School of Global Service Selected for KOICA’s Graduate International Development Cooperation Specialist Training Program
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- Writer 커뮤니케이션팀
- 보도일자 2024-12-18
The School of Global Service at Sookmyung Women’s University has been selected for the Korea International Cooperation Agency’s (KOICA) “Graduate International Development Cooperation Specialist Training Program.” This initiative is expected to position the school as a leader in international development cooperation by implementing a comprehensive curriculum, including field-oriented practical training.
Launched by KOICA in 2024, the program is a government-supported initiative aimed at cultivating professionals in international development cooperation. Previously, the School of Global Service managed KOICA’s “University International Development Cooperation Understanding Program” at the undergraduate level, and this selection marks its first participation at the graduate level.
With a budget of ₩220 million, the School of Global Service will operate a dedicated educational program for two years beginning in 2025, designed to train specialists in international development cooperation. The program includes establishing a new track for training in performance management and evaluation (M&E) and offers theoretical and practice-based education applicable in real-world settings.
Planned courses comprise various themes, including international development cooperation project design, performance management and evaluation in international development cooperation, and thesis topic seminars in development cooperation. The program also incorporates field-based initiatives, such as KOICA’s official development assistance (ODA) project evaluation practice, aimed at enhancing students’ global competencies.
The M&E-focused initiative offers students the unique opportunity to conduct end-of-project evaluations of KOICA’s ongoing bilateral cooperation projects through overseas fieldwork, adding significant value to the program.
The School of Global Service plans to strengthen students’ expertise through a structured curriculum and tailored training, continuing its role as a leader in the field. “This project will establish Sookmyung Women’s University as a hub for fostering experts in international development cooperation,” said Professor Choi Dong-ju, the project lead. “Through an integrated approach encompassing education, research, and practice—including themes of gender and climate action—we aim to shape the future of international development cooperation.”