Building bridges between Germany and South Korea: The KGSP Germany Alumni Association

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 19, 2008 – The German alumni of the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP), financed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Korea, are now joining hands in the newly established KGSP Germany Alumni Association. Director Nam Jo CHUNG, speaking on behalf of the National Institute of International Education Development (NIIED) in Seoul, succinctly summarized the alumni association's remit during the inauguration ceremony on 2 November 2008 in Frankfurt/ Germany: "The international opening of the Republic of Korea is unfolding at warp speed, and we therefore require more experts of Korean affairs who can build bridges in Germany and elsewhere across the world - bridges to excellent students, researchers, scientists and investors. It is evident that the KGSP Germany Alumni Association will play an important role in that endeavor."

The KGSP Germany Alumni Association is tasked with a number of important functions. That includes managing its alumni member base, marketing the KGSP scholarship in the German-speaking world and intensifying the collaboration with other KGSP alumni clubs in over 50 countries with the aim of broadening the general public's awareness and knowledge of Korea. In 2008-2009, the KGSP Germany Alumni Assocation is managed by Dominik F. Schlossstein as Chairman, and by Marc-Oliver Ludwig and Gesine Stoyke as Vice Chairmen.

Since 1975 Korea has provided around 40 students from Germany with the opportunity to earn an academic degree at a Korean university through the help of the KGSP scholarship. The scholarship offers many benefits, from stable multi-year financial support to unmatched flexibility when it comes to designing one's academic career.