Between July 24th to 29th, Seoul National University and Hitotsubashi University in partnership with KDI School of Public Policy and Management, and the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies hosted the 15th Euro-Asia Summer School 2023. Four students from various graduate programs in KDI School participated in this year’s summer school with the hopes of enhancing their knowledge and understanding of global governance and the Sustainable Development Goals from the perspective of Europe and Asia’s international economic and trade relations.

(The participants of the Euro-Asia Summer School posed for a group photo during the field visit at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) sponsored and organized by the KDI School during the Korean leg of the activity.)

The annual activity aims to bring together talented students from Asia and Europe to learn about the key aspects of global governance from a comparative perspective, particularly Europe and Asia. It is an opportune time for young talents to meet and interact with other students and experts from the partner schools to facilitate intercultural dialogues on global governance.

(The participants enjoyed the cultural visit at the Akihabara Temple in Japan organized by the Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law.)

The European Union and Asia are key actors in global governance. In the continuing move towards globalization, the two regions are faced with similar challenges, such as financial uncertainties, the growing issues of protectionism, climate change, human rights violations and poverty which entails regional and global action and solutions.

(Ms. Natia Ghuladze from KDI School sharing her group’s output during one of the group discussions at the summer school in SNU.)

At the backdrop of the move towards globalization are countries efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted in 2015. The SDGs determine the course of the global social, ecological, and economic agenda of its signatories until 2030. To achieve the SDGs, international trade and international partnerships between different actors and institutions play a critical role. Specifically, SDG 17 highlights international trade, trade policy and international partnerships as key strategies to achieve the SDGs.

As acquiring mutual knowledge of the European and Asian contexts in dealing with these multifactorial issues is often a challenge, this year’s Euro-Asia Summer School uncovered how international trade and partnerships will impact key SDGs which relate to economy and society and highlights the SDGs related to economic development, cities, trade, industry, and innovation. The summer school discovered and compared how these major issues are being addressed in both the EU and Asia, and thus aimed to allow participants to develop an in-depth understanding of the SDGs from both regions’ perspectives. 

Through activities, participants gained an understanding of the emergence and development of the SDGs and how the different SDGs are interrelated, the complexities of the 169 individual targets that are part of the 17 SDGs and reflected on the challenges with which the SDGs are confronted. The students also learnt from practitioners what the difficulties are in achieving the SDGs and gained an in-depth understanding of how international trade and trade policies affect sustainable development. 

(The participating KDIS students during the SNU leg of the Euro-Asia Summer School (from L - R, Kang, Yeon Wook from Korea, Dilabo Saidalieva from Tajikistan, Natia Ghuladze from Georgia, and Richie Enecillo from the Philippines))

The first leg of the activity was held at Seoul National University (SNU) on July 24-25 with keynote speakers from SNU, KDIS and Hitotsubashi University discussing diverse topics such as East Asian economic development, trade and sustainable development in the EU Trade Agreements, and a special lecture on “Dating, Marriage and Childbirth Intention Changes During COVID-19” by Professor Seulki Choi from KDI School.

(Professor Seulki Choi of KDI School presenting his research entitled Dating, Marriage and Childbirth Intention Changes During COVID-19 " at the Seoul National University.)

The second part held from July 26-29 at the Hitotsubashi University, Japan also gathered experts on global governance from the participating institutions who discussed Japan’s political economy, Korea and Japan’s economic relations, and another lecture from KDI School’s Professor Seulki Choi on “Spousal Relationship Change and Gendered Division of Labor under COVID-19". The last leg of the summer school was conducted online on August 25 - September 1 bringing 30 experts worldwide and focused on key topics including the origin, development, and idea of the SDGS, the SDGs and Society and strengthening institutions for sustainability.