Dr. Jun Sung Hong is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Dr. Hong has primarily researched factors associated with bias-based bullying and peer victimization in the United States and abroad. He was a Fulbright Scholar for the 2023-24 academic year in Belgium. The title of his project was “Teachers’ Responses to Students’ Bias-Based Bullying and Cyberbullying Victimization in Flanders”. The study aims to examine teachers’ awareness and response to bias-based bullying and cyberbullying in school districts in Flanders, Belgium. He worked collaboratively with colleagues at the University of Antwerp.
Q: Describe your grant project.
My goal was to investigate teachers’ perceptions of bias-based cyberbullying among students in Flanders, Belgium. I looked at whether teachers had an understanding of bias-based cyberbullying and what factors affected their perceptions of bias-based cyberbullying. This research project is needed because cyberbullying and discrimination continue to be significant problems among adolescents in Belgium despite the anti-bullying policies that were developed and implemented in the school districts in Flanders. Recruitment, survey administration, and data collection during my stay in Belgium was the goal of the project. Once the writing part of the project (the last step) is completed, I plan to present my research findings at an academic conference and submit my study to an academic journal for publication. This project is a part of a larger study, which I will be working with the faculty at my host institution.
Q: What inspired you to apply to the Fulbright Program in Belgium?
Conducting this research in Belgium is crucial because Belgium is one of many countries in Europe where the rate of immigrants has increased significantly over the years. The increasing rate of immigrant children, along with the increased presence of children of marginalized identities (e.g., queer youth) in Belgian schools has also resulted in an increased rate of bias-based bullying and cyberbullying, which remains a concern in Belgium. The project would contribute tremendously to the bullying research community of scholars; school districts in Belgium; and the school social work profession, both in Belgium and the United States. In terms of the bullying research community, my project would add to the growing international scholarship, which would inspire scholars to utilize the findings of my study to build on it further. Research on bullying has mostly been conducted from the perspectives of children and adolescents, and although research on teachers’ perceptions of bullying has increased, research on teachers’ perceptions of bias-based bullying is severely limited despite the need for it. Regarding the school social work profession, findings from the proposed study would give school social workers and other professionals in Belgium the requisite tools to assess for bias-based bullying and cyberbullying and provide treatment for students who are experiencing ethnicity-based bullying by their peers.
Q: Describe a typical day in your life.
I have traveled to several parts of Belgium where my host and my colleagues were located. I would not only discuss research but also engage with the academic communities in Belgium through presentations and holding workshops (mostly with students and faculty). I also spend time socializing with my colleagues through lunches and special events at the university. Also, I spent time traveling to other parts of Belgium – Brussels, Mechelen, Leuven, etc. – to get to know the country a bit better.
Q: In what ways have you engaged with your host community in Belgium?
I engaged with my host community by speaking with the locals about various issues. I would participate in special events where I would have opportunities to have deep discussions with colleagues, which I found was tremendously helpful in my understanding of Belgium. I also tried to immerse myself in French whenever I would visit French-speaking regions, such as Brussels (Surprisingly, my French had improved tremendously even though I was never in a language class.) I also tried to engage with Fulbrighters, although my time with them was limited.
Q: Can you tell us the story of a particular memorable moment(s) from your time in Belgium?
My lunch and get-togethers with my colleagues at the University of Antwerp and my trips to various parts of Belgium were some of the most memorable moments of my time in Belgium. Through trips I took in Belgium, I learned a great deal about the history and culture of Belgium, which was extremely memorable. I tried my best to blend in with the local communities although my time in Belgium was quite limited. Fortunately, I took lots of pictures to remember all of my fondest moments in Belgium.
Q: Has Belgium been what you expected? In what ways has life in Belgium surprised you, either for its similarities to or differences from your own culture?
The country is full of very beautiful architecture, and the people are extremely friendly; I knew this coming to Belgium. What sort of surprised me was how widespread English was in Belgium. I feel as though the vast majority of people in Antwerp (and Flanders) spoke English very fluently. I was also surprised by how diverse Belgium was in general. There are many immigrants and refugees in Belgium and they seem to be very well integrated into Belgian society.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying to the Fulbright Program?
I would tell an applicant to plan ahead, apply in advance, and get as much feedback from colleagues as possible. I would also advise the applicant to get to know the culture (and language) of the host country as much as possible before going to the country. The applicants will need to be open-minded and realize that there are cultural differences, which can be frustrating at times, but they could lead to opportunities.