A S U

On the sidelines of the 16th session of the Korean Language Speaking Competition at the Middle East and Africa level, the Faculty of Al-Alsun at Ain Shams University held an extensive meeting with a delegation from the South Korean Embassy in Cairo, on the occasion of celebrating twenty years since the establishment of the Department of Korean Language and Literature at the Faculty, to discuss ways to enhance academic cooperation, scientific research and the development of Korean studies programs.

The meeting was attended by Prof. Yumna Safwat, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Al-Alsun and Vice Dean of the Faculty for Community Service and Environmental Development, Mr. Kim Il-hoon, Acting Ambassador of South Korea in Cairo, Professor Noh Soo-young, Second Secretary and Consul at the Embassy of South Korea, in addition to the foreign expert in the department, Dr. Oh Se-jung, Dr. Sarah Magid, Korean language teacher in the department, Dr. Alaa Fathi, Korean literature teacher in the department, and Miss Salma Hassanein, assistant teacher in the department.

The meeting addressed mechanisms for supporting academic cooperation between the Faculty of Al-Alsun and Korean universities, expanding the activities and programs of the Korean Language Department, and increasing the number of Korean language students to keep pace with the growing interest in learning Korean in Egypt and the region, especially given the expanding Egyptian-Korean relations at the cultural, economic, and educational levels.

The two sides also explored ways to establish a dual degree program between the Faculty of Al-Alsun and several Korean universities. This would contribute to preparing qualified academic and professional personnel for the job market and open new horizons for students in the fields of translation, education, Korean studies, and international cooperation.

During the meeting, Prof. Yumna Safwat emphasized the Faculty of Al-Alsun’s commitment to developing its academic programs and embracing distinguished international educational experiences. She noted that the Korean Language Department, since its establishment in 2005, has achieved a prominent academic and cultural presence both within Egypt and abroad.

She added that the Faculty strives to strengthen international partnerships that contribute to providing new educational and training opportunities for students, and support the development of graduates equipped with the linguistic and cultural skills necessary to keep pace with global developments and the demands of the job market.

For his part, Mr. Kim Il-hoon expressed his appreciation for the remarkable progress achieved by the Korean Language Department at Ain Shams University over the past twenty years, praising the outstanding academic level of the students and the cultural activities organized by the department, and emphasizing his aspiration for further future cooperation with the Faculty of Al-Alsun in the fields of education, culture and academic exchange.

The meeting was held in a positive and productive atmosphere, reflecting the depth of Egyptian-Korean relations and the aspiration for a new phase of academic partnership between the two sides, one that serves students and supports scientific research and cultural exchange between Egypt and South Korea.