High-achieving Korean students have been succeeding in Arts subjects that many Australian students find challenging.

A small stream of pioneering students from Seoul's Myongji University has already been successful in tackling a top-up Arts year, majoring in literature at Central Queensland University Rockhampton.

CQU's Dr John Fitzsimmons taught the students along with Associate Professor Wally Woods. He said the students, who are taught and assessed in English, had performed with distinction, even when tackling the complex theories of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone De Beauvoir during subjects like the Modern Novel in Europe.

Dr Fitzsimmons said that the successful students were able to receive Arts degrees from both CQU and their home institution.

Photo (right): Last year\'s Korean students (from left) Yoon-Jeong Kim, So-Young Sung and Sung-Eun (Grace) Lee with lecturer Dr John Fitzsimmons from CQU's School of Humanities. So-Young is employed as a reporter at the Korea Herald; Yoon-Jeong is employed at UPS, and Grace is a trainee anchor at Korean Broadcasting System.

Photo (left): Hae Won Chung (left) and Hyeri Kang have arrived for the 2004 academic year at CQU Rockhampton.