KDI School of Public Policy and Management (KDI School), in partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, has concluded a two-day workshop aimed at strengthening public policy education through the case method. 

The workshop brought together faculty members and policy scholars from KDI School, Seoul National University, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), with resource persons drawn from Oxford’s Case Centre on Public Leadership. Over the course of the programme, participants engaged in intensive sessions on how to teach through the case method, how to develop rigorous policy cases from real-world governance challenges, and how to connect classroom learning with research and institutional practice.

The workshop was led by Professors Karthik Ramanna and Emily Jones, alongside Sarah McAra, who guided participants through the pedagogical and practical foundations of case-based public policy instruction.

A key feature of the programme was the deliberate allocation of time throughout both days for participants to present, test, and critically analyse their teaching skills during a series of structured teaching practicums. These sessions enabled faculty members to teach segments of cases drawn from institutional and governance problems from different countries across the world, while receiving direct peer and expert feedback in real time. The practicum sessions transformed the workshop from a conventional seminar into a hands-on professional development exercise, sharpening participants’ judgment, classroom facilitation techniques, and analytical storytelling skills essential for public policy education.

Welcoming participants and speaking on the significance of this collaboration with colleagues from the University of Oxford and the Blavatnik School of Government, the Dean of KDI School, Professor Joon-Kyung Kim, said, “This partnership strengthens our shared mission to prepare public leaders to exercise sound judgment in an increasingly complex world.”Professor Kim also noted that KDI School’s role extends beyond the consumption of case studies to their active production, highlighting that the institution has developed more than 150 case studies over the past decade documenting Korea’s development experience across major policy sectors.

According to him, these policy modules have been carefully organised around five core Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) areas: economic growth and innovation, human capital development, environmental sustainability, health and social safety nets, and governance innovation and institutional reform. This structure, he said, allows Korea’s development experience to be translated into globally relevant lessons for policymakers confronting contemporary state-building and governance challenges.

Professor Kim pointed to Korea’s 1970s slash-and-burn regulation as one of the classic cases demonstrating policy judgment in action: “At the time, our leaders faced a tough choice: save our forests to prevent catastrophic flooding, or protect the livelihood of our marginalised poor farmers.”

He explained that the policy response succeeded because it went beyond regulation to include inclusive support systems such as housing, job training, and land ownership, turning potentially vulnerable communities into active partners in national modernisation rather than passive victims of reform.

He added that this ability to navigate uncertainty, make decisions under pressure, and transform institutional environments is the primary focus of the case method approach and is especially vital in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and rapidly evolving governance challenges.

Speaking on the significance of the exchange, Professor Karthik Ramanna said the programme was designed as a platform for mutual learning and curriculum development:

“We are here in part because we have a lot to learn from the phenomenal experience of the faculty at KDI School. From our own experience, we’ve been able to understand what works and perhaps what doesn’t when building public policy curricula for very diverse contexts.”

He noted that the value of the workshop lies in helping participants internalise shared teaching experiences and apply them to future course design.

“One of the things we believe will be incredibly valuable from this knowledge exchange is for the participants to leave with a deep understanding of our shared experience. This will ensure that the courses they build and sustain here at KDI School reflect the full breadth of that expertise and enable them to generate more fulfilling learning outcomes in the classroom.”

Praising the quality and seriousness of engagement demonstrated by participants throughout the workshop, Professor Ramanna said, “I have to say I’ve been blown away by the quality of the faculty. They are incredibly deep and thoughtful. They are very passionate about teaching and genuinely care about the learning outcomes for their students.”

He added that the nature of the questions asked by participants reflected a strong commitment to student-centred learning.

Participants also described the workshop as a deeply impactful academic and professional learning experience. Professor Dongil Lee of KDI School said the sessions offered not only innovative teaching techniques but a model for active classroom engagement:“I was honestly surprised by how effective our instructors were. They really encouraged us to engage and contribute to the discussions. They were full of energy, and it was clear they had done a great deal of prep work—they even pronounced everyone’s names correctly. Despite the long trip from the UK to Korea, they were perfectly prepared and showed amazing interpersonal skills, making everyone feel comfortable sharing their thoughts.”

Reflecting on the practical component of the workshop, he added: “I think this has been incredibly helpful, especially practising the case-study teaching method.”

One workshop participant,Professor Choung Jae-Yong of KAIST, said the workshop fostered valuable mutual learning among scholars from different disciplines. “I’ve learned so much from my colleagues. Seeing how each person approaches a topic, even when their style is very idiosyncratic or unique, has been a great opportunity for mutual learning.”

He also said the programme offers an encouraging sign for the future direction of KDI School. “This program gives me a very positive outlook on where KDI School is heading. Although the school already has excellent resident professors, the fact that they are experimenting with case studies and a discussion-based approach is a very promising sign for the school's future.””

The workshop is expected to serve as the foundation for a long-term collaboration between KDI School and Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, with both institutions expressing optimism about jointly developing world-class public policy modules capable of equipping future leaders to respond to governance challenges across diverse national contexts. The high point of the event was the issuance of certificates of participation to the professors and a formal signing of the partnership agreement between KDI School and the University of Oxford.