South Korean students represent the highest demographic of international students at the U after Chinese students, according to the an annual report from the U’s International Center. In 2012, 378 South Korean students attended the U, and more than 500 South Korean alumni also currently reside in the country. Now the U is looking to further strengthen the bond between Utah and South Korea by opening a campus in the Songdo International Business District.
The U campus in South Korea has been a possibility since 2009 and is finally set to open its doors March 2014. The university will be filing a formal application with the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) at the end of March, and upon its approval, recruiting will begin this fall. The U will be one of four international universities with a presence at Songdo Global University. SUNY Stony Brook welcomed 34 students in 2012, while Virginia’s George Mason University and Belgium’s Ghent University are on schedule to begin classes in 2014 with the U.
The concept of Songdo Global University is about 10 years old, but it got off to a shaky start because of the faltering economy. Several of the United States’ universities planning involvement have pulled out, citing lack of economic feasibility as an issue, but the U is forging ahead at full speed. According to Robert Muir, director of international operations, there’s really no reason not to participate.
“This opportunity is about as risk free as you can have,” Muir said.
He said the program is entirely a Korean investment, so Utah tax dollars and campus funds will not be needed or utilized.
“Songdo City is a $10 billion public-private project of the South Korean government and private companies such as IBM, Cisco, Boeing, Samsung, Korean Air and many others,” Muir said. “Through these investments, the Korean government is trying to build a ‘Silicon Valley’ of Asia.”
In addition to subsidizing the actual construction of the campus, the South Korean government has agreed to provide $1.5 million per year for four years to supplement campus operations. The U’s Asian campus will also be given an interest-free $10 million loan with no obligation to repay this loan if the campus is not profitable. For the first five years, faculty housing will also be provided for free.
“And it’s really nice housing,” said Michael Hardman, the interim senior vice president for academic affairs.
Hardman said the campus will be of world-class caliber and will help boost the U’s world ranking, providing a gateway for increased global research.
The Songdo campus will also provide new opportunities and benefits for Utah students, who are predicted to comprise 20 percent of the student body, Muir said.
“The Songdo campus is an extension of the Utah campus, and courses taught [at Songdo] will be as if they were taught at the main campus,” Muir said.
Ten percent of the tuition funds from Songdo will go toward scholarships for Utah students, he said.
“There will be no transfer complications, and students will pay the same rate they pay on the main campus,” Muir said.
For the first few years, degree options will be limited. Songdo Global University will begin by offering only a few degrees from each university. The U will begin operations with 125 students — a number planned to increase to 1,050 by the sixth year. In 2014, students will be able to choose degrees in psychology, communication, writing, English and social work. If all goes well, degrees in bioengineering and math teaching will be added in 2016.