The school was selected as a university participating in Initiative for College of Humanities’ Research and Education, CORE project for short, led by the Ministry of Education (MOE). CORE project is the first government led educational program that promotes studies in humanities by nurturing students specialized in interdisciplinary studies between humanities and other areas to meet social demands. For the next three years, the school will receive a total of 60 billion won in government subsidies.
Out of 46 schools that applied for the project, 16 schools, including seven universities in the capital area and nine universities in the local area, were selected. The selection process involved included the evaluation of proposals, aural presentation followed by an in-depth interview.
The school presented the vision of “LUCETE globally top humanities school” for the project. The theme was named after the Latin word, Lucete, meaning “bright light.” Under the vision, the school proclaimed to nurture students with creative and interdisciplinary abilities that meet the 21st century’s demands on the basis of advanced models of fundamental academics.
Ewha’s CORE project consists of three models: Global Regional Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies based on Humanities, and Advanced Models of Fundamental Studies.
In Global Regional Studies, the school plans to strengthen its foreign language education and expand the local experience programs such as the international exchange program to nurture experts with excellent knowledge in local culture and language. Also, the school aims to create hubs for each regional studies by establishing specialized research centers for each local area such as Chinese Cultural Research Center and French Region Cultural Research Center.
For Interdisciplinary Studies based on Humanities, the school plans to newly establish interdisciplinary majors in collaboration with other majors such as Humanities Business and Humanities Arts & Media. The school will also provide education on IT, SW, accounting and others and multiple opportunities.
As of Advanced Models of Fundamental Studies, the school will increase the number of mandatory credits for preexisting humanities majors from 57 to 63 for the purpose of nurturing next generations of humanities experts. The school will also activate linkage programs between the college and graduate school and empower group studies and thesis direction.
“The exact names and contents of courses will be determined around mid-June,” said Park Hei-jin, a manager of the Office of College of Liberal Arts. “We will explain them in full details to students through an explanatory session.”
Park also confirmed that there would be no reconstruction of the curricula. However, adjustment of the number of students followed by PRIME project would be applied to the College of Liberal Arts.
 On the other hand, Student Government Association (SGA) still expresses doubt on whether CORE project would truly benefit humanities courses.
“Financial aid granted to the College of Liberal Arts is mostly given to develop new curricula aiming for employment,” said Choi Eun-hye, the president of SGA. “Thus, it would diminish fundamental liberal arts curricula, destroying students’ right to learn. We’ve even met students from the College of Liberal Arts who wish to transfer their majors out of dissatisfaction with weak fundamental curricula.”
Some students also show apprehensive responses.
“I am not sure if the project would really enhance the quality of our college,” said a senior from the College of Liberal Arts who wishes to remain anonymous. “As we are all well aware of the fact that it is centered around interdisciplinary studies and employment rate, I just hope it does not cut down already existing classes.”

저작권자 © Ewha Voice 무단전재 및 재배포 금지