Mason Korea held an opening ceremony for the second year of the Incheon Citizen Life College program this week. Following a successful inaugural year of the program last year, Mason Korea welcomed 85 new students to the program this semester.
"Acquiring new knowledge is the role of citizens in a free and prosperous society, and Mason Korea’s mission is to provide education to those citizens," said Mason Korea Campus Dean Robert Matz in a congratulatory speech. "I am pleased and grateful to be able to fulfill this mission in our community with the Incheon Citizen Life College students."
This spring semester, three Mason Korea faculty are teaching courses for Incheon citizens. Professor Roland Wilson is teaching Peace and Conflict Resolution in Incheon, Professor Lynnette Leonard is teaching Communication and Community Building, and Professor Yingji Jin is teaching Modern Chinese Culture and Language. Due to popular demand, the enrollment quotas for these classes were expanded. Professor Soyoung Kwon will also be conducting a symposium in partnership with the program.
A mother and daughter are among the students enrolled in the program this semester. Sohyun Park (26), the daughter, is excited to take Modern Chinese Culture and Language. "I wanted to learn Chinese because I enjoy watching Chinese dramas,” she said.
Another student, Ho-yong Kim (27), re-enrolled in the program this year. "I was satisfied with my economics course last year, and I enrolled again this year because I wanted to learn about communication this time," he said. "I want to learn in depth about communication from an international perspective."
Incheon Citizen Life College is the largest lifelong learning platform in Korea and is run by the Incheon Institute for Talent and Lifelong Education. The Global Campus program for the College is operated at the Incheon Global Campus, and at Mason Korea, the program has been led by Professor Eunmee Lee from its inception.
“Education should be available to all, regardless of one’s background and abilities,” said Dr. Shannon Davis in her congratulatory address. “The Incheon Citizen Life College is a true example of how Mason Korea is living up to our ideals of education as a public good. I am honored to be a part of this opening ceremony to celebrate the start of a new set of invigorating conversations that can begin to create more change for good, for the public good, in Korea."
April 14, 2023
