Korean Language and Literature

Projects

The “Korean Language and Literature” program at Babeș-Bolyai University is currently running project no. AKS–2023–INC–2250001, titled “Advancing Korean Studies Education and Research at Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania,” funded by the Academy of Korean Studies (Republic of Korea). The project, running from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2028, aims to enhance education and research in Korean Studies.

Total budget: 450,000,000 KRW

Key activities include:

  • Hiring a full-time faculty member (a tenured lecturer)
  • Creating a doctoral fellowship
  • Offering 3 Research Assistant scholarships and 4 scholarships for outstanding students each year to encourage dissertation work in Korean Studies
  • Introducing 3 new lectures
  • Developing and maintaining a SEED program website and a YouTube channel for educational content
  • Organizing two international conferences
  • Publishing 3 books and 15 research articles over five years
  • Holding an annual student workshop
  • Organizing 2 literary translation competitions and 4 book review competitions each year
  • Establishing a Korean Literature Book Club with 4 meetings per year
  • Organizing a “Korean Culture Week” in 2023
  • Advancing research and promoting Korean culture through the activities of the Korean Cultural Center.

The current project builds on the experience and successes accumulated from two previous projects, also funded by the Academy of Korean Studies:

The first project, no. AKS–2015–INC–2230006, “Curriculum Development and Teaching Materials for Korean Language and Culture at Babeș-Bolyai University” (June 1, 2015 – May 31, 2018) accomplished the following:

  • The introduction of 2 new lectures
  • The publication of 2 books and 10 research papers
  • The creation of 2 scholarships for Research Assistants, selected from outstanding students, and 1 stipend for a financial Research Assistant to assist with research activities
  • The establishment of 2 annual student scholarships for Field Trips to Korea
  • The organization of an annual “International Korean Speech Contest and Educators’ Workshop” (editions 1, 2, and 3), fostering linguistic proficiency and academic exchange
  • The holding of an annual Employment Orientation Seminar (editions 1, 2, and 3) to help students plan their future careers
  • The organization of an annual study trip to a Korean company in Romania, offering students practical exposure to Korean business practices
  • The development of infrastructure at the Korean Cultural Center, enhancing its role in promoting Korean culture and supporting academic activities
  • Total budget: 246,000,000 KRW

The second project, no. AKS–2018–INC–2230003, “Training a New Generation of Korean Studies Scholars at Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania” (June 1, 2021 – November 30, 2021), achieved several key accomplishments:

  • The introduction of 3 new lectures in Korean Studies
  • The publication of 1 book, initiation of work on 4 more books, and the publication of 10 research papers within 3 years
  • The creation of 8–9 scholarships annually for outstanding students, encouraging them to write their dissertations in Korean Studies
  • The hiring of 2 international postdoctoral fellows to enhance research capacity
  • The organization of 4 book review contests each year
  • The establishment of an annual students’ workshop to foster academic exchange
  • The holding of an annual “International Korean Speech Contest and Educators’ Workshop” (editions 4, 5, and 6)
  • The organization of an annual Employment Orientation Seminar (editions 4, 5, and 6) to guide students toward career opportunities in Korean companies
  • The promotion of Korean culture through the activities of the Korean Cultural Center
  • Total budget: 216,000,000 KRW