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

Course Description and Application Form for admission in March 2007

Programme offered by Inter-Asia Graduate School of NGO Studies at SungKongHoe University, and Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives (ARENA)

The programme of Master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies starts in March 2007, jointly offered by the Inter-Asia Graduate School of NGO Studies at SungKongHoe University and the Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives (ARENA). Its multidisciplinary curriculum, integrating academic and practitioners’ training with dynamic changes occurring in Asia and the globe, is unique in the field of studies on social changes, non-governmental organizations and civil society. The curriculum covers a wide range of current issues of international relations from both regional and global perspectives as a major field of studies, placing a special focus on the development of solidarity among civil society constituents.

MAINS is intended for the people who have been contributing or have the potential to contribute to a better understanding of or leading social changes in Asia. Benefiting from both academic and practical resources offered by two distinct host institutions, MAINS offers both intense and flexible preparation for either those seeking leadership and skills for more just and equitable social changes in Asia, or those seeking further studies in the field.

Admission

Eligibility

We welcome applicants with an undergraduate degree, preferably in social science, and with experiences generally in the non-profit or non-governmental sectors in Asia. 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.

Documents Required

Overseas applicants must complete the application form.
(attached in the back of this document and also downloadable from the website: http://www.skhu.ac.kr/ see the “News” board in the middle section)

Korean applicants must follow the application process for the IGSONS programme (visit the website: http://www.skhu.ac.kr/gs/ 상단메뉴 ‘입학안내’)

Official transcript from the college or university previously attended

One paper/report/article previously written by the applicant – must be in English

Two letters of recommendation

Two photographs (passport photo size)

Research proposal (in English, 1,000-word length)

Deadline for submission: 18 January 2007, by post or E-mail

Curriculum

Course nature

The Master of Arts in Asian NGO Studies (MAINS) is an alternative international and social studies programme taught in English with professional and practical focus in Asia. The programme particularly encourages applications from international students and Korean citizens with experiences of non-governmental activities in Asia. MAINS offers an advanced and intensive programme, 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 field groups are strongly emphasized.

Course structure

MAINS is a 12-month, 4-quarter programme consisting of four required courses, four elective courses, and a thesis, totalling 30 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 10-day break in between. Quarters have a varied number of sessions. Some courses are taught intensively by visiting lecturers. Courses combine lectures and student-led seminars.

Core Courses

Globalization and Social Movements in Action

Democracy and Democratization in Asia

International Relations and Peace Issues in Asia

Methodology and Thesis Writing

Elective Courses
* Not all elective courses are available each year.

Development and Social Changes in Asia

Local Community and Asia

Gender in Asia

Globalization and Ecology in Asia

Globalization and Migration in Asia

Democracy and Social Movements in Korea

Leadership and Strategies in NGOs

International Conflict and Policy Studies

Transnational Social Movements for Alternatives

Emerging Inter-national Relations in Northeast Asia

Emerging Inter-national Relations in Southeast Asia

Religious Dialogue in Asian Context

Workshop: Life and Issues in Asia – an Interactive workshop

Field Study: Social Movements in Korea

Special Programmes (non-credit courses)

Language Support Programmes, Korean and English

Study Tour on Democratization and Civil Society Formation in South Korea

Colloquium on Inter-Asia and Inter-national

Simulated Conflict Resolution

Thesis

All students are required to write a thesis or an equivalent research report on a topic related to social changes and non-profit/governmental sectors in Asia. Applicants are strongly encouraged to define their research interests prior to the beginning of the programme. Students are expected to start working on their thesis/report proposal from the first quarter, with the support of supervisors. In the third quarter, students should be able to defend their thesis/report proposal. The fourth quarter is devoted mostly to the thesis/report, including field work, data collecting, write-up and defence.

Academic Schedule

Application period - 28 December 2006 – 18 January 2007

Notification of admission-20 January 2007

Spring Quarter: 26 February – 7 June (15 weeks)

Two-week holidays: 11 – 22 June

Summer Quarter: 25 June – 3 August (6 weeks, intensive modules)

Three-week holidays: 6 – 24 August

Autumn Quarter:27 August – 7 December (15 weeks)

Three-week holidays:10 – 30 December

Winter Quarter: 1 January – 10 February 2008 (6 weeks)

Thesis submission:by the first week of February 2008

Countries of origin of expected students for 2007

Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.

Tuition, Scholarship and Other Expenses
(The approximate exchange rate of US$1 = 930 Korean Won)

Application fee: 60,000 KRW (65 USD)
* Application fee waived for non-Korean and non-Japanese applicants

Full scholarship is given to students from developing countries, which covers;

Registration fee:                   720,000 KRW (775 USD)

Approximate tuition:          4,600,000 KRW (4,950 USD) per quarter*
* Please check back after 25th Jan for updated cost for 2007/08.

Minimum living cost:         700,000 KRW (753 USD) per month for 12 months
* including housing, meals, transportation, books, utilities, etc.
* an initial 3-month paid home-stay can be arranged for those who wish to do so.

A return airfare from and to home country

Contacts

Ms. Janice Han
MAINS Programme staff, SKHU

Tel:  +82-2-2610-4753 (office)

Fax: +82-2-2610-4752

E-mail:

Mr. Francis Daehoon Lee
executive director, ARENA

Tel:  +82-2-2610-4751 (office)

        +82-11-9256-5134 (mobile)

Fax:   +82-2-2610-4752

E-mail:

Faculty

Dean of IGSONS

Prof. Oh Jae-shik

MAINS Programme Faculty

Honorary Chair: Dr. Kinhide Mushakoji

Co-Directors: Dr. Hur Song-woo and an invited ARENA fellow

Teaching and Advisory Board

Dr. Jayati Gosh (India. Focus on the Global South)

Dorothy Guerreoro (Focus on the Global South)

Board of Teaching and Resource Persons

Park Gyung-tae (sociology, SKHU)

Cho Hee-yeon (sociology, SKHU)

Hur Song-woo (gender studies, SKHU)

Johan Saravamuttu (research dean for social transformation, University Sains Malaysia)

Vinod Raina (physics, People’s Science Movement, India)

Lee Jung-ok (sociology, Daegu Catholic University)

Mohuiddin Ahmad (economics, Community Development Library, Bangladesh)

Nimalka Ferdinand (lawyer, Democratic People’s Movement, Sri Lanka)

Francis Loh (political studies, University Sains Malaysia)

Kaoru Aoyama (gender studies, People’s Plan Study Group, Japan)

Lau Kin Chi (cultural studies, Lingnan Univ. Hong Kong)

Kim Min-woong (international relations, SKHU)

Lee Gi-ho (political studies, SKHU)

Francis Daehoon Lee (peace studies, ARENA)