KDI School of Public Policy and Management has formally welcomed 20 new African students into its 2026 Spring Semester cohort, drawn from countries across East, West, and Southern Africa. The scholars who are supported by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and other competitive funding streams were received at a ceremony held at Lincoln Hall under the auspices of the African Development Forum (ADF).

Speaking at the event this weekend, Advising Professor of the ADF, Dongil Lee, a scholar of political science and the political economy of development, noted that the students were part of Korea’s commitment to nurturing global development leadership through capacity-building. “As you begin your time here, I hope you will come to see KDI School as a place that encourages intellectual growth, collaboration, and engagement with global development issues,” Prof. Lee said. “ADF plays a meaningful role in fostering connection among African students, and KDI School is home to many faculty whose work touches on development. I encourage you to engage actively with your professors and peers. This is an environment where you can grow academically while contributing to discussions that matter for the future of development.”

The incoming scholars represent a diverse set of professional backgrounds and policy interests, aligning with Korea’s long-standing emphasis on knowledge-sharing partnerships with developing regions. Professor Lee said the selection reflects deepening cooperation between Korea and African countries in areas such as governance, development planning, technology, and intellectual property systems.

“KDI School remains one of the few institutions in the world to hold the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) accreditation for all its degree programmes, which ensures that the policy tools these students acquire meet the highest international standards of public service education,” he added. 

In his remarks, ADF President Osman Sumaila said the ceremony was not just an academic welcome but a call to public leadership. According to him, “Today is not just about joining an association but a mission. ADF is a platform for ideas, action, and leadership for Africa’s development. By being here, you have chosen not to be spectators of Africa’s challenges but part of the solution. He said that Africa does not lack resources or ideas, noting that “what we need is a generation that is bold, disciplined, and committed. I believe we are that generation.”

For continuing students, the arrival of the new students marks another chapter in strengthening Africa’s collective voice within global policy education. Francis Kwabena Adjei, a Ghanaian PhD Student at KDIS, encouraged the newcomers to embrace the community and seek support when needed. “They should relax and make the best of the environment. If they have challenges with assignments or settling in, they shouldn’t stay alone and struggle. A problem shared is a problem half-solved,” he advised.

Also speaking, one of the students, Mary Ngenyi from Kenya, admitted under the Master’s in Development Policy programme, expressed optimism about the opportunities ahead. “The experience has been good so far. The weather is very cold, but we are adapting. The African community has given me a home in Korea,” she noted.“I am happy we can come together as Africans and think about how to move the continent’s policy trajectory forward.”

On why she chose to study at KDI School, Ngenyi said, “I didn't want to just study development policy in a textbook; I wanted to study it in a living laboratory. Korea is one of the few nations to have transitioned from a major aid recipient to a donor in such a short time. Being here allows me to learn directly from the people who helped design it, so I can adapt those lessons to the specific needs of my home country."

This spring's event had in attendance students from outside of Africa who identified with the ADF, including Anicia Sunille Antoine from St. Lucia, an island nation in the Caribbean. "I am of African descent, I'm not sure where exactly, but I know it's in West Africa. I am a Master's in Public Policy student focusing on Trade and Industrial Policy. Being here bridges the gap between my Caribbean heritage and my ancestral roots. Even without a specific map, there is a shared history and a collective future that makes this space feel like home," she said.

According to Anoine, global trade and development challenges are not isolated to the African continent, but "as a student of policy, I see the ADF as a vital platform for the global African diaspora to unite and solve these structural issues together." The students are expected to play active roles in research, policy dialogue, and community engagement over the course of their studies at KDI School.