Handong Global University

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Handong Global University
한동대학교

Motto: “Why Not Change the World?”
Established: 1995
Type: Private
President: Kim Young-gil
Staff: 144
Undergraduates: 3561 (2007)
Postgraduates: 430 (2007)
Location: Pohang, Gyeongsang, South Korea
Campus: Rural
Nickname: HGU
Mascot: Seagull
Website: http://www.handong.edu[1]

Handong Global University is a privately run, four-year university located in Pohang, North Gyeongsang province, South Korea.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Handong Global University strives to be a “World-Changing Global Leadership University,” educating 21st century leaders for Korea and the world. To achieve this goal, the university emphasizes academic excellence, moral character, language skills, social development, computer proficiency, Christian commitment, interdisciplinary majors, a global perspective, and service projects. International programs are available at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

The student body numbers 3500 students and comes from 62 different countries.

Undergraduate programs are organized under eleven schools: School of Global Leadership, School of International Studies, Languages, and Literature School of Management and Economics School of Law School of Communication Arts and Sciences School of Counselling and Social Work School of Spatial Environment System Engineering School of Industrial and Information Design School of Life and Food Sciences School of Computer Sciences and Electronic Engineering School of Social Science and Industrial Education

While the university offers 30 to 35% of its courses in English in any given semester, the majors that English speaking foreign students can pursue are: Information Technology, Global Management and Business, US and International Law, and Korean Studies

To graduate, a student must complete 140 credits, including two 33 credit majors, 21 credits of liberal arts courses, 12 credits of Korean language, 9 credits of Christian studies, 8 credits of computer studies, 6 semesters of chapel attendance, courses in both English and Korean Language, and mandatory courses in leadership training, character development, and reading.

Graduate programs are offered by seven schools. Although graduation requirements vary from one school to another, all programs emphasize active scholarship, Christian vocation and values, appreciation for objective truth, problem-solving and practical knowledge, creative and critical thinking, research and service, especially in the developing countries throughout Asia and Africa. About 700 Handong students engage in social service and development projects in developing countries every semester (as of Nov. 2007).

Trained in strong academic program, several graduates from Handong Global University were accepted to graduate programs at Harvard, Yale, UCLA & Columbia and Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University and Korea Advanced Institute for Science & Technology. And 10% of graduates are currently employed at Samsung electronics company and LG electronics company. Graduates are also working at world best firms like IBM, MicroSoft, Yahoo & Google and Korean multinational corporations like Samsung SDS, Hyundai motors, Kia motors, Shinhan Bank, SK Telecom, Korea Telecom and others. Handong International Law School is producing lawyers and attorneys; out of 64 law graduates, 34 passed American bar exams (NY, Kansas & Tennessee).

[edit] Academic facilities

Handong Global University has seven academic buildings and 70 modern classrooms, many of which are equipped for multimedia and computer-assisted instruction. The university library archive is located on the first floor of the Main Library Education Building. The library contains three computer labs, four large community study rooms, and multiple smaller study rooms for smaller study groups. In addition, there are 12 computer labs on campus, each with access to the internet and the university intranet.

Because of the nature of its leadership and character building education, Handong emphasizes a live-in program where students reside in the dormitory most of their 4 years on campus. They participate in leadership training led by a faculty member, and actively get involved in the local community in social service activities. Each dorm room holds four students. A separate International Hall houses foreign students, mostly from Asia and Africa. Each dormitory room has four computer terminals with connections to the internet and intranet.

The Law library at the Handong International Law School is the only US-styled library of its kind in Asia. A video production lab, a GIS lab, science and technology labs, a video conferencing court room, seminar rooms, and an outdoor performance area for large scale productions are also found in the main education buildings.

The university also sponsors eight research institutes and two techno-business incubators.

At the forefront of globalization education among Korean universities, the school has highly rated programs which are frequently benchmarked by other larger, better known Korean universities in Seoul.

Archives of television news coverage of the school can be found on the school's Korean website.

[edit] Costs (2005)

The cost of attending Handong Global University is comparable to costs at other universities in Korea. The average tuition charge is approximately $4,000 or 3,200,000 (South Korean won) per semester, although tuition will vary from 2,528,000-3,276,000 won depending on a student’s program. In addition, there is an admission fee of 550,000 won for new students, a student activity fee of 25,000 won, and dormitory fees totalling 1,395,000 won (half of which is for campus meals) per semester. Students also will need approximately 300,000 won ($300) per semester for food and 300,000 won ($300) per semester for books. Personal expenses may vary considerably depending on each student’s needs and choices.

[edit] Financial aid

Handong University provides generous academic grants and scholarships for students coming from developing countries or social-economic backgrounds that may pose an obstacle to higher education. Many generous sponsors have also established scholarship funds to assist students in specific demographic or academic categories. International students may also apply for full or partial scholarship grants.

Through the school Papyrus Basket Foundation, the school provides many scholarships to students, most of which are limited or partnered with other funding institutions. The school's foundation is key to Handong's effort to train the next generation of leaders and scholars from developing countries, regardless of the young person's ability to afford an education at Handong and in Korea. This is in keeping with the university's goal to make education and life advancement opportunities available to students regardless of their social status or economic background. In addition, the university offers scholarships based on academic merit and financial need for local Korean students.

[edit] Faculty

The faculty at Handong Global University are international in scope and varied in background. Most hold terminal degrees in their fields of instruction. To teach foreign languages and to enhance the global environment at HGU, the university has recruited many international faculty who are native speakers of English and Chinese. Especially important is the commitment of HGU faculty to mentoring students, supporting global and cross-cultural perspectives, and integrating Christian values with their academic specialities. Faculty who teach at Handong are all professing Christians who have signed their adherence to the University's Statement of Faith, which can be found on the university's website.

[edit] Location

Covering approximately 200 acres, Handong is located in Pohang, South Korea. Pohang is a rapidly growing city, currently numbering approximately 500,000 people. Pohang City is known to the world as the headquarters for several large steel factories, two of which are Posco and INI Steel. Posco is Korea’s largest steel mill which supplies 50-70% of its output for domestic steel needs. Pohang is a seaport city drawing many visitors for its variety of fresh fish and its proximity to Kyungju (30 minutes), the ancient capital city of the Shilla dynasty. The city is expected to grow by 30% in the next three years with the completion of a new sea cargo port and the installation of a new shipyards by Hyundai.

Handong is located in the rolling hills of the “North Beach” district of Pohang between the city proper and the smaller town of Heung-Hae. Perched atop a hill, the campus looks out over the Sea of Japan (East Sea) and surrounding rice fields. A small lake borders the east-side while an undeveloped expanse of land which also belongs to Handong borders the southern campus. Only 1/3 of the campus property has been developed; the remaining land is expected to be finished by 2010.

[edit] Admission requirements

Admission to Handong Global University is competitive, and applicants are evaluated on three criteria: previous academic performance, an interview, and English proficiency. To be considered for admission, high school students from Korea must have outstanding academic records and be ranked in the top 5% of the National College Entrance Exam. Transfer students must possess minimum scores on English proficiency tests ( 650 or higher on TOEIC; 521 or higher on TEPS; 69 or higher on TOEFL(IBT)); in addition, they must have completed at least 70 university level credits (60 credits if a student is transferring from a university outside Korea. Applicants from outside Korea must meet standards that are equivalent to those of the Korean educational system.

[edit] Application information

The application and selection process includes two stages: the document stage and the interview stage. To apply, a student must submit the following documents.

  • A completed application form
  • One self-introduction form
  • An original copy of the applicant’s high school transcript
  • One copy of the financial statement form
  • A copy of the applicant’s entry document into Korea (if applicable)
  • A copy of the applicant’s “Birth Statement” book (or birth certificate) issued by a government office
  • A copy of the applicant’s foreign registration card, as well as her/his parent’s foreign registration cards (if applicable)

[edit] Undergraduate colleges

  • Global Leadership School
  • School of International Studies, Language and Literature (ISLL)
  • School of Management and Economics
  • School of Communication Arts and Science
  • School of Industrial and Media Design
  • School of Spatial Environment System Engineering
  • School of Mechanical and Control System Engineering
  • School of Life and Food Sciences
  • School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering
  • School of Law
  • School of Counseling and Social Welfare

[edit] Graduate schools

  • International Law School
  • Information Technology
  • Bio-Technology
  • Mechanical and Control System Engineering
  • Spatial Design and Engineering
  • Global Management
  • Interpretation and Translation

[edit] External links

Languages