Abstract
This paper discusses trends and prospects of Korean Studies in Kenya and Africa in general. The presentation is divided into five parts, namely: An introduction; The Korean Studies Project; the trends of the Korean Studies in Kenya; the results in Kenya; and the suggestions on how to develop and promote Korean studies in Kenya and African continent. I advance an argument that prospects for promoting Korean studies are bright based on internationalisation programmes pursued by many universities in Africa. Another enabling factor is the foreign policy shift in African countries to an enhanced engagement with East Asian countries mainly China, Japan and Korea as opposed to Europe and North America. In conclusion, I argue that a lot still needs to be done in terms of capacity strengthening, infrastructural support and having a focal point for supporting Korean Studies in Africa.
Highlights
Asian studies has in the past not attracted much interest from students and staff at the University of Nairobi
The second most popular Asian Studies programme at the university is Korean Studies which was officially launched in 2013. It is in this regard that this paper explores prospects for Korean studies in Africa with the University of Nairobi as a case study
The partnership between the University of Nairobi and the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS) was mooted at an international workshop on Korean Studies hosted by AKS on 26th November 2009
Summary
Studies on Asian societies and cultures have remained scarce in Africa, because of the Eurocentric and American frameworks that have dominated African academic circles since the colonial era. This situation has, existed because language and communication barriers make it difficult for researchers and scholars from Africa and East Asia to share their views. The second most popular Asian Studies programme at the university is Korean Studies which was officially launched in 2013 It is in this regard that this paper explores prospects for Korean studies in Africa with the University of Nairobi as a case study
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