Seoul National University (SNU) will
provide scholarships to 332 students from China, Mongolia, Vietnam and other
developing countries beginning from the fall semester, the school said Sunday.

The SNU Office of International
Affairs said that it will offer each student a 25 million won ($22,050)
scholarship to study at the school, including tuition, living expenses and
airfare as a part of a project to nurture future professors.

Of the total, 71 are doctorate
students, 188 are studying for master’s degrees and 73 are undergraduates,
according to a school official. The university began the selection process in
June, with its academic departments and the admission office reviewing the
grades and other application documents.

It will invest 23.5 billion won
($20.7 million) in the project, including 4 billion won ($3.5 million) for
scholarships. Next month, it will also recruit 170 to 200 additional
international students who will begin their studies in the first semester of
2013.

“We were able to secure enough funds
and publicize our project to attract bright young minds from abroad,” the
official said. “We anticipate drawing more students in September.”

Those selected will train to become
professors back in their home countries. 

The university plans to step up its
efforts to promote itself as a higher learning institute that focuses on global
education. It also expects the project to help improve the nation’s ties with
developing countries around the world.