As part of the largest education reform undertaken by the Government of India, elite officer trainees from the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) were sent to a week-long study tour and training program hosted by KDI School.

The program, which was organized jointly by the Lar Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) and KDI School through its Capacity Building Center, aimed towards preparing the next set of IAS officers for higher level of responsibilities.

A total of 92 elite officer trainees and two faculty members from the LBSNAA, joined a Korean Study Tour, which brought them to different cities in Korea, including Seoul, Sejong, and Incheon. The officer trainees had previously undergone a five weeks training at the Academy Mussoorie in India prior to their departure for Korea.

In his welcoming remarks, KDI School Dean Hong Tack CHUN emphasized how both countries are making endeavors to ensure sustainable development and policy implement for green growth.

“It is our understanding that the Indian government has prioritized the need to improve public sanitation relevant to waste management, upgrade its water management systems, and cultivate green policies to enhance the standard of living of the Indian people. Korea’s initiatives in smart cities, an integral part of the country’s urban development policy drive, will be shared with you this week. We have carefully selected the contents of this Study Tour in hopes of addressing these current and pertinent policy areas in India today,” Dean CHUN told the participants.

The trainees sat in special lectures by professors from KDI School as well as guests from other universities. Topics covered not only Korean economic development experience, but also dealt specifically with issues such as urban development and smart cities, digital governance, rural development, waste management and recycling, water resource management, public toilet improvements, education policy, and health care.

In addition, site visits were conducted in selected health facilities, technical and meister high schools, community resource recovery facilities, traffic information centers, agricultural parks, and eco-friendly parks.

By Ranel Ram Cheng, MPP 2016, Philippines