KDI School has two brand new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements in place to help facilitate regional cooperation as well as educational partnership. On February 9, the School signed an MOU with the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ). The MOU which was signed by KDI School President Dr. Joon-Kyung KIM and the Commissioner of IFEZ, Mr. Young Geun LEE, ensures mutual cooperation and administrative support between the two entities. KDI School has already visited IFEZ 13 times in the year 2016 as part of the field trip. Students and alumni of KDI School will now enjoy more opportunities for workplace inspections thanks to this agreement.

According to Dr. KIM, the IFEZ will strengthen the School’s endeavor to provide the best openings for industrial exposure especially to its international students, moreso to government officials who will have the chance to network directly with the IFEZ and its officials. The IFEZ will be especially sharing its experience and learnings with developing countries that align themselves with public/private partnership business models.

The IFEZ is home to 12 highly significant international organizations including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which was established in 2010 by 194 countries party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It also made a meteoric rise as a mecca of bio-industry including earning the title of second manufacturing output of biological product in the world as a sole city. Incheon City has also partnered with Weihai City in the Province of Shandong in China to be designated as a Korea-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) local economic cooperation zone. Other Chinese cities like Dalian City in the Liaoning Province have also expressed interest in doing the same.

Also on April 13, the School signed an agreement with the Korea Water Resources Corporation, or K-water, in the presence of KDI President Dr. Joon-Kyung KIM, K-water CEO Mr. Hak-Soo LEE and other esteemed guests. K-water is the governmental agency for comprehensive water resource development and is providing both public and industrial water in South Korea. In light of the MOU, KDI School has made a promise to allow selected K-water employees to enter KDI School and take tailored courses that match their professional needs. Also, KDI School and K-water will establish networks among the students in and outside Korea to bring development in the field of water resources management.

By Rosa DALITUICAMA [2017 MDP, Fiji]