Voice of Wisdom

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies has a number of scholarships for students to benefit from. There are large donations from individuals and organizations. Foreign and domestic students are eligible. The Fundraising and Cooperation Team oversees a number of scholarships that are dispersed in a variety of ways. One common way professors can donate money is to automatically donate each month from their pay to a designated scholarship they choose.

However, there is one segment of the university community that is notable for its absence in the listing of scholarships: a scholarship for students funded by foreign professors.

This is unfortunate but it is an opportunity for change I suggest. Talking to the staff at the Fundraising and Cooperation Team I found out it is incredibly easy to set up a scholarship by any individual or group. Foreign professors could, of course, donate automatically each month to an existing scholarship, but what I am proposing is foreign professors have a scholarship that is funded exclusively by them. The money would go to designated students in a manner decided by us. The Fundraising and Cooperation Team would give counsel on how the money would be distributed using predetermined criteria.

If the foreign faculty at the university wants to have a truer sense of belonging, we can do more than just teach and do research. We can do more to take care of our students than just teach classes and counsel students. Money talks. A scholarship funded exclusively by foreign faculty word adds legitimacy to us a community and do a real good.
What I am proposing is a modest scholarship, but even a small amount of money to a deserving student or students means a little more time away from a part time job. It means a little more time in the library, a little more time preparing assignments, and also important, some would even say more so, is a little more time with friends and a bit of pocket money for a restaurant meal instead of eating in the cafeteria.

Teaching and providing an education is a noble endeavor that professors do. Providing a means to ease the financial pressure students are under can be a small measure by an individual professor, but collectively we can positively influence our students to a greater degree.

If you are interested please contact me for further information. A meeting will be held this semester with the Fundraising and Cooperation Team. Check an email from Academic Affairs and other notices around campus.

Many of us have benefitted from scholarships in the past and we know that they do make a meaningful difference. This is a chance for us to return the favor.


Prof. Gavin Farrell
Dept. of English Linguistics
gavin.farrell@hufs.ac.kr

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