Experts highlight disconnect between school training, industry demands

From left are Jung Min-chul, partner at Samil PwC; Kim Han-sung, vice president for international affairs at Hanyang University; Jaha Zoda, CEO of BNC Global; Ocean Yang, CEO of Careertus; and Maki Yuzon, Philippine sales team leader at SBI Cosmoney. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Korean universities are falling short in preparing students for the workforce, experts warned Wednesday during the second session of the Korea Times Global Conference, highlighting a widening gap between academic programs and the skills employers say the country needs.

Titled “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Global Competitiveness of Korean Universities,” the forum aimed to boost the global competitiveness of Korean universities, particularly in educating international students, as schools face shrinking domestic enrollment amid declining birthrates.

In the second session, moderated by Jung Min-chul, a partner at Samil PwC, panelists noted that while schools offer industry-academia cooperation programs, many international students still struggle to prepare for jobs in Korea.

Jung Min-chul, partner at Samil PwC, speaks during the Korea Times Global Conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

“According to a recent survey of international students at Hanyang University, nearly half said their first goal was to work at a Korean company. But when asked about their biggest challenge, 63 percent said they didn’t even know where to start,” said Kim Han-sung, vice president for international affairs at Hanyang University.

Kim added that the university is trying to support these students through various industry-academia programs, including a six-week internship — two weeks in Korea and four weeks in Shanghai — which last year involved Hankook Tire and Hyundai L&C.

Kim Han-sung, vice president for international affairs at Hanyang University, speaks during the Korea Times Global Conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Jaha Zoda, CEO of aesthetic medical device company BNC Global and a native of Tajikistan who came to Korea a decade ago, also emphasized the value of industry-academia programs.

He recalled a two-month internship at a medical device company during his senior year, saying the experience still benefits him in both manufacturing and research.

“But I didn’t even know about industry-academia programs until my junior or senior year,” Zoda said. “When foreign students first arrive in Korea, they face so many challenges just learning the language and culture that it is difficult to focus on growth. That is why university support is essential.”

Jaha Zoda, CEO of BNC Global, speaks during the Korea Times Global Conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Now a business owner employing workers in Korea, he added that courses lasting three to four months to develop skillsets such as Microsoft Office could also be valuable.

Ocean Yang, CEO of Careertus, said most industry-academia programs for foreign students are led by the government, large corporations or top universities, and stressed that small and medium-sized firms and second-tier schools should play a bigger role.

Yang added that companies hiring foreign students often struggle with language and cultural barriers, and urged universities to provide more intensive training in those areas.

Ocean Yang, CEO of Careertus, speaks during the Korea Times Global Conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

“There are many fragmented policy elements right now, and it is important to connect them into a more integrated system,” he said.

Maki Yuzon, Philippine sales team leader at SBI Cosmoney, a fintech firm specializing in overseas remittances, stressed the need for programs that help foreign students build soft skills, noting that interpersonal abilities are crucial in the workplace.

She added that beyond simple internships, one-on-one mentorships that connect students directly with industry professionals are also essential.

Maki Yuzon, Philippine sales team leader at SBI Cosmoney, speaks during the Korea Times Global Conference at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

At the close of the session, panelists agreed that stronger support is needed to make studying in Korea a truly meaningful opportunity for international students.

“Each student who comes to Korea is taking part in a program that can shape the course of their life,” Kim said. “Our hope is that they succeed, whether they stay in Korea or return home. That is why it is essential to focus on supporting their career development and employment opportunities.”