Two KOICA “Capacity Building for Professional Program” Tracks (IT·AI and Manufacturing Industry Engineering) Selected Simultaneously

Only Two Universities Nationwide Selected in Two or More Fields, Including YU

Approximately KRW 6.2 Billion in Funding Secured Through 2030 … Training Master’s-Level Engineers for Developing Countries

International Development Cooperation Education Recognized Through External Financial Support Since 2011

[March 10, 2026]

Yeungnam University (YU, President CHOI Oe-chool) has been selected as a training institution for two programs—IT·AI and Manufacturing Industry Engineering—in the “Capacity Building for Professional Program (Master’s Degree Program in Science and Engineering)” hosted by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). With this selection, YU will receive approximately KRW 6.2 billion in KOICA funding through August 2030 to train master’s-level engineers who will contribute to industrial development in developing countries.

 The KOICA Capacity Building for Professional Program is a national-level Official Development Assistance (ODA) initiative targeting partner countries designated by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The program combines master’s degree programs at Korean universities with industry internships. It aims to cultivate R&D professionals who meet the industrial needs of developing countries by providing integrated education that includes degree coursework, field training, and Korean language education, particularly in technology sectors where Korea holds comparative advantages. YU has already educated approximately 1,000 professionals from 77 countries, including public sector officials and NGO experts, through its graduate programs.

 YU will operate two programs under this initiative. In the IT·AI field, the Department of Information and Communication Engineering at the Graduate School (Principal Investigator: Professor CHOI Kyu-sang) will admit 15 trainees per cohort for three cohorts, totaling 45 trainees. In the Manufacturing Industry Engineering field, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Graduate School (Principal Investigator: Professor HONG Sung-ho) will admit 10 trainees per cohort for three cohorts, totaling 30 trainees. Altogether, YU will train 75 international trainees across the two programs. Among 17 universities nationwide selected across five fields in this call, only two universities—including YU—were selected in two or more fields simultaneously.

YU has long promoted international development cooperation initiatives led by the government, including those organized by KOICA, while building a global cooperation model rooted in regional engagement and the sharing of Saemaul Studies. In particular, YU has implemented several programs through the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (PSPS), including the Master’s Program for Training Community Development Leaders (2014–2017) and the Master’s Training Program in Water Resource Management (2023–2027). In addition, various global education and training programs operated by the University’s Institute for International Development Cooperation have received project funding from central and local governments. The outcomes have also been outstanding. In February 2016, YU conducted the “Saemaul Movement Policy Training Program for Ethiopia’s Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR)”, which was later selected by KOICA as the best case among global education and training programs. KOICA held a national competition in 2018 to evaluate the performance of 120 global training programs conducted over three and a half years (March 2015–August 2018), and YU’s local training program in Ethiopia’s SNNPR was recognized as the top-performing case. 

<International students of the Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (PSPS) at YU>

 The University’s accumulated experience in education, research, industry–academia cooperation, and international development cooperation is considered to have led to the simultaneous selection of two programs in the KOICA Capacity Building for Professional Program. During the preparation stage of the project, the Global Industry–Academic Cooperation Center under YU’s Industry–Academic Cooperation Foundation supported systematic planning and execution in collaboration with related academic departments and industry partners, thereby enhancing the overall quality of the proposal. With this selection, YU is expected to further strengthen its international development cooperation capacity by integrating its research competitiveness in IT, AI, and advanced manufacturing, its systematic support system for international students, and its close cooperation network with regional industries.

 President CHOI Oe-chool of YU stated, “Being selected simultaneously in two fields in the KOICA Capacity Building for Professional Program is a meaningful achievement that recognizes not only YU’s globally acknowledged expertise in international development cooperation but also its world-class education and research capabilities in science and engineering.” He added, “At the same time, this achievement means that YU’s global responsibility has become even greater.” President CHOI continued, “Together with KOICA, we will systematically train master’s-level professionals and help them grow into field-oriented R&D experts who can be immediately deployed to meet the industrial demands of partner countries. We will fulfill our responsibilities to ensure the successful implementation of this program.” He further emphasized, “By combining our accumulated experience in international development cooperation through the sharing of Saemaul Studies with talent development in advanced technology fields, YU will grow into a leading global contribution university that makes tangible contributions to the sustainable industrial development of developing countries and shared prosperity across the global community.”

 Meanwhile, the KOICA Capacity Building for Professional Program is operated for 24 to 30 months, combining a master’s degree program, a 3–6 month industry internship, and Korean language education to support both academic study and on-site adaptation. Each program selects 10–15 trainees, and participants from major partner countries such as Nepal, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, and Indonesia receive comprehensive support through the host institution, including tuition, dormitory fees, airfare, and living expenses. The program also provides responsible academic guidance to ensure successful completion of the degree.