September 9, 2019

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister MOON, Seong-Hyeok) is seeking applications for 2020 Graduate School of FAO World Fisheries University (WFU) Pilot Programme during the period from September 9 through October 31, 2019.

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The Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the World Fisheries University Pilot Programme with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on May 14 in Seoul, agreeing to cooperate for the establishment of the World Fisheries University on a step-by-step basis. As a first step, representatives from both organizations had the inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee established under the MOU on June 25 in Rome, Italy, reaching an agreement to select 30 students by December this year with an aim of commencing the Master’s Degree Programme from March, 2020.

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Accordingly, the Republic of Korea will upload admission guidelines and programme information to the official websites of Pukyong National University (www.pknu.ac.kr) and of the WFU Pilot Programme (http://wfu.pknu.ac.kr) as of September 9, 2019. The UN agency also plans to share the news with its 194 member nations.

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To be qualified for admission to the WFU pilot programme, the applicants, a national of developing countries, must have a bachelor’s degree or be expected to receive one, and they are expected to have language competence in English enough to understand lectures delivered in English and write a dissertation in English. Those applicants who have a letter of recommendation written by a head of a relevant governmental organization or have working experience in the fisheries sector are given preference in the student selection process.

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Those who intend to apply for the programme are required to submit documents including a personal statement, study plan, a certificate of graduation and transcripts in English to the Pukyong National University (PKNU) via postal mail with following address: Administration Office of Graduate School of FAO WFU, 504 Hanmir Building, Pukyong National University, 365 Sinseon-ro, Nam-gu, Busan 48547, Republic of Korea.

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Applicants will be accepted by the end of October and the candidates will be notified on December 20 after applications reviewed and through consultation with FAO. The selected students are expected to complete preparations (including visa) for their entry into the Republic of Korea by the end of February next year and take a 18-month Master’s Degree course majoring in one of three majors–Aquaculture Technology, Fisheries Resource Management and Fisheries Social Science—at Yongdang Campus of the PKNU located in Busan Metropolitan City. 

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Once the joint pilot programme completes, the Ministry will table a proposal to establish a World Fisheries University at the 42nd Session of the FAO Conference to be held in 2021 on the basis of the evaluation of the results.

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Mr. Dongyeob Yang, Director-General for Overseas Fisheries and International Policy Bureau said that “With the call for students, the joint pilot program for FAO World Fisheries University is now in full swing. The Ministry, in cooperation with FAO, local government of Busan and the University, will spare no efforts to invite as many students as possible to the programme and prepare for the smooth opening of the joint programme in March next year as planned.”

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Meanwhile, the Republic of Korea had operated its own pilot programme for this World Fisheries University during the period from September 2017 through February 2019, and 44 students from 24 countries successfully completed an 18-moth master’s course (25) and a 10-month leadership programme (19).

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1. Qualifications
○ Minimum Eligibility Requirements
a. Nationality: Applicants must be a national of developing countries
b. Academic Requirements: Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, or be expected to receive one from an officially accredited educational institution at least by February 28th, 2020.
c. Language Proficiency: Applicants are required to have language competence in English enough to understand lectures delivered in English and write a dissertation in English.
d. Computing Competence: Applicants should be able to use at least MS-Office.
○ Preferential Conditions
a. A bachelor’s degree in a related field
b. Working experiences in a related field or governmental officials
c. A recommendation letter from a head of a related governmental organization
d. A score of internationally recognized English tests (TOEFL, IELTS)
e. A certificate of Microsoft Office specialist

2. Admission Schedule 

· Application Period: September 9 - October 31, 2019

· Paper screening: November 4 - November 12, 2019
· Consultation with FAO: November 13 – December 6, 2019 
· Admission Notification: December 20, 2019 (provisional)
· Assistance for Entry into Korea (including visa issuance), application for dormitory: January – February, 2020
· Admission: March 2, 2020