Mina Shin gives lecture on global DEI at Seoul National University

July 5, 2024 - Mina Shin

DEI Learning Development Specialist and DEI Foundations Project Manager Mina Shin, Ph.D., in the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, received a Delia Koo Endowment Fund from the Asian Studies Center at Michigan State University and traveled to South Korea in May.

During her trip, she gave a special lecture at Seoul National University, one of the top universities in South Korea. Seoul National University is Shin’s home institution where she received her bachelor’s degree.

In her invited talk organized by the Department of Korean Language Education, Korean Language Education Research Institute and BK21 Four, Shin shared her insights and experiences developing MSU’s DEI Foundations, the new university-wide mandatory e-learning module on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.

Although the term diversity is widely used in South Korea, DEI is still a new term in South Korean higher institutions and K-12 settings. In her presentation, she introduced DEI concepts, MSU’s DEI strategic visions and key initiatives, IDI’s role at MSU and broader DEI challenges across the United States. 

 

Audiences were deeply engaged in discussions and explored together how DEI concepts are relevant and applicable to the Korean context, especially in K-12, Korean Language Education related to teaching children of multicultural families, migrant students born overseas and North Korean refugees.

Participants also reflected on their roles as teachers, researchers and educators and what they can do to provide more equitable and inclusive teaching and learning environments. As South Korea has been rapidly shifting from a mono-ethnic society to a multicultural society, DEI concepts are becoming more relevant and important than ever.  

DEI can mean different things in different countries and each country has its unique challenges. Exchanging different cultural contexts and perspectives provides us with a lens to better reflect our concerns and better understand the complexity of global DEI. IDI will continue supporting the creation of a global DEI network by enhancing partnerships and collaborations with international institutions.