Master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies (MAINS)

 

MA in Inter-Asia NGO Studies

Graduate School, SungKongHoe University

 

 

Master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies (MAINS)

Course Description and Guide
for Admission in 2021

 

The program of Master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies started in 2007. Its multidisciplinary curriculum, together with practitioners’ training, is unique in the field of studies on social change, non-governmental organizations and civil society in the Asian context. The curriculum covers a wide range of current issues from both regional and global perspectives, placing a special focus on the development of solidarity among civil society participants.

MAINS is intended for those who have contributed, or have the potential to contribute, to the social change and development of civil society in Asia. With academic and practical resources in SungKongHoe University, MAINS offers intensive and flexible preparation for those who seek leadership and skills for more just and equitable social changes in Asia.

The MAINS program has evolved over the years to place more emphasis on the experience of democratization and development in Korea. More attention is also paid on the theory and practice of international development with special reference to the Asian context.

 

We welcome applicants with an undergraduate degree, preferably in social science fields, and with experiences generally in the non-profit or non-governmental sectors in Asia and Korea. Given the nature of the program those who are from the outside of Asian region will NOT be given a priority consideration in the admission. We are looking for individuals with sensitivity to, and involvement in, issues such as the promotion of social change, human rights, democratization, local community development, solidarity across borders, and humanitarian aid in Asia. We will particularly scrutinize these points through the process of admission decision. Therefore an application with a sole purpose of career advancement in the NGO sector is not encouraged.

 

 

※ Completed application and materials should be sent by deadline through email to the following address : mains@skhu.ac.kr

 

(The minimum requirement for any of the following : TOEFL 530, CBT 197, iBT 71, IELTS 5.5, CEFR B2, TEPS 600, New TEPS 326)

Under the Ministry of Education regulations, applicants with degrees above university degrees in countries where English is their native language or use it as a legal official language can be exempted from the official English test results. However, applicants in countries that use English as their legal official language are encouraged to submit the application documents together when submitting the application documents because the admission committee may request submission of the official English test results based on the results of the video interview. If successful applicants who are required to submit their official English test results fail to submit them within the period, the admission committee will cancel their acceptance.

※ Basically it uses skype but can use other apps if necessary

(Applicants who are deemed unsuitable for this program through

document screening will not be interviewed)

 

 

 

Please pay the application fee before sending the application documents by email. Because the applicant has to submit a remittance receipt together other documents. It should be remembered that the process of admission can only be started once the application fee is received by the university. Application fee is non-refundable.

* Bank details for overseas remittance

 

The Master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies (MAINS) is an alternative social studies program taught in English with special reference to Asian civil society. The program particularly encourages applications from Asian and Korean students with experiences of non-governmental activities in Asia. MAINS offers an advanced and intensive program, with teaching methods based on individual self-research, mutual learning by students and thematic approaches. Reading and writing as well as debating and interacting with other students are strongly emphasized.

 

MAINS is 18-month, 4-quarter (including 6 months for field work and thesis writing) program consisting of core courses, elective courses, and a thesis, making up a total of 24 credits. There is a particular theme given to each quarter as a synthesizing structure. Class schedules run from one quarter to the next with a week’s break in between. Quarters have a varied number of sessions. Some courses may be taught intensively by visiting lecturers. Courses combine lectures and student-led seminars.

Spring Term : Feb 22^th ~ May28^th 2021

Break : May31~Jun6 2021

Summer Term : Jun7 ~ Aug27  2021

Break :  Aug30~ Sep5

Autumn Term : Sep6 ~ Dec10  2021

 

 

 

 

* Not all elective courses are available each year.

 

 

All students are required to write a thesis or an equivalent research report on topics related to social changes and non-profit/governmental sectors with special reference to democracy, development or civil society in Asia. Emphasis on the applicants’ own country context are strongly recommended. A special attention will be given to this point when the application is considered. The choice of topic outlined above will be the priority point of consideration throughout the entire admission process. In the third quarter, students should be able to defend their thesis/report proposal in the form of the First Chapter of the thesis. The fourth—the final—quarter is devoted mostly to the thesis/report, including field work, data collecting, writing-up and the final submission of the thesis.

 

Full or partial scholarships may be given to the qualified students. Those from developing countries in Asia will be given a priority for scholarship.
  The scholarship consists of the tuition fees and the living stipend. The level of scholarship for each student is decided upon on the individual basis of the student’s academic aptitude, grade, needs, and the individual circumstances. The scholarship for tuition and living expense is only given to the students who reside in Korea throughout the entire period of the first THREE terms. Provision of scholarship may be made invalid when the student takes ‘time-off’ during the course or when the student’s academic achievement for the previous term falls behind the school regulation.

The scholarship of the tuition fee (for the entire four quarters) may be the full scholarship or the partial scholarship depending on our criteria. Please note that the scholarship does not cover the expense for the field work and writing-up of thesis for the last (fourth) quarter. The recipient of the scholarship will be notified of the result at the time of the notification of the admission offer.

The living stipend for its recipient is provided for the first THREE quarters while the student is in residence within the university. It must be remembered that the provision of living stipend is meant to cover only the accommodation fee of the university dormitory, basic food and the very minimum level of expense for living. The student is expected to supplement the living stipend with his/her own resource for other expenses such as health insurance, transportation, books, daily commodities, pocket money, etc.

Please note that it is an important requirement under the Korean law that the international student has to take up private health insurance while he/she is in enrolment with the university. This means that the new student must have valid insurance from the start of their study in Korea until they leave the country. Those who opt to take up private insurance from their own country should submit the copy of the insurance to the university when they arrive in Korea. The insurance document must be written in English. In case the student wishes to take up insurances in Korea, the university will provide the student with relevant information for private insurances, but ultimately the insurance is the student’s own responsibility.

 

 

Dean of Graduate School

Prof. Kim, Yong-Deug (tel : +82-2-2610-4338, E-mail : ydkim@skhu.ac.kr)

Director of the MAINS

Prof. Park, Kyung Tae (tel : +82-2-2610-4235, E-mail : ktpark@skhu.ac.kr)

Board of Teaching and Resource Persons

Prof. Kim, Dong-Choon

Prof. Cho, Hyo-Je

Prof. Park, Eunhong

Prof. Jeong, Yeonbo

Prof. Hyunjun Shin

Admission / Administrative Office of the MAINS

Mr. Sohn, Jungrak (tel : +82-2-2610-4223(KOR), E-mail : MAINS@skhu.ac.kr)

Mr. Lee, Sewook (tel : +82-2-2610-4324(KOR), E-mail : sulee@skhu.ac.kr)