Underwood International College, Yonsei University accepted its inaugural class in March 2006. Its first dean was Professor Jongryn Mo. Earlier, in October 2004, the President of Yonsei University had appointed Mo as Chairman of the "University Committee for New International College", and Mo contributed significantly to the early development of the institution. In 2012, Underwood International College, Yonsei University housed the new Asian Studies and Techno-Art programmes. It has since expanded to include the Integrated Social Sciences Division, to make up the comprehensive interdisciplinary Humanities and Social Sciences Field.
Overview
The college is the first and only liberal arts college in the Republic of Korea, and the only college at Yonsei University to conduct all classes in English. It has small classes taught by over 100 Korean and international faculty, many who hold an undergraduate and/or graduate degree from an Ivy League and/or Oxbridge university. For the class of 2013, the college received 1,713 applications for 225 student places across three academic divisions — an acceptance rate of 13.13%. For the class of 2015, number of applications had decreased to 1,589. However, the student places had nearly doubled from 2013. The total number of places was 384, which equals an acceptance rate of 24.17%. In the following years, the number of student places have continued to increase.
Along with University of Hong Kong and Keio University in Japan, Underwood International College, Yonsei University was a co-founder of the Three-Campus Comparative East Asian Programme. The programme, which commenced in 2008, allows undergraduate students to take a year of study across the three campuses.
Career Development Center
Underwood International College, Yonsei University's Career Development Center provides students with services and resources to guide and prepare themselves for successful careers. It regularly posts a list of job and internship opportunities, and sponsors regular workshops for students in every academic semester.
Global Career Tours
Since 2008, Underwood International College, Yonsei University has organised subsidised overseas trips to provide students with opportunities to visit international organisations, companies, and institutions to gain exposure to the working environment. Past trips have involved travel to major financial centers such as Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, New York, and Singapore.
Controversies
Transparency
Administrative transparency is a systemic complication at Underwood International College. The UIC faculty body is mostly young and untenured having a little power in decision making while the central administration dictates it. A UIC faculty member comments, “At times, it seems an utter lack of transparency. Well, it certainly decreases job satisfaction for faculty members.” Some faculty members reported that there is a “glass ceiling” for their career prospects.
Faculty retention
UIC faculty member John Frankl refuted assertions that UIC faculty members leave after a few years in proportions that are higher than peer institutions.
Student dissatisfaction
In 2011, the main base of UIC was moved from Seoul to Incheon despite the opposition from students and the faculty. According to a Korea Times article, most students opposed the school’s decision to move the campus. According to Horace Underwood, moving UIC to Songdo International Business District will "destroy" it. However, students who have experienced residential college life at Songdo campus have been satisfied with their experience and highly rate the academic environment at Songdo Global Campus. An article from 2018 reveals violations of students' rights by UIC. First, in the fall semester 2017 UIC administration gave an announcement and reduced Economics major courses by approximately one third. This raised concerns among the students about "accessibilty to major courses." Secondly, lack of full-time faculty and lecturers' English skills have consequented in calling UIC a "substandard version of academic scene." Thirdly, UIC's expensive tuition has made "many feel they pay double tuition for only a half's-education."
"Identity Crisis"
According to the article Underwood International College 's Identity Crisis, there are profound problems at the college which were brought up by a discussion about the under-represented international students.
