NYU Abu Dhabi alumna awarded prestigious Global Korea Scholarship

ABU DHABI- New York University Abu Dhabi, NYUAD, Class of 2020 alumna Emma Kay Tocci has been awarded the Global Korea Scholarship, GKS, a fully-funded programme sponsored by the South Korean Ministry of Education.

Tocci will travel to Daegu city to study language and culture for one year, before continuing to complete a master’s degree in Seoul, a NYUAD press release said on Sunday.

NYUAD’s first GKS scholar, Tocci majored in Film and New Media at NYUAD and has a particular focus on understanding how new media technologies impact cross-border and political relationships. Originally from the US, Emma’s decision to immerse herself in another nation’s cultural and linguistic traditions was inspired by her experience in Abu Dhabi and being surrounded by NYUAD’s diverse student body.

Speaking about the award, Tocci commented, "After four years at NYUAD, I assumed I would want to go back to the US; but as I found myself nearing graduation, I only wanted to challenge myself more. I had done something I never thought I could do - graduate from a University halfway around the world - so I figured learning a second language, something I have always assumed was impossible for me, may be within my reach after all." After her year studying Korean in Daegu, Tocci will complete her master’s degree in International Cooperation at Seoul National University in the fall of 2021. Her research focus will be on the impact of mass media communication and globalisation on foreign relations between civilians and governments.

The GKS welcomes more than 700 students from across the world, providing international students with the chance to study in higher education establishments across South Korea. The scholarship promotes international exchanges in education between countries, alongside enhancing international understanding of Korean culture.