economics major, is the first Yonsei student to study at KCL. When asked about the exchange program, Ryu emphasized KCL’s location in the heart of London, as well as its dynamic learning environment: “The lectures are not limited to passive learning experiences for students. Seminars provide opportunities for students to form groups, have active discussions, and understand the curriculum contents much better. Also, the school is right near Waterloo Station, so one can experience London and also travel to other areas in England.” In the fall, Yonsei anthropology student Jung Jae-hun will attend SOAS as an exchange student. According to Jung, “England is the founder of the study of anthropology. SOAS has educated global leaders such as Aung San Suu Kyi. SOAS is a famous school and boasts globally recognized programs in the studies of Asia and Africa. This is a great opportunity for me.”