Chang Hyun-se, third from left, poses with his fellow students at SKK GSB’s year-end party in December, 2010. / Courtesy of Chang Hyun-se

Chang Hyun-se, 27, is scheduled to finish his MBA degree with concentration on marketing in February at Sungkyunkwan University's Graduate School of Business (SKK GSB). He did an internship at Cheil Worldwide during the summer and is now looking for a job in marketing at a Korean company.

Why did you take this MBA course?

Although I’m a Korean, I spent most of my life outside of Korea because of my father’s business. I spent my early school years in China and got a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University in the United States.
So I have always had an aspiration to study in my mother nation, Korea. Since I majored in marketing in college, I decided to learn more about it at the graduate level.

What made you apply to SKK GSB?

I thought the school has a greater competitive edge in the area of globalization over other MBA courses here. The school has well-formed partnerships with schools abroad, including MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Indiana University. In addition, you can get top-tier education in a highly-globalized atmosphere with 60 percent of our faculty members coming from abroad. All lectures are in English.

Are you enjoying taking the course?

I enjoy it very much. In every course, we use reading materials and cases, which are not only practical but also ready to make applications in the real business world. For example, we try to come up with solutions for challenges that a real company faces and have in-depth discussions, which are followed by evaluations on our suggestions. Even before my graduation, I feel like I'm well-prepared for the real business world.

What was your favorite class?

My favorite class was Brand Management. The class gave me a chance to have second-hand experience in the area. Now I think that I will be able to use my insights and knowledge once I get a job.

What is the key expertise that you got from the MBA course?

First, I learned deep knowledge on the field of marketing. I recognized how basic and abstract things that I learned in undergraduate school were. Second, I had opportunities to meet people with various backgrounds. The school boasts of diversity in many aspects, including age, majors and professional background.

Can you talk about your extracurricular experiences?

I am serving as president of the student council. And I did an internship in the marketing department of Cheil Worldwide for eight weeks during the summer. It was a great experience that helped me better understand textbook knowledge I learned from classrooms by applying it to the real world.

What would be your advice for those who wish to take MBA courses?

Some students have a wrong perception about MBA programs in Korea. However, it totally depends on how much you can benefit from the programs because local schools have many advantages, such as lower tuition and more internship opportunities.

Does the SKK GSB have a good program to help you find a job?

The school has a department dedicated exclusively to student's job placement. The department recommended the internship I had last summer. They also have a good mentoring program that connects students to alumni, who are currently working at companies.

Interview by Kwon Eun-young