On 20 April, LSE welcomed a presidential delegation from Korea University, one of the leading research-intensive institutions in Korea and across East Asia, for a focused discussion on future collaboration. Based in Seoul, Korea University offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary breadth of teaching and research offerings with 81 departments and 19 colleges in subjects related to business and economics, engineering, and social sciences.
Senior leadership and academics from both institutions came together for a conversation that moved quickly beyond introductions. Professor Larry Kramer, President and Vice Chancellor, and Professor Susana Mourato, Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research), opened the meeting on behalf of LSE, joined by colleagues from across the School, alongside Dr Mengxi Pang (ISAP). The Korea University delegation was led by President Dong-One Kim.
As Professor Kramer noted, the areas identified for discussion “resonate strongly with LSE’s own academic strengths and strategic priorities… providing an excellent foundation for a productive and forward-looking conversation.”
Alignment between the institutions is evident in our current state of collaboration. Both LSE and Korea University are a part of the CEMS Network, a global alliance in management education that aims to prepare future leaders to lead an “open, sustainable and inclusive world.” Spearheaded by LSE’s Department of Management and Korea University’s Business School, both institutions produce world-class educational experiences that better understand the world through interdisciplinary learning in management studies.
This commitment is also illustrated in our collaborative research over the past five years, with joint publications related to a wide range of topics. This includes Health Economics research examining the effects of prescription drug insurance on inappropriate prescription practices, a Psychology and Marketing study exploring the effects of ‘webrooming’ on consumer behaviour, and a Sustainability publication that proposes sustainable waste management systems. These existing collaborations provide exciting momentum for broader, institution-wide partnerships.
In conversation about future collaborations, AI and Data Science emerged as a clear focal point, bringing together Korea University’s strengths in advanced technologies with LSE’s expertise in the social, ethical, and governance dimensions of AI. There was also strong interest in expanding regional activity across education and mobility. Cementing these new partnerships with Korea University would strengthen our mutual value of interdisciplinary and future-oriented thinking in approaching the most pressing global challenges.
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Photos © M. Arcady