The Korean Program at the University of Malaga within the perspective of the Korean Studies in Spain

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The

Korean

Program

at

the

University

of

Malaga

within

the

perspective

of

the

Korean

Studies

in

Spain

Antonio

J. Domenech

University

of

Malaga

Introduction

In this presentation I will begin giving a general perspective of the situation of the Asian Studies programs in Spain. During these last years the educational university system is undergoing a very big change in Spain and the Asian Studies are also trying to reorganize themselves to adjust to the new situation. The University of Malaga has been supporting for the last six years different activities about Korea open to the whole university community and many of them also to the public in general. This academic year began a new undergraduate degree in East Asian Studies specialize in Korea, the first in Spain. We will see how the program has grown and which are the main projects for the future of the Korean language and studies in our University. We will see also the main areas of cooperation between the University of Malaga and the Korean Universities.

Asian Studies in Spain

The academic interest of Spain in Asia has been intermittent and has been subject to numerous historical and political vicissitudes. In recent decades emerged timid attempts to link a university response to geopolitical interest in this area, however, until recently have had an important delay and a considerable lack of consolidation compared to the situation of other countries in Europe and countries as the U.S., Canada or Australia (De Prado, 2006). During the last decade university studies on East Asia in Spain have reflected several significant changes in the structure and orientation of its teachings. The introduction in 2003 of the second cycle degree in East Asian Studies represented a fundamental turning point in the definition of an university education in this area (Fisac, 2005). Prior to this specific offer, the studies were characterized by the diversity of format and limited primarily single‐discipline approaches. Subjects included in the tradition of Orientalist studies in Bachelor of Humanities and Philosophy, Asian languages and studies of Translation and Interpretation (in Universidat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universidad de Comillas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Universidad de Granada), othre universities offered a range of subjects about Asian languages and Asian culture.

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From 2003 saw the beginning of the second cycle degree in East Asian Studies (2 courses structured, with a full course load of at least 120 credits and provided by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and Universtitat Oberta de Catalunya), which started with a vocation aimed at providing interdisciplinary and adequate knowledge of the linguistic, cultural, social, political, historical and economic characteristic of the region under study (BOE, 2003). The basic contents were "Contemporary Civilization in East Asia" (12 credits), "History of East Asia" (12 credits), "Language of East Asia" (18 credits), "Literature in East Asia" (12 credits) and "Thought and Culture in East Asia" (12 credits). It made possible for universities to set their curricula specific specializations such as Japanese Studies and / or Chinese and / or Korean. However, the choice of one of these specializations determined by the Oriental languages chosen determined the rest of contents.

The launch of the new degrees within the European Higher Education Area during 2009‐2010, represents the most important milestone in this process of consolidating East Asian Studies in Spain. For East Asian Studies (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) in Spain the acquisition of intercultural competence is a real challenge to be added to the classical approach to language and culture in Asia. It requires, in our view, the inclusion of materials not only "cultural" but also others that may make the qualitative leap that represents the development of an accurate focusing in the management cultural diversity. In the teaching of second languages is paid increasing attention to the cultural context in the acquisition of communication skills but it is necessary also to bring the student to exercise to analyze, interpret and understand the cultural differences, negotiate meaning and express empathy (Edwards and Lopez, 2008). Several universities from a strong tradition, such as Valencia and Granada, have chosen to design degrees in languages and literatures, including those relating to East Asia, though not explicitly respond to these needs.

The definition of intercultural competence involves a range of attitudes, skills and knowledge to assess and respond adequately to the interpersonal, emotional, educational, labor… requirements. Arising from the contexts of cultural diversity. The intercultural competence should also be accompanied by other components such as intercultural sensitivity (affective), intercultural awareness (cognitive dimension), or the global mindset, which refers the trend of openness to other cultures that promotes intercultural interaction. The development of intercultural competence is an active process of lifelong learning throughout life, implying a dynamic process of transformation of personal identity that reflects changes in values, increased confidence and greater flexibility of perspective ( Santos, 2004). The social, economic and cultural globalization and its implications for the development of international management of human resources located this intercultural competence as a key factor to meet the challenges of internationalization in higher education both as in the labor market.

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It is in this context is that some universities with experience in teaching second cycle degree in East Asian Studies (UAM and UAB) and others who have joined a little later (International Campus Andalusia Tech, University of Seville and of Malaga), draft a specific degree in East Asian Studies (in the case of UAM Degree in Asian and African Studies: Arabic, Chinese and Japanese). The same name has also reserved for official Graduate Master offered by the University of Salamanca. So in the case of the Autonomous University of Barcelona is stressed that the overall objective of the degree is aimed at providing students with the knowledge and language skills, cultural and instrumental to help address specific problems of intercultural contact situations, putting a special emphasis on the mastery of languages involved in each case. For the Madrid Autonomous University highlights the linguistic competence, interdisciplinarity, flexibility of thought and cultural skills. In the joint degree of Andalusia Tech (Universities of Seville and Malaga) is committed to training of professionals with specific skills for cultural, linguistic, political and economic relations with these countries from a multidisciplinary approach, the logic of the knowledge society development and meet the challenges posed by new and emerging areas.

Korean Studies Program at University of Malaga

Since 2009/2010 the Language Center of the university has been offering regular courses on Korean Language. Now there are students enrolled in the A1 and A2 levels, summing a total of 14 students. In addition, there are regular programs (1 every month) of language exchange with Korean students in exchange programs at the University of Málaga.

In 2011 the University of Málaga presented a project of joint degree with the University of Seville on East Asian Studies. Under the current legislation on this kind of degrees, there are three itineraries of concentration available for study: Japanese Studies, Chinese Studies and Korean Studies. Both universities agree that Seville will focus its teaching on Japanese and Chinese Studies, and Málaga on Korean Studies. The academic year of 2011/2012 has seen the first promotion start their studies of specialization on Korean Studies at the University of Málaga.

The degree follows the European Higher Education Area, and it is structured based on the ECTS credits. Thus, students need to pass 240 ECTS credits to graduate. These credits are distributed along Basic Courses (60 ECTS credits), Language (48 ECTS credits), Society and Culture (54 ECTS credits), Courses of Specialization (54 ECTS credits), Thesis (6 ECTS credits). The basic courses are designed to offer a general view on East Asia, and they are taught during the first and second year. The subjects on language depend on the itinerary of specialization, and they are distributed along the 4 years of the degree in 8 subjects. The University of Málaga teaches Korean language from Korean I to Korean VIII, although right now, being the first promotion, only Korean I and II are currently taught. The subjects from Society and Culture are 12 subjects, 3 of them on aspects of East Asian studies,

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and the rest are the specialization of the itinerary. Finally, the courses of specialization look for the study in depth of some aspect of Korean Studies of the student’s choice. The thesis is an original work under the direction of a qualified professor and evaluated by an academic committee.

Korean Studies Program

First

Year

Primer Cuatrimestre

Asignaturas Créditos ECTS

Mención Corea

Geografía de Asia 6

Historia Premoderna de Asia Oriental 6

Literaturas Clásicas de Asia Oriental 6

Economía Contemporánea de Asia Oriental 6

Arte y Estética en Asia Oriental 6

Segundo Cuatrimestre

Mención Corea

Historia de las Religiones de Asia Oriental 6

Modelos de Pensamiento en Oriente y Occidente 6

Sistemas Políticos Contemporáneos de Asia Oriental 6

Coreano I 6

Coreano II 6

Second

Year

Mención Corea

Comercio y Relaciones Internacionales de Asia Oriental 6

Mediación y Negociación Intercultural en Asia Oriental 6

Teorías del Diálogo y la Interculturalidad 6

Escrituras Contemporáneas de Asia Oriental 6

Coreano III 6

Mención Corea

Cultura Digital y Nuevas Tecnologías de la Información y la

Comunicación en Asia Oriental

6

Turismo y Flujos Migratorios en Asia Oriental 6

Historia Moderna de Asia Oriental 6

Economía y Finanzas de Asia Oriental 6

Coreano IV 6

Third

Year

Mención Corea

Estética y Arte Coreanos

Literatura de Corea a través de sus Textos

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Coreano V

Coreano VI

Mención Corea

Política y Geoestrategia en Corea 6

Economía de las Empresas Asiáticas y su Penetración en

España e Iberoamerica

6

Pensamiento y Religiones en Corea a través de sus Textos 6

Coreano VII 12

Coreano VIII 12

Fourth

Year

Mención Corea

A elegir 5 optativas * 30

Mención Corea

A elegir 4 optativas * 24

Trabajo Fin de Grado 6

Elective

Courses

Mención Corea

Chamanismo, Naturaleza y Prácticas

religiosas

6

Artes Escénicas, Danza y Música en

Corea

6

Marcos de Innovación y Nuevas

Tecnologías

6

Relaciones de España y Latinoamérica

con Corea

6

Cultura Empresarial y Negociación en

Corea

6

Cultura Popular y Contemporánea en

Corea

6

Turismo e Intercambios Culturales y

Educativos con Corea

6

Medicina Tradicional y Salud en Asia

Oriental

6

Coreano para los Negocios 6

Prácticas externas 18

Other Academic Activities

Seminars and Conferences

Summer Course 2011: “Spanish‐Korean Relations: Past, Present and Future. 60 years of Diplomatic Relations.” This seminar was hold in July 19‐23 under the Summer Seminars of the

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University of Malaga. The topic researched the economic and political relations between both countries at the light of the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

KLTI – Spain Forum 2011: During this event the conference “Korean translation and its literature” was hold. It gathered several Korean writers and Spanish scholars to discuss on the situation of Korean translation into Spanish.

Seminar of Introduction to Korean Studies for Professors: From November 28th to February

3rd a seminar has been organized to present several key aspects of Korean culture and Korean Studies

as discipline to interested professors at the University of Malaga. This seminar was 18h. long and targeted specially professors involved with teaching at the new degree on East Asian Studies. Other Activities The internationalization activity at the University of Málaga (UMA) has been very productive. One of the most successful results has been the 6 party agreement among the University and Malaga itself, the University of Incheon, the Chambers of Commerce and Trade of Málaga and Incheon, The Andalucian Technology Park (PTA) and Songdo Technopark (STP). This agreement has smoothed the exchange of people among all the institutions involved, and has created a structure over which to develop future relations. As a result of the agreement, the UMA is preparing a MOU with Songdo Technopark to regulate internships in Korean companies for UMA students.

In addition, the UMA has developed agreements and relationships with more Korean institutions beyond Incheon, inside and outside the academic world. Thus, there are exchanges programs with 8 Korean universities (Duksung Women University, Ehwa Womans University, Hanguk University of Foreign Studies, Konkuk University, Seoul National University, Sogang University, University of Seoul, Dankook University), strong relationships with the Korea Literature Translation Institute (KLTI), Korea foundation (KF), and the National Library of Korea, with whom has organized activities since 2005.

The Platform of Internationalization with Korea does no forget the relations within Spain to forward the internationalization. Therefore, the university has great interest to increase and consolidate its relations with institutions dedicated to cultural promotion of Asian countries in Spain. As a consequence, the Platform has fostered strong relations with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Spain, and its recently inaugurated Korean Cultural Centre. Another institution the Platform has strong ties with is Casa Asia, institution of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs that centralizes the State activities with Asia in general in all fields from economic to cultural relations.

In the Platform of Internationalization with Korea, we structure our relations in three main areas:

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Academia Institutions Businesses

University of Incheon KLTI Andalucian Technology Park 8 other universities Korea Foundation Songdo Technopark

National Institute of Korean Language

National Bank of Korea Chambers of Commerce and Trade

Academy of Korean Studies Embassy of the Republic of Korea Korean Business National Library of Korea Spanish Business Korean Cultural Centre Casa Asia Municipal Book Institute The group “Last for one” and “DoDo” performed two times at the University, one at the main auditorium of the university and a second time at the Psychology School Hall in November 17th and 19th.

From September to December 2010 the university hold the III Essay Contest on Korean Literature with the collaboration of the KLTI. This time the essay were a comment on Kim Manjung´s novel “Dream of Nine Clouds.”

On April 16th the university opened the “University of Incheon Office in Malaga,” after inaugurating in Korea the “University of Malaga Office in Incheon.” This office was born with the objective of centralizing the relationships of the University of Malaga with Korea and specially with Incheon. The II Korea Week was celebrated from October 17‐21st at the university with the generous support of the Korea Foundation. The cultural week started with the representation of Princess Bari, directed by the Korean theatre director Kang Eun‐Kyung. During this activity the university organized three special lectures by the writer Eun Hee Kyung, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Spain, Mr. Oh Dae‐Sung, and a Korean diplomat studying at the University of Malaga. In addition, there was an exhibition of photography on Korea, a Korean Cinema workshop and a Korean Food Workshop. From September to November of 2011 the university, in collaboration with the KLTI hold the IV Essay Contest on Korean Literature. This time participants had to write an essay in relation to the reading of the Eun Hee‐Kung’s piece “Las Cajas de mi Mujer.” In collaboration with the KLTI the writer Eun Hee Kyung came as a visitor to the university from October to December of 2011. During that time gave several conferences and lecture to the students.

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Since November of 2011, the university has started a regular event of language exchange between Korean and Spanish students to promote the learning of these languages.

In December 2011, the university received a donation from the National Library of Korea of about 3000 books, under the project “Window on Korea.” This collection has a wide selection of volumes on the main humanities and social sciences disciplines, both in Korean and English. The National Library of Korea will donate 500 books every year until 2015

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