South Korea on Wednesday announced its plan to dispatch a total of 300 teachers and university students overseas this year to share the experience of Korea's educational development.

The education ministry and the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) said that 140 teachers and 160 students attending teachers' universities will be sent to 15 foreign countries for a project to engage in various educational programs, including teaching foreign students.

The number of participants for this year will be the largest since the program was initiated in 2013, the ministry said.

Previously, only 20 participants went overseas annually to help developing countries in their education programs as a project for Official Development Assistance (ODA) through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Under the ODA project so far, South Korea has sent teachers to eight countries, mostly those that are developing such as Ethiopia and Swaziland. But this year, South Korea will dispatch some to non-ODA countries, according to the NIIED.

As a long-term stay program, some 140 teachers will lecture at regular schools on such subjects as Korean language, mathematics, science and computers.

However, 10 positions were open to retired teachers, university professors and educational administrators with more than 10 years of experience. They will be assigned to serve as advisers for the host countries' education-related divisions.

During their one-year stay starting in August, the teachers going to the ODA countries will receive a monthly payment of 2.5 million won (US$2,150) in addition to monthly living expenses of 1 million won plus air fare.

Those going to non-ODA countries will be paid a similar salary by the host countries with living expenses and air fare covered as well.

The 160 university students will serve as teachers for roughly one month during their vacation period.

The students to be dispatched overseas will have air fare and living expenses covered if they file education program proposals to NIIED.

Long-term applications will be accepted until April 22 while short-term applications will be accepted by April 29. The results of the open selection will be announced in May on the NIIED homepage (niied.go.kr). (Yonhap)