CEFIA News

The Center for International Affairs of the Academy of Korean Studies held the "Online Textbook Seminar for Educators of Indonesia" for three days from November 10 (Wednesday) to 12 (Friday), 2021. The online training program drew researchers from the Textbook and Curriculum Center under the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology.

Because inviting the Indonesian participants was difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the online platform ZOOM was used to hold a textbook seminar from November 10 to 11, and lectures related to Korea were given on November 12. The two-day seminar examined the two countries' education systems, curriculums and textbooks with presentations and discussions covering Korea's curriculum and textbook system, Korea's digital education and policy, introduction to Korea-related contents in Indonesian textbooks and materials for increasing understanding of Korea, Indonesia's new textbook paradigm and the "Merdeka Belajar" paradigm. They also discussed ways to promote cooperation between the two countries. In the Korea-related lectures, participants shared the background and cultural factors of the economic development of Korea, which was freed from the Japanese colonial rule around the same time, and the potential of Korean culture which is exerting great influence on the rapid development of global businesses involving Korean cultural contents.

The Korean culture training program provided an opportunity to discuss Indonesia's educational philosophy and the form of materials and contents for increasing understanding of Korea. The two sides also agreed to continue their efforts to promote mutual understanding by jointly developing textbooks and materials for understanding Korea.

The Division of Understanding Korea Project at the Center for International Affairs of the Academy of Korean Studies held a seminar on November 15, 2021, to promote understanding of Korea by foreign school teachers in Korea.

The seminar was held online to promote understanding and awareness of Korea-related issues of foreign school teachers in Korea. The event began with an opening speech by Ham Young-ki, director of the Ministry of Education's National Curriculum Policy Bureau, and a welcoming address by Jo Yoong-hee, director of the Center for International Affairs. Moderated by Chang Won-suk, head of the Division of Understanding Korea Project Office, the seminar included presentations and discussions on Korea-related classes at foreign schools in Korea. Five teachers from foreign schools in Korea made presentations, and other teachers interested in the subject also participated in the seminar.

Jessica de la O, a teacher at Seoul International School, introduced teaching materials and field trips utilizing Namhansanseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in middle school history classes. Jeff Mills, a teacher at Asia Pacific International School, shared various materials, websites, and teaching strategies that can be used to teach Korea-related issues in high school history classes.

Calvin Kampuis, a teacher at the Seoul Foreign School, made a presentation on how to associate Korea with economy and commerce classes. He introduced teaching and learning methods that draw students to do various learning activities such as interviews and surveys on economic issues and write essays based on examination of Korea-related economic issues and news contents.

Researchers Kim Da-hee and Jang Hye-jin of the Division of Understanding Korea Project made presentations on the subject of Korea-related contents in foreign textbooks. They focused on the textbooks in North America, France and Africa, looking into their descriptions of Korea and the recent trends. Also discussed were measures to effectively include Korea in social studies classes in consideration of the characteristics of the textbook system and curriculums in the North America and French-speaking regions.

Patrice Germain, a teacher at the French School of Seoul, discussed ways to increase Korea-related contents in geography classes at his school. Mentioning that French geography classes emphasizes case studies, he suggested that Korea be associated with such case studies.

Lastly, teacher Kim Na-rae of Xavier International School made a presentation on the basic state of Korean studies education in international schools, focusing on Korean language education in French schools. Kim said that the name of the Korean language class includes "Korean," which stresses the aspect of language education. She said that in reality, however, the class deals with overall Korea-related issues. Kim also gave explanations about the objective of the class and the contents and methods of the actual class.

There was a comprehensive discussion session, in which participants discussed various opinions on the current state of Korea-related classes at foreign schools in Korea and ways to promote them. The seminar contributed to sharing various information, and helped teachers who develop class materials at foreign schools get greater interest in and better understanding of Korea. In addition, the seminar provided an opportunity to strengthen the human network with foreign school teachers in Korea, which would be helpful in promoting mutual cooperation to improve, expand and create Korea-related contents in foreign textbooks.

The Center for International Affairs of the Academy of Korean Studies held the 'Online Textbook Seminar for Educators of Jordan' for two days from November 22 to 23, 2021. The training program, which was associated with the "Program for the Expansion of the Korean Development Technology Awards" of the South Korean Embassy in Jordan, was carried out via an online meeting using the Zoom platform and a face-to-face meeting held in Jordan.

About 40 officials from the Jordanian Ministry of Education's Textbook and Curriculum bureaus, and the Curriculum Research Center under the Ministry of Education participated in the training program, which was designed to share mutual experiences in education and operation of the textbook system.

The program included presentations and lectures on the subjects such as "Korean Education System and Textbook System," "Jordanian Education System and Textbook System," "Mutual Understanding through Korean and Jordanian Textbooks," and "Korea's Economic Growth." They provided an opportunity for the participants to share and exchange information and opinions on education and textbooks of the two countries, and Korea's economic development experience.

The two sides also agreed that they need to continue efforts to increase mutual understanding of the two countries' history, culture and society in order to establish developmental relations and that they explore ways to share experiences in mutual understanding and development on the basis of education and textbooks.

The Academy of Korean Studies and the Indian National Council of Educational Research Training (NCERT) held the 'Workshop for Textbook and Education Cooperation between Korea and India' on November 30, 2021.

The workshop, which has been taking place regularly since the AKS and the NCERT signed an MOU in June 2017, deals with collaboration in curriculums and textbooks, ICT education, vocational training, and special education. The workshop also drew officials from Korean specialized educational institutions with which the AKS has established a cooperation agreement: Korea Education and Research Information Service, Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, and the National Institute of Special Education.

The workshop consisted of two sessions, one on checking out the results of collaboration that had been promoted in the four areas and the other on the experiences of the two countries in "various attempts under the COVID-19 situation."

The AKS shared the progress of the collaboration project in the 'development of curriculums and textbooks' and explored ways to lay the foundation for mutual understanding through textbooks of the two countries. Specifically, the workshop shared the 'auxiliary material for teaching reading' focused on the development of democracy in the two countries, and a 'collection of Korean poetry and stories.' The participants also discussed how to use 'A Module on India,' which introduces Indian tradition and development. The workshop also provided an opportunity for the participants to get information on the direction and future schedule of the ongoing program to revise the Indian national curriculum.

Korean Ambassador to India Chang Jae-bok and Surinder Bhagat, the deputy chief of mission at the Indian Embassy in Seoul, gave a congratulatory address in the workshop, which attests to the growing mutual interest in textbook and education cooperation between the two countries. Based on the results of the workshop, the AKS will continue to make efforts to increase Korea-related contents in Indian textbooks, improve Korean image in India, and promote mutual understanding between the two countries.