Pukyong National University Seeks Youth Employment Solutions on the APEC Stage

One Four-Year University Selected, School of Global Liberal Studies Leads Project

International Joint Research and Student Exchange with Japan, Thailand, and the United States

Research on youth employment based on Busan's maritime and port industries will be conducted as an international joint study in collaboration with university students from Japan, Thailand, and the United States.

On August 13, Pukyong National University (President Bae Sanghoon) announced that it has been selected as the implementing institution for the '2026 APEC Academic Exchange Program Project', which is promoted by the Ministry of Education and the APEC International Education Cooperation Institute.

This project aims to strengthen the foundation for international cooperation in higher education through joint research and student exchange among universities within the APEC region. Only one four-year university nationwide is selected to receive support, and the project will be carried out for two years until December 2027. The annual project budget is approximately 100 million won.

Pukyong National University will lead the project primarily through its School of Global Liberal Studies. Professor Hong Changyu of the School of Global Liberal Studies will head the research, conducting studies under the theme of 'Youth Human Resources Development and Strengthening Future Job Capabilities.'

The core objective is to establish a 'Blue Economy-Connected Youth Future Job Model' by combining Busan's characteristics as a maritime and port city with the university's educational and research capabilities.

International, mixed research teams, including domestic and international students, will be formed to jointly investigate youth employment, local entrepreneurship, and youth mobility, while also carrying out field projects.

The project will involve more than 100 students, including about 40 students from Pukyong National University—such as those from the School of Global Liberal Studies—and about 60 students from overseas partner universities.

Inter-country cooperation will also be promoted. With Fukuoka University in Japan, a student hackathon will be held on topics such as smart ports. Joint research on climate change adaptation and green transition in the ASEAN region will be conducted with Thammasat University in Thailand. With Iowa State University in the United States, research on youth settlement strategies will be undertaken.

Through these efforts, the university plans to establish an international joint research and student exchange network connecting Korea, Japan, Thailand, and the United States, with Busan as a central hub. The School of Global Liberal Studies at Pukyong National University plans to leverage its experience in international education and university exchange to expand its multilateral academic cooperation at the APEC level.

The goal is to go beyond simple student exchange by fostering joint research, international mixed research teams, global field studies, and hackathons, thereby creating an international cooperation model where students directly examine local and global issues and seek solutions.

Professor Hong Changyu said, "We aim to develop an international academic exchange model leveraging APEC as a broader platform for international cooperation, utilizing Busan’s strengths as a maritime and port city to empower young people in the APEC region to explore solutions for future jobs and regional innovation together."

Pukyong National University Headquarters.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.