The Royal Institute of Art has signed a student exchange agreement with Hongik University in Seoul. The exchange is aimed at students in the institute’s education in the Fine Arts Program, from the second year at bachelor’s level to the fifth year at master’s level.
Already this fall, the Royal Institute of Art can nominate two students for an exchange from September to December. Hongik University’s second semester runs from March to June.
– It is a great pleasure that the Royal Institute of Art now has an exchange agreement with Hongik University in Seoul. We have exchange agreements with many universities in Europe but only with two outside Europe, namely in Japan and Canada. The fact that it is now possible for our students to apply for an exchange programme in South Korea, and for us to have Korean exchange students, is of great importance, says Sanne Kofod Olsen, Vice Chancellor at the Royal Institute of Art.
The collaboration with Hongik University is a result of the Swedish Institute’s delegation trip to Seoul last autumn, on the theme of contemporary art, which Sanne Kofod Olsen participated in. The trip was part of the Swedish Institute’s Point in Time programme, which aims to bring more Swedish cultural creators to an international audience.
– In Seoul, we gained insight into the Korean art scene, more specifically the Seoul art scene. It is an incredibly rich and vibrant scene with a lot of great art, from the experimental to the established. Many art institutions focus on talent development and offer great opportunities for alumni of the local art schools. In this way, there is also a stronger focus on young artists, making art education an important part of the cultural food chain, says Sanne Kofod Olsen.