Pinoy students in South Korea up 400% since '05

Because of the growing scholarship programs in South Korea, the number of Filipino students pursuing advanced studies in that country has grown fourfold in the five years to 2010 Quoting data from the Korean Immigration Service, Philippine Ambassador Luis Cruz said Filipino students in South Korea now number 400 this year from 108 in June 2005, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The Catholic University of Korea alone, for example, accepted some 50 Filipino students pursuing higher education since its international program started in 2009. “Majority of the Filipino students in South Korea are beneficiaries of both short-term and long-term international scholarship programs and belong to diverse fields such as international relations, business and the sciences," the DFA release. Several schools in South Korea offer competitive scholarship programs in different fields on a regular basis. The Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology has a continuing program dedicated to graduate studies in finance for government employees. The Philippine embassy is advising interested applicants to visit the websites of Korean schools and check for announcements, and the detailed eligibility and documentary requirements. Some schools accept online applications, the embassy added. Language barrier Filipino students there said a common challenge for foreign students in the Korean academic system is the language barrier. "Isang criticism sa mga Pilipino ay hindi daw tayo kasing-galing ng mga Japanese o Chinese sa Korean (One criticism against Filipino students is that we are perceived as not as fluent in Korean as the Japanese or Chinese students)," said Regina Arquiza, a student from the Ehwa Women’s University and president of the Pinoy Iskolars in Korea (PIKO), which acts as a support group and forum for Filipino students in that country. Still, Filipino students have established a reputation for being the most adept in English, Arquiza added. She explained that the Korean academic system helps students develop discipline and dedication. "You have no choice but to be competitive," Arquiza said, praising the Korean students' propensity for hard work and skillful time management which she said is just one thing Filipino scholars will bring with them when they go back to the Philippines. PIKO, formed in 2005 by less than 10 students from the Seoul National University, now has more than 100 student members from different schools and provinces throughout South Korea. These students are often asked to participate in multicultural activities, as Korean schools intensify their push for global curriculums and encourage the entry of foreign students. Arquiza said Filipino students are often invited to take part in cultural festivals where they play Filipino music, perform traditional dances, and prepare Filipino food. While participating in embassy-initiated activities, PIKO also provides networking opportunities for members. "Kapag may kailangan, nagtutulungan kami, lalo na yung mga seniors (Whenever one needs something, we help each other out, especially the seniors)," Arquiza said. The group likewise offers information on available scholarship programs for people interested in studying in South Korea. RP-Korea exchange Apart from students, the embassy also works closely with Korea-based Filipino educators, many of whom are on short-term faculty exchange programs. The Resource Persons Group, an association of Filipino professors in South Korea, has undertaken several activities including the publication of a weekly column in a Korean newspaper. "People-to-people exchange between the Philippines and South Korea is continuously expanding," Cruz said. "South Korea is our top source of foreign students, retirees and tourists. It is no wonder that mutual awareness between our peoples is high. This knowledge has naturally led to situations that allow the transfer of ideas and sharing of experiences in both the school setting and beyond," he added. Cruz expects that after completing their studies, the students will return to the Philippines and apply the skills and knowledge they have acquired from studying abroad. —VS, GMANews.TV