- Co-hosted by UNITWIN universities (4 universities) in Korea
-Establishing an innovative international development cooperation model suitable for the post-Covid-19 era and seeking future direction
-60 people, including government and education officials from a total of 9 countries, including Korea and developing countries, participated.

(Image 1) Congratulatory remarks by former Vice Minister of Education, Park Baek Beom

Handong Global University (President Do Soung Choi) co-hosted the “2022 UNESCO UNITWIN International ODA Conference’ with Sookmyung Women’s University, Korea National Open University, and Korea National University of Education at Bloom Hotel on Jeju Island from 9.a.m. to 6 p.m. on November 1^st.

At this conference, the achievements and cooperation cases of the UNESCO UNITWIN project, a representative development cooperation project in the filed of higher education, were shared to establish an innovative international development cooperation model suitable for the post-Covid-19 era and to seek the future direction of higher education. In particular, a total of 60 government and educational officials from eight countries(Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mongolia, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, and Thailand), including Korea, attended and suggested ways to strengthen sustainable development capabilities and expand networks with higher educational institutions.

Do-Soung Choi, President of Handong Global University, mentioned “It is necessary to find ways to diagnose and solve various challenges occurring in developing countries, such as the deterioration in the quality of university education in developing countries due to the spread of Covid-19 and the suspension of higher education in Myanmar and Afghanistan. At this time when mutual cooperation is an opportunity to blossom, we must gather wisdom and capabilities together.” Former Vice Minister of Education Park Baek Beom said, “We have to share our experience of implementing remote education without a hitch in the urgent situation of Covid-19 and spread K-Education so that all students can receive quality education.

With this event, Handong Global University will hold an annual conference to bridge the gap in higher education and establish an international development cooperation model in developing countries and will work closely with UNITWIN universities in Korea and educational institutions in developing countries to achieve UN SDG goals and to accelerate the development of higher education.

(Image 2) Group Photo during the 2022 UNESCO UNITWIN Official Development Assistance Conference

UNESCO UNITWIN (University Twinning and Networking) is a program created by UNESCO in 1992 to help universities and research institutes in developing countries through networks with universities in developed countries to reduce the knowledge gap and foster self-reliance in developing countries. In Korea, Handong Global University was designated as the first UNITWIN university in 2007.

In addition, Handong Global University is promoting internationalization through designation of the first OECD intern dispatched university (2008), designation of UN Academic Impact university (2011), operation of UN depository library university (2014), UN NGO meeting (2016), and opening of UNAI Ban Ki-Moon Global Education Center (2019).