KOICA awards master’s degree scholarships to 27 Ghanaian government officials
The government of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has awarded a master’s degree scholarship to 27 Ghanaian government officials to study in 15 Korean universities for the 2021/2022 academic year.
The scholarship package includes a round ticket, tuition fee, monthly allowance and accommodation.
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The beneficiaries comprise 17 males and 10 females were selected from the Ministries, departments and agencies.
This, according to the Country Director of Koica Ghana, Mr Moo Heon Kong brings to a total of 214 master’s degree scholarships the Korean government has awarded under its Capacity Improvement and Advancement and Advancement for Tomorrow (CIAT) programme in Ghana since 2014.
He made this known at a pre-departure knowledge sharing orientation held for the beneficiaries in Accra on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.
He said the forum was to assist awardees with the necessary information and orientation they need to adapt flawlessly to their new lives and environment in Korea.
“We also want to allay if possible any fear and worries with regard to relocating, adapting and surviving on their various campuses as international students in Korea”.
Advice
He advised the selectees to study hard, have fun and also enjoy the beautiful Korean culture.
In addition, Mr Kong advised the group to respect the different culture, language, values, customs, religion, race, ethnicity and any other emerging sensitive orientation of the people while in Korea.
He further urged them, to return to Ghana well equipped with the requisite skills, knowledge and the zeal to contribute to the development of the country.
Koica’s role in Ghana’s development
For his part, the Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Jung-Taek Lim said the Korean government through Koica had contributed to the human resource development of almost 1,200 Ghanaian government officials since 1991 either through short training programmes or master’s degree scholarship.
“We introduced this program because we believed participants will return with high-level skills and knowledge to contribute to the development of Ghana while enhancing the bilateral cooperation between the two countries”, he stated.
Ghana’s ambassadors
Mr Lim also advised the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of Ghana in Korea, “Receiving a scholarship is a privilege but it takes responsibility throughout. As you move from Ghana to Korea to study, you automatically become your nation's brand ambassador. People will get to know and associate with Ghana through your actions and deeds. It is your duty to instill and promote your country’s good image”
Over the course of five decades, Korea has experienced a remarkable tradition from a low-income nation to a modernised high-income economy. We have rapidly advanced through innovative strategies, high skills workforce, green and smart technology initiatives.
Korea’s institutional and policy lessons that contributed to our current state of development and performance can be the benchmark for other countries. In this regard, I will like to encourage you to become actors of change who will pass on the knowledge, experience and skills acquired to your institutions, systems, friends, and co-workers.