Undergraduate College Liberal Arts Division Runs ‘2025 Global Explorer’ Program with Ritsumeikan University, Japan
– Winning Hackathon Ideas from Jeongseon Expanded into Actionable Global Visions through International Seminars
▲Group photo of participants
Sungkyunkwan University's Undergraduate College (Dean Hoon Suk Choi) successfully hosted the 2025 Global Explorer program for students in the Liberal Arts Division. Held over five days from June 30 to July 4 in Osaka and Kyoto, Japan, the program was designed to give students who performed well in the Jeongseon Coexistence Hackathon (co-hosted by SKKU Undergraduate College, Jeongseon Arirang Foundation, and Jeongseon Youth Center on May 9–10) the opportunity to present their ideas abroad and strengthen their ability to address global issues through academic and cultural exchange with Japanese university students.
▲Presentation scene during the Global Seminar
The group consisted of 12 members: 10 students from two award-winning hackathon teams (‘Choegang Seohee’ and ‘Neujeot Jeongseon’), 1 SKKU student mentor, and 1 faculty staff member. The students participated as presenters in two academic seminars held at the College of Comprehensive Psychology at Ritsumeikan University. Presentation topics included proposals to extend tourists’ stay in Jeongseon through bicycle courses and mascot branding, as well as a VR-based content plan designed to enhance the charm of Jeongseon’s alleyways. The seminars were held in a first-year Psychology Colloquium class and a third- to fourth-year Advanced English course, with more than 40 Japanese students actively engaging in discussions.
Beyond the seminars, participants visited local revitalization resources, the Kyoto City International Foundation, and the employment support center "Hello Work Umeda," where they gained firsthand insight into Japan’s regional revitalization and social integration policies. Participants commented that “visiting international exchange centers and welfare facilities allowed us to connect policy with real-life applications and was practically helpful in refining and advancing our ideas.”
Vice President and Dean Hoon Suk Choi remarked, “We hope this program allows students to go beyond passive field trips and truly validate and improve their ideas on the international stage, leading to meaningful personal growth. We will continue to expand educational programs that foster globally-minded talents with interdisciplinary thinking.”
List
