"Korea’s Experience Serves as a Major Reference for Uzbekistan’s Development"... Senior Officials Participate in Invitational Training at Yeungnam University

Yeungnam University carried out the "Public Sector HRD Best Institutions Certification Program Operator Invitational Training" for nine days from September 5 to September 13, 2026, as part of the "Uzbekistan Human Resource Management Program Development and Capacity Building Project" led by the Korea Institute of Public Administration (KIPA). Twenty officials participated in this program, including officials from the Uzbekistan Agency for Government Efficiency (AGE), HR officials from the pilot ministries for the HRD Certification System (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Construction), as well as other relevant government ministries.

The Uzbekistan government is currently advancing core innovation initiatives such as organizational restructuring, anti-corruption, enhanced performance management, and the utilization of artificial intelligence. By introducing the HRD Certification System in government ministries, Uzbekistan is systematically diagnosing and improving government official education and work competency management, talent development strategies, and organizational performance management. This training program was prepared to address these policy needs by sharing Korea’s experience with the HRD Certification System and public sector personnel management, aiming to strengthen Uzbek officials’ understanding of such systems and their practical execution capabilities.

President Choi Oechul of Yeungnam University is giving a lecture to high-ranking Uzbek officials.

The official training began with a welcoming ceremony at Yeungnam University on September 7. Choi Oechul, President of Yeungnam University, delivered the opening lecture on the topic "Korea's Development Experience and the Saemaul Undong: Regional Innovation through Human Resource Development." President Choi explained the principles of Korea’s Saemaul Undong, which drove community transformation through official education and leadership, and outlined a vision for adapting these principles to the development strategies of Uzbekistan’s traditional community unit, the "Mahalla."

Professor Lee Heeyong then presented a practical lecture titled "Action Plan Methodologies for Establishing and Operating the HRD Certification," while Professor Hwang Taeyoon delivered a session on "Establishment of Uzbekistan’s Pharmaceutical Industry Cluster and HRD Operation Strategy," both receiving enthusiastic responses from the trainees.

The trainees began their benchmark visits at the Saemaul Undong Memorial Park in Cheongdo and proceeded to explore best practices at the Korea Education and Research Information Service (KERIS), National Information Society Agency (NIA), Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education & Training (KRIVET), Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Samsung Human Resources Development Institute. Through these visits, they directly observed public and private sector human resource development, skills training, and digital regional innovation in Korea. Under the guidance of faculty from KIPA and Yeungnam University, participants also developed and presented their own "HRD Certification System Establishment and Operation Action Plans" tailored to their respective ministries in Uzbekistan.

Yeungnam University has continually expanded cooperation in education and research with universities and institutions in Uzbekistan. The university has been pursuing a 2+2 dual degree program with Tashkent University of Information Technologies, established a foundation for joint degree programs with Turin Polytechnic University, and continued educational and research collaborations with the Institute of Pharmacy Technology.

Yeungnam University possesses significant experience and infrastructure accumulated through years of international development cooperation education for officials and local leaders from developing countries. The university’s Institute for International Development Cooperation (IIDC) has operated a variety of short-term training programs—including theory and practice of the Saemaul Undong—for public officials and community leaders from developing nations, producing a total of 3,559 graduates from 56 countries to date.

The Park Chung Hee School of Policy and Saemaul (PSPS) at Yeungnam University operates master’s degree programs in Saemaul Studies & International Development Cooperation and Public Policy. Since its establishment, a total of 1,243 participants from 81 countries—including representatives of eight international organizations such as the World Bank and the UN World Food Programme—have enrolled in these programs. Through these efforts, Yeungnam University has built a comprehensive international development cooperation education system, ranging from short-term training to regular degree programs, and continues to nurture key talents such as high-level government officials, policymakers, and community leaders from developing countries.

Mukhsina Khusanova, head of the Uzbek delegation, commented, "Uzbekistan is closely referencing Korea’s experiences in a variety of projects and fields. If cooperation with Yeungnam University further expands, it will be a great help to Uzbekistan's development."

President Choi Oechul of Yeungnam University stated, "One of the critical driving forces that enabled Korea to rise from an aid recipient country to an advanced nation was the spirit of self-help through human resource development and the Saemaul Undong. I am very pleased that Yeungnam University’s advanced educational know-how can be shared to support Uzbekistan’s public sector HRD innovation and the development of Mahalla communities."

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