Study Law While Watching Movies

Universities are introducing new kinds of lectures: “Environment from a historical perspective”; “Today’s cartoon reading”; “History and historical novels”; “Science in history”; “European trip design”; “Harry Potter’s magic school”; “Introduction to music therapy”; “Looking for the figurative beauty in the movies”; “Psychology and classical music”; “Wine and cocktails”; and “Cosmetics and skin.” These new so-called “fusion” lectures are provided instead of traditional introduction classes. In addition, the focus of lectures is shifting from suppliers to demanders.

Why the Fusion Lectures Are Popular? –

The reason varies from university to university, but the driving force behind the change is the view that the traditional way of teaching no longer works.

Park Roh-hyeong, the chief academic officer of Korea University, said, “Students think in a multifaceted way unlike those in the past. Universities are not keeping up with the changes and failing to develop their potential. The new lectures are designed to meet the demands of society and students.”

This view is also a part of the new wave, known as the “interdisciplinary approach.”

Another reason is the idea that a fresh approach could increase the interest in humanities and natural science. Cho Yoon-kyung, a professor of interdisciplinary studies at Ewha Women’s University, said, “At a time when few students are interested in the basic disciplines, interdisciplinary lectures such as “business plus science” or “history plus environment” can create new interest in humanities.” In other words, the creative approach can solve the crisis in humanities.

What do new classes look like?

1. Mixed lectures: The new approach is mainly applied to disciplines people think difficult, such as physics, philosophy, and law. Kim Jeong-gyu, an ecological engineering professor of Korea University, said, “Dry environment subjects can be easily explained through history.”

2. Practical lectures: Many people point out that higher education does not provide what society wants. Keeping that in mind, universities scouted experts in every sector in society as adjunct professors to offer more practical educational options. A good example is “VJ practice” at Ewha Womans University given by Joo Cheol-hwan, a former star producer of a major network in Korea. The class, in which students visit TV networks and create programs, is popular among students for its practicality.

Some lectures provide information related to daily life and job-hunting, such as “Presentation”; “Culture and Etiquette”; “The Understanding of economic news”; and “Cosmetics and skin.”

3. Lectures for fans: Unlike traditional classes that encompass the general understanding of certain subjects, this kind of lecture offers classes to students who are interested in a certain subject, such as, “A walk through New York”; “Korean culture seen through myths and ceremonies”; “French Daily reading”; “University life with pop music”; and “Wine and cocktails.” These lectures reflect the varying interests of the younger generation.

Student reactions–

A majority of students are positive about the new classes. Tae Woo-yeong, a junior architectural environment major of Sookmyeong Women’s University, said, “New lectures make up for the lack of traditional lectures. At the same time, they are in line with social trends.”

Lim Joo-hyun, a senior piano major at Ewha Womans university, who takes a “music therapy” class, said, “ Since I am interested in music therapy, I am satisfied with the new class.”

As more students are happy about the new lectures, universities are actively responding. Ewha Womans University and Yonsei University, which provided such lectures only for freshmen, plan to expand the lectures to seniors as early as next year, and Korea University, which has already offered those classes to all university students, is going to start “customized classes” starting this fall.

polaris@donga.com