Sogang University Holds Academic Support Workshop for Humanities and Social Sciences in Cambodia with RUPP

 - Professor Chong Chae-hyun of the Philosophy Department, Professor Chang Soo-jung of the Student Counseling Center, and Professors Kim Ji-hye and Oh Se-il of the Sociology Department visited Cambodia, providing special lectures in the workshop on 'Curricula, Teaching Methods, and Big Data' -

▲ Attendees at the academic workshop held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on December 28

From December 27 to 30, 2022, Sogang University held an academic support workshop with the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) in Cambodia. The workshop was themed around 'Curricula, Teaching Methods, and Big Data' for three Humanities and Social Science departments. On December 27, a welcoming ceremony was held for the four professors scheduled to present special lectures for the workshop, comprised of Professor Chong Chae-hyun of the Department of Philosophy, Professor Chang Soo-jung of the Student Counseling Center, and Professor Kim Ji-hye and Professor Oh Se-il of the Sociology Department. Afterwards, the invited professors paid visits to the Departments of Psychology, Sociology, and Philosophy, as well as the Department of Korean Studies. After moving on to Siem Reap, they attended the academic workshop from December 28 to 30, 2022.

▲ At the welcoming ceremony, attended by Executive Vice President and Dean Rev. Kang In-gun, along with other professors from RUPP and visiting professors from Sogang University, including Professor Chong Chae-hyun, Professor Chang Soo-jung, Professor Kim Ji-hye, and Professor Oh Se-il

The academic support program for RUPP comes as a result of steady engagement from Professor Cheong Hyeon-sik of the Physics Department, Professor Shin Kwan-woo of the Chemistry Department, and other Natural Science and Engineering professors. The program has significantly expanded over the years, with Sogang University professors visiting Phnom Penh, Cambodia, every vacation period over the past 10 years, consistently providing guidance on academic research. They have also selected competent students in Cambodia for the opportunity to continue their studies at the Graduate School of Sogang University, also helping them establish a 'school of Sogang' and work vigorously in Cambodia after receiving masters and doctoral degrees at Sogang.

In Humanities and Social Sciences, Rev. Kang In-gun from the Department of Philosophy at RUPP and Professor Oh Se-il from the Department of Sociology at Sogang played pivotal roles in signing an 'MOU for academic support and exchanges between Sogang and RUPP' in September 2021. During summer vacation in 2022, 13 professors from RUPP visited Korea to attend a workshop hosted by Sogang. For this trip (in December 2022), four Sogang University professors visited Cambodia and gave special lectures to more than 80 professors and lecturers during the workshop.

The themes of the lectures delivered in the academic support workshop in Humanities and Social Sciences were as follows: 'Teaching Methods Based on Dialogue, Introspection, and Togetherness: Systematic Steps towards Academic Research in Social Sciences' by Sociology Professor Oh Se-il; 'Counseling Psychology and a Practical Guide for Vulnerable Students' by Professor Chang Soo-jung from the Student Counseling Center; 'The Potential of Cambodian Philosophy from the Standpoint of Korean Philosophy and Comparative Philosophy' by Philosophy Professor Chong Chae-hyun; and 'Quantitative Research Methodology for Sociology and Benefits of Big Data' by Sociology Professor Kim Ji-hye.

▲ (From left) Sociology Professor Kim Ji-hye gives a lecture on 'Social Science Research and Big Data', Sociology Professor Oh Se-il lectures on 'Teaching Methods and Academic Research in Social Sciences'

▲(From top left) Philosophy Professor Chong Chae-hyun gives a special lecture on Korean philosophy and comparative philosophy, professors and lecturers at RUPP listen on and ask questions

(From bottom left) Professor Chang Soo-jung from the Student Counseling Center gives a lecture on Psychological Counseling, Rev. Kang In-gun is interviewed by BTV

▲The closing of the 2022 workshop

In 2023, about 30 professors and graduate school students from Cambodia will be visiting Sogang University during summer vacation to participate in an academic support workshop on 'Graduate School Curricula.' Among them, 13 graduate school students in the doctoral program at RUPP will remain at Sogang after the workshop’s end in order to devote themselves to carrying out 'academic research' under the guidance of Sogang professors during the fall semester. Driven by the academic support and dedication of Sogang professors, the 'school of Sogang' is expected to take root in Cambodia.

Cambodia’s national broadcaster, BTV, carried out detailed coverage of the academic exchange workshop between Sogang and RUPP. To watch a video clip, click here.