Позитивные изменения. Том 3, № 3 (2023). Positive changes. Volume 3, Issue 3 (2023)

GLOBAL COMPETENCIES

CONVERGENCE

In the realm of education, convergence is defined as students’ ability to think expansively beyond the confines of their core disciplines. This can manifest itself in the creation of new disciplines at the intersection of existing subjects, or in the amalgamation of disparate fields under a single course, where one is incomplete without the other.

For instance, Kookmin University in Seoul offers an interdisciplinary program in ceramics and chemistry. Since the application of lacquer is integral to ceramics production, and lacquer production relies on chemical reactions, a profound understanding of chemistry is imperative for working with ceramics. Consequently, these two courses are interwoven.

Each university embarks on its unique journey to implement convergence within its educational processes. In essence, South Korea’s educational landscape is committed to uniting diverse realms of knowledge, crafting innovative courses that encompass multiple subjects, and giving students the ability to safely navigate the interdisciplinary landscape. For instance, Korea University in Seoul has placed a strong emphasis on the convergence of technical and humanities disciplines, pioneering educational programs at the intersection of four, five, and even six traditionally disparate disciplines. Meanwhile, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul fosters “creative convergent thinking and decision-making skills” in its students, as highlighted by its Rector Park Jeong-Woon.

It is conceivable that the fervent drive for cross-disciplinary integration is a natural response to the ever-escalating wave of digital technologies. These competencies hold promise in ensuring that, in the race of technological advancement, young professionals can navigate the terrain without ceding ground to artificially generated models.

From the perspective of the third mission, professionals endowed with these competencies are poised to move swiftly and adeptly in interdisciplinary spaces, seamlessly transitioning between tasks, and proving exceptionally effective in addressing unconventional challenges.