The International Youth Fellowship (IYF) Free Weekend Academy is offering Kenyan students an opportunity to work and study in South Korea.
The opportunity is being offered through a partnership with the Free Weekend Academy and Gimcheon University for students who are learning Korean language in the institution based in Kenya.
Through the program students studying the Korean language at the Free Weekend Academy will earn scholarships upon successful completion of the course.
According to the structure, the level attained by the students in the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) will determine their eligibility of being offered the scholarships by the university.
If the students who has attained TOPIK level 3 will begiven a 30 percent exemption on the university fee, TOPIK level 4 (60 % exemption), TOPIK level 5 (80% exemption) and TOPIK level 6 will get a full scholarship.
The Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) is a written test designed to measure the ability of non-native speakers for expression and comprehension in the Korean language.
Gimcheon University offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including business, engineering, humanities, social sciences, and health sciences. The university is particularly known for its courses in business administration, computer science, and industrial engineering, offering a curriculum designed to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
The university’s strong ties to the local industry further enhance the relevance of its programs, with many courses incorporating real-world applications and internships.
The road to Gimcheon University in Korea began for the Kenyan students who graduated in Korean language studies at the International Youth Fellowship Free Weekend Academy in Nairobi over the weekend June 28th-29th, 2025.
They were among the 12,000 youthful students who graduated in various Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) in the academy’s 8th cohort graced by the Ministry Youth Affair, Creative Economy and Sports Principle Secretary (PS) Fikirini Jacobs as the chief guest..
The courses that students graduated were in Cosmetology, Fashion & Design, Electrical Installation, Carpentry, English Communication, Graphic Design, Video Editing, Dance, Sign Language, Taekwondo, Art, Welding, Computer Packages, Paramedics, French, Korean, Football, UX Design, Programming, Catering, Mind Education, Music, AI, Digital Marketing , Networking, Plumbing, Chinese, Camera Operations, News & TV Production, Automotive, Theology and Driving.
The Korean Learning Centre was established at the Free Weekend Academy in September last year under the leadership of Lee Hae Jin.
Speaking during the graduation, Lee Hae Jin the incharge of the Korean Learning Centre at the IYF Free Weekend Academy noted that the long-term goal of the Korean centre is to enhance business traffic between Kenya and Korea
“This centre has been here since last year, the students here are at the forefront of the friendship between Kenya and Korea,” she said.
Jin vowed to provide continuous support to the students at the academy and hoped that the centre would continue to grow.
On his part, Ministry Youth Affair, Creative Economy and Sports Principle Secretary (PS) Fikirini Jacobs commended the students for their hard work, their bravery in trying to broaden their horizons by learning the Korean language.
The course is designed to equip students with skills of the Korean language and its writing system, the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out professional activities such as translation, text editing and technical writing together with communication and research skills that are of scholarly and professional relevance practical skills of the Korean language and its writing system
It also educates the learners on the culture, literature, history, politics, economy, philosophy and religions of Korea and also intercultural experiences and exchange between Korea and Kenya as well as other global partners.
Several job profiles utilize Korean language skills. These range from translation and interpretation to customer service, tourism, and various administrative roles.
Specific examples include Korean language interpreters, translators, and experts, as well as roles in the hospitality and tourism industries. There are also opportunities in administrative and client service roles, particularly in companies with Korean clientele or operations.
Korean Studies has become popular in the world in countries which have realized its influence in the modern world. South Korea, especially in the areas of science and technology, is gradually increasing its influence in shaping the modern world.
The country is becoming an economic giant and is growing to be a strong partner of Kenya and East Africa at large. At the same time, the number of Korean tourists visiting Kenya and East Africa at large is increasing.
Korean is a language with approximately 80 million speakers; it is ranked as the 13th biggest in the world. It has 50 million speakers in South Korea, 24 million in North Korea, and nearly 6 million outside Korea – mainly in China, U.S.A., Japan, and Central Asia (the former U.S.S.R.).