Korea Competence Week 2024 for Graduate Students and PhD Candidates

Date: 16.-20. September 2024 (Mon.-Fri.)
Venue: Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Korean Studies, Otto-v.-Simson Str. 11, 14195 Berlin

The Korea-Europe Center at the Institute of Korean Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, (FU-IKS) is pleased to announce the Workshop Series <Korea Competence Week 2024> for graduate students and PhD candidates intending to enhance the academic and political competence of those involved in Korea-related research and politics.

The workshop series comprises the following four parts:
 

1. Reading South Korea
   Monday, 16th September 2024

Instructor: Dr Kahee Jo, University of Sheffield

This workshop invites PhD students studying Korea-related themes to deepen their understanding of their research object “Korea”. Participants will learn more about current developments and issues related to South Korea, improving their intercultural competence in an increasingly globalised academia. 

2. Reading North Korea
   Tuesday, 17th September 2024

Instructor: Dr Hojye Kang, FU-IKS

Expanding on the ideas of the first workshop, this session focuses on current developments and issues related to North Korea, enhancing the intercultural understanding of participants.

3. Policy Paper Writing Workshop
   Wednesday, 18th September 2024 lecture and group work
   Thursday, 19th September 2024, morning session: group report and evaluation

Instructors:
Mr. Kim Yonho, Associate director of George Washington Institute of Korean Studies, USA

This workshop teaches basic techniques and strategies for writing policy papers. Participants have the opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and first-hand insight from people who are engaged in policy paper writing. The workshop intends to illuminate the context in which policy papers are produced, why they are written, and how they potentially influence decision-making processes. The workshop will consist of interactive training sessions, group work and practical exercises.

4. Strategic Dialogue Workshop
   Thursday, 19th September 2024, afternoon session: lecture
   Friday, 20th September 2024, including group work and presentation

Instructors:
Mr. Kim Yonho, Associate director of George Washington Institute of Korean Studies, USA

Mr. Sangsoo Lee, Senior Adviser at Center for Humanitarian Dialogue

Strategic dialogue is a term that is used with increasing frequency, both in the private and public sectors. It is generally understood as denoting a processual development among groups or teams intending to reach a common understanding concerning goals, concepts or projects in view of the future. Nevertheless, what does "strategic dialogue" exactly mean? How does it differ from a regular "bilateral" or "multilateral" meeting? Is it a formal or informal process? How does it compare and contrast with 1.5 and 2-track discussions? Can academics participate in strategic dialogues, or is it a format limited to practitioners, mainly from the field of politics? Who sets the strategic agenda, and how is strategic dialogue organized in practice?

The workshop will examine these and other questions, providing a comprehensive overview of the instrument of strategic dialogue. The seminar will host speakers with rich experience and a proven track record in conducting such strategic dialogues with partners in Asia, particularly in both Koreas. The guest speakers will share their expertise and provide hands-on experiences. This workshop will also include a model-strategic dialogue in which participants will have the opportunity to prepare and simulate a strategic dialogue under the guidance of experienced practitioners in the field.