Korean students learn about climate risk and sustainability at UC

Through a special global mobility program that seeks to critically analyze pressing global socio-environmental issues using scientific data and systems thinking, 10 students from Korea arrived at UC in January to take theoretical courses on the topic and participate in field trips.

Los estudiantes de Kookmin University y University of Ulsan recibieron un certificado por su participación en el curso “From Climate Risk to Sustainability” que se dividió en experiencias teóricas y salidas a terreno. Fotografía Samuel Díaz, Vicerrectoría de Asuntos Internacionales.

At the foot of Christ at the main entrance to the San Joaquín Campus, the team from the Vice-Rector’s Office for International Affairs (VRAI) welcomed international students who will join various special global mobility programs this summer.

These programs are developed by the Special Programs, Internships, and International Internships department of the VRAI Global Mobility Directorate, which works in collaboration with Faculties and Academic and Management Units to create summer opportunities that address global issues and challenges, engaging students from different countries and cultures.

The main highlight of these opportunities is the value of the intercultural and academic dialogue that takes place in the programs, sharing perspectives and experiences from different parts of the world on global issues, proposing innovative ideas, and creating connections between students.

UC Global Mobility Director, Cristian Díaz, values this.

One of these programs is ” From Climate Risk to Sustainability ,” which invites students from universities around the world to learn about the challenges of climate change and its initiatives in an immersive Latin American context.

Climate risk and the challenges towards sustainability

La consolidación de estos programas se ha logrado a través de un trabajo de vinculación y relacionamiento estratégico con socios de todo el mundo, y en especial, incentivando las relaciones con Asia. Fotografía Samuel Díaz, Vicerrectoría de Asuntos Internacionales.

Critically analyzing pressing global socio-environmental issues using scientific data and systems thinking, while exploring the network of climate risks and their key variables to address the socio-environmental crisis, is the purpose of the course “From Climate Risk to Sustainability” for international students.

Together with the Faculty of Agronomy and Natural Systems , the Special Programs, Internships, and International Internships Department of the Global Mobility Directorate welcomed 10 students from Kookmin University and the University of Ulsan who will participate in the Summer 2025 program on January 6.

University of Ulsan student Han Kim (Fabio) says that developing his Spanish language skills, learning more about Latin American studies, and climate change were his main motivations when searching for summer programs that addressed these topics, finding the ideal course at UC Chile.

It’s an incredible opportunity to come here and learn from the excellent professors who teach the program.

Han Kim (Fabio), a student from the Department of Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Ulsan, stood out.

Participants were able to connect with students from other special programs through welcome activities and workshops. Also noteworthy was the participation of the course assistant, Benjamín Ulloa, a student from the UC Master’s in Natural Resources and a member of the Faculty of Agronomy and Natural Systems.

The student delegation participated in classes taught by professors from the UC School of Agronomy and Natural Systems, specifically from the Natural Resources Engineering program, as well as in a bike tour of the San Joaquín Campus organized by the UC Sustainability Department.

Climate change and its effects have become a common language for citizens and countries worldwide. Each country has responded differently, prioritizing adaptation and mitigation, and Chile has much to share in this regard. The international students who visit us also teach us a lot about what they are experiencing in their countries and about their solutions in adaptation, mitigation, and technology. We all learn together.

Erika Cortés, head of the Natural Resources Engineering program, valued it.

As part of the course, they conducted field trips, visiting agricultural properties and coastal areas, where they were able to identify challenges in both territories and techniques for agricultural production activities, such as livestock farming and vineyards, that incorporate sustainable practices. During the delegation’s visit to Algarrobo, they identified problems related to the impact of storm surges on coastal infrastructure.

During the program, a tree-planting ceremony was held at the San Francisco Garden on the San Joaquín Campus. The purpose of the activity was to strengthen the ties between Kookmin University, the University of Ulsan, and the UC. A commemorative plaque was laid. The ceremony was attended by Lilian Ferrer , Vice Chancellor of International Affairs at the UC, and Professor Yoon Hee Kang, Director of the Climate Leader Education Office at Kookmin University.

We are delighted that, through this program focused on sustainability, the three institutions are coming together to learn how to combat global problems such as climate change.

Kookmin University academic Yoon Hee Kang stood out.

Starting Monday, January 13, 2025, the entire UC community can view the plaque in the garden as a symbol of the strong relationship between the institutions and the commitment to address global climate challenges.

Los estudiantes fueron recibidos por académicos de la Facultad de Historia, Geografía y Ciencia Política en la Estación Regional UC de la Patagonia, en Bahía Exploradores. Fotografía Pía Mendiburu, Vicerrectoría de Asuntos Internacionales.

The program culminates with a trip to Patagonia, where students sailed for about 40 minutes to the UC Regional Station in Bahía Exploradores , learned about native flora and fauna, and spoke with researchers about the importance of combating climate change and its effects on the region.

During their visit to the station, they learned about the studies being conducted there from academics; Johannes Rehner, director of the UC Geography Institute ; and Adrián Fernández, UC Geographer. The delegation was accompanied throughout their visit by Pía Mendiburu, head of Global Mobility.

These programs are the result of a collaborative effort between both universities to strengthen their relationship. In the case of Kookmin University, recent years have been key, especially in 2024, with her visit to our campus in January and Vice-Rector Ferrer’s visit to the university in April of the same year. These agreements were established and have now resulted in her participation in the special summer programs.