Have any of your foreign friends studying abroad in Korea ever heard of BK21? I think most graduate school students are familiar with BK21. To receive the BK21 scholarship, you must apply every semester and submit various documents. Because of this, most people often think of it as simply a scholarship.
However, BK21 believes that thinking only about scholarships will not be enough. Is BK21 doing more than just scholarships? So, this time, I would like to introduce BK21 to my foreign friends studying abroad.
About BK21
BK21 stands for Brain Korea 21, and is a human resources development program led by the Korean government. BK21's goal is to strengthen research infrastructure and foster world-class research universities and excellent research personnel. BK21 provides scholarships and research funds to research groups composed of master's and doctoral students and professors, focusing on the field of science and technology.
BK21 has been promoted in four phases since 1999, and the fourth phase, called BK21 Four, is currently underway. BK21 Four is divided into a future talent training project and a graduate school innovation project, and a total of 568 business teams from 74 universities were selected.
BK21 supports research groups that reflect the country's priority areas and regional characteristics in connection with the mid- to long-term development strategy of the Republic of Korea. For example, BK21 Four also included fields such as humanities and social sciences, art, design, and education to foster talent for the future society.
In order to foster graduate students and professors with international-level research capabilities, BK21 establishes a cooperative system with excellent researchers at home and abroad and provides opportunities for overseas training and participation in international academic conferences. In order to strengthen global leadership, BK21 Four is pursuing projects such as increasing the number of foreign graduate students and establishing a global campus where classes are taught in English.
BK21 supports activities to commercialize research results and interact with the local community through industry-academia cooperation and social contribution. BK21 Four uses industry-academia cooperation and social contribution as evaluation indicators to measure the performance of research groups.
Social Role and Influence
BK21 supports research groups that reflect the country's priority areas and regional characteristics in connection with the country's mid- to long-term development strategy. Through this, we play a leading role in Korea's science and technology field and contribute to solving problems in the local community. For example, BK21 Four also included fields such as humanities and social sciences, art, design, and education to foster talent for the future society.
BK21 supports activities to commercialize research results and interact with the local community through industry-academia cooperation and social contribution. Through this, we strengthen Korea's industrial competitiveness and create social value. For example, BK21 Four uses industry-academic cooperation and social contribution as evaluation indicators to measure the performance of research groups. In addition, BK21 Plus has strengthened industry-academic cooperation to foster high-level, practical professionals in newly emerging high-value-added specialized fields and national strategic fields.
Source: Chonbuk National University selected for ‘BK21 Plus Global Talent Training’ - News1 (news1.kr)
To improve the quality of education and research, BK21 provides scholarships and research funds to graduate students and professors, establishes a cooperative system with excellent researchers at home and abroad, and provides opportunities for overseas training and participation in international academic conferences. Through this, we will raise the level of Korea's graduate education and research and strengthen its global leadership. For example, BK21 Four is pursuing projects such as increasing the number of foreign graduate students and building a global campus where classes are taught in English. In addition, BK21 Plus operated various programs to foster creative future core talent in each academic field.
How to apply for BK21
First, you must find a research center (team) related to your major among the research groups (teams) participating in the BK21 project. A list of research groups (teams) can be found on the BK21 Four - Level 4 Brain Korea 21 website ( https://bk21four.nrf.re.kr/ ).
Next, you must contact the professor in charge of the research group (team) to inquire about whether you can apply and what documents are required. Documents may include transcripts, personal statements, letters of recommendation, etc.
Finally, after receiving approval from the professor in charge, you must access the 4th step BK21 Comprehensive Information Management System ( https://bk21four.nrf.re.kr/bkms/nxui/index.do ) to fill out and submit the application form online. do. Application forms may use different forms for each research center (team), so please fill out them carefully.
Applying to BK21 is an important decision for a graduate student's dreams and future. By participating in BK21, you can receive various benefits such as scholarships, overseas training, and industry-academia cooperation. If you are interested in BK21, apply now!
