Educational goals
- 1. Foster competitive scholars specializing in South Asia
- Encourage students to develop understanding in diversity and multidimensionality of Indian culture.
- 2. Foster experts of regional studies
- Encourage students to develop comprehensive perspectives and thorough knowledge on South Asia so as to be able to lead various fields as a connection between Korea and South Asia.
- 3. Expand understanding of South Asia
- In order to contribute to the spread of balanced information on South Asia for different fields in a society, the field aims to offer appropriate education in college level as a starting point.
- 4. Language skills
- Provide different levels of language courses to properly understand Southeast Asian culture
- 5. Balanced approach of a classic and contemporaneity
- Offer appropriate information and knowledge to develop balanced perspective for understanding both classical tradition and contemporary society of Southeast Asia.
- Contents of education
- 1. Education encompassing Classical, Medieval, Modern and Contemporary periods
- The curriculum includes three major fields: classical; medieval; modern and contemporary India
- In terms of classical tradition, the education focuses on inquiry of fundamental aspects of human being and the world indicated from diverse religions and philosophical literature, which could be represented as a characteristic of traditional culture.
- Furthermore, various elements of literature and religions will be covered through learning epic poetry, plays, and religious literature developed in cultural golden age of Southeast Asia.
- The courses concerning medieval Southeast Asia inquire the process of transition after the introduction of Islamic tradition and its influence.
- Furthermore, relations among Central Asia, West Asia and Europe will be examined.
- Students will learn diverse aspects of culture and historical experiences through colonial period under British rule, independence and the process of modernization.
- The courses will offer basic understanding for various issues that contemporary Indian society is facing.
- 2. Language education
- Students are required to take at least four semesters of language courses on Hindi and Sanskrit. Four different courses can be composed of all Hindi or Sanskrit, or mixed between.
- The field is planning on expanding language courses to Bengal and Tamil for the sake of diversity.
- For students who take languages courses of Hindi or Sanskrit more than two semesters, the opportunity will be provided to take advanced courses from India or other countries.