According to the lecture plan, students will learn how to raise their pets in the first half of the lecture and correct animal behavior that they can use in real life. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Amid growing interest in companion animals and animal protection, a South Korean university has opened an unusual lecture to for students to learn about and discuss issues related to animal rights.
Kyung Hee University said Sunday it will open a lecture on “Companion Animals and Animal Rights” at the Humanitas College and operate it from the coming second semester.
According to the lecture plan, students will learn how to raise their pets in the first half of the lecture and correct animal behavior that they can use in real life.
After the midterms, the lectures will be conducted by presenting various issues related to animal rights, including abandoned animals, livestock and slaughter, animals in zoos and experimental animals, and discussing them in groups.
The “Companion Animals and Animal Rights” lecture was opened under the “Learning Credits System,” in which students survey liberal arts courses that they want to create on their own, and when they ask the school to do so, courses are created according student interest.
“There have been many universities with departments related to animals, but it has been rare for them to open animal rights classes with liberal arts courses that can be taken by anyone,” a university official said.
“We plan to continue to operate them in the future if the students respond well.”
Dr. Park Jong-moo, head of the Peace and Life Animal Hospital, who has been invited to teach the course, said, “It will be an experience to think deeply about how humans should treat other creatures, regardless of which side is right or wrong.”
“The animals treated in the lectures are those used by humans and which suffered in the process,” said Park, who is also a director of animal rights advocacy group KARA (Korea Animal Rights Advocates).
“This is closely related to global environmental issues such as the destruction of ecosystems and climate change.”
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
