▲ The students planted their own gardens with various chrysanthemums
The Continuing Education Center at UOS opened an urban agriculture course during the summer vacation. Its formal title was ‘2013 course for community leaders in urban agriculture.’ The course was provided Wednesdays and Thursdays from July 3 to Aug. 8. Each of the professors from diverse institutions - Korea University, UOS and The Rural Development Administration - delivered a lecture. The lecture consisted of a two-hour lecture on theory and another one on practice. That is, four hours at a time.

It was Kim Wan-soon, a professor at the Dept. of Environmental Horticulture, who proposed it as a summer course. This was because he felt the importance and the necessity of urban agriculture. He explained as follows, “According to statistics, an estimated 90 percent of the nation’s total area is becoming urban due to rapid urbanization. When compared with the world average of 50 percent, this is a serious issue. And according to global surveys, Korea ranked 27th among 36 OECD member countries on the Better Life Index. Also, as the aging phenomenon is accelerating further, about one out of ten Koreans is over 65. Korea needs to support its elderly people. I think the urban agriculture can alleviate these problems to some extent. It can make urban life more green, purify people’s emotions, and create jobs for elderly people. Also, It is needless to say that people can grow crops and fruits that are safe to eat.”

Students of all ages ranging from 20s to 60s took part in the course. They practiced cutting, grafting, and tending herb gardens and the like. Some of the finished plant gardens were placed in front of the lounge in the Natural Science Building.


By. Jang Ye-sol

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