ASH Berlin continues to expand its international cooperation: Prof. Dr. Bettina Völter, President of ASH Berlin, Prof. Dr. Anja Voss, Vice President for Studies, Teaching and Digitalization, Prof. Dr. Stapf-Finé, Dean of the Department of Social Work, and Irene Gropp, Head of the International Office, visited three partner universities in South Korea.
The aim is to intensify the transfer of knowledge in research and teaching in Asia over the next few years as part of the internationalization of our university and to strengthen student exchanges. South Korea is a popular destination for ASH Berlin students.
Intensive meetings and informative exchanges took place on site with the universities in Seoul, Soongsil University and Kangnam University, which are already cooperating. There has been an agreement with Soongsil University since 2017, with around two students coming to our university every year, and ASH students also regularly spend a study visit at the Korean university. Kangnam University, which is located south of Seoul in Yongin and with which an agreement was signed last year, is sending two students to us for the first time this summer semester.
During the third, also very exciting and intensive visit to the south of the country, the President of ASH Berlin and the Vice President of Daegu University signed a Memorandum of Understanding in a festive ceremony, marking the beginning of future cooperation.
The ASH Berlin delegation was particularly interested in the respective disciplinary focuses of social welfare, childhood education and nursing (gerontology) as well as the respective practice facilities at all universities.
The delegation gained valuable insights into central facilities of the partner universities, including various university-owned daycare facilities, institutionalized and digital services in the social space for the elderly, which are supported by the universities conceptually, through research and in the course of internships for their students, a smart farm and a unique museum for the production of Braille printing in South Korea.
The partnerships in South Korea underline the shared interest of the participating universities in strengthening international perspectives in research, teaching (explicitly including online formats, e.g. as part of our summer school) and practice and expanding the exchange of students, staff and researchers in the coming years.
To this end, further internationalization of ASH Berlin's curricula and the promotion of intercultural competence are planned, as is the expansion of the university's welcoming culture and corresponding infrastructure.
