Korea University successfully concludes international education program for climate change

Climate Corps Summer School 2025 participants pose at Korea University, Saturday. Courtesy of Korea University

Korea University successfully concluded an international education program on climate change and its possible solutions, the university said Tuesday.

Bringing together 130 scholars and students from 35 universities across six continents, the school hosted the inaugural Climate Corps Summer School from July 7 to 12 to explore cross-border collaboration in addressing climate change.

The six-day program, which ran during a time of record-breaking heat waves across the country, emphasized actionable solutions and international cooperation for climate resilience.

Under the theme of “Cross-Border Collaboration for Climate Crisis,” the event marked the first official program of the Climate Corps, an international college alliance initiated by Korea University. For this year’s program, the United Nations Development Program Seoul Policy Center joined as a partner to contribute to its academic and policy depth.

Participants, including 23 researchers from member institutions, selected one of several pressing issues — ranging from urban resilience, carbon capture and storage and energy policy, to circular economy, food security and climate education.

According to an event official, they worked collaboratively to develop solutions based on the three pillars of technology, policy and business. Their collaborations were also supported by expert mentoring and workshops.

The event also highlighted a field trip on the third day to key climate innovation sites in Seoul, including the Seoul Upcycling Plaza, Energy Dream Center, Seoul Sewer Science Museum, LG Science Park and climate-focused startup OnDream Society.

Throughout the program, participants also promoted a zero-waste culture, under which they received reusable kits, including eco-friendly lunch bags, recycled-fabric T-shirts and reusable utensils. A tumbler washing station was also provided at the venue.

Participating teams presented their final proposals for addressing climate issues on Friday. Of them, Team 10 was awarded the grand prize for their project on “Sustainability Communication,” which emphasized transparent reporting and stakeholder engagement by organizations in sustainability efforts.

“I truly felt the urgency of the climate crisis,” Oliver Lukacs from Corvinus University of Budapest said in a press release. “Collaborating with students from around the world gave me hope that meaningful action is possible.”

Shin Jae-hyuk, director of the Korea University Institute for Sustainable Development, emphasized that climate change “cannot be tackled by one country or university alone."

"Climate Corps will continue building cross-disciplinary and cross-border partnerships for global climate action," he said.