Students are taking their learning beyond the classroom through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Korea–Nepal Youth Exchange Program, gaining hands-on experience with global challenges including climate change, food security, and sustainable development.
The program was recently highlighted in a MoneyToday interview with Sangyong Lee, Director of the Career Development Center, who joined participating students in Nepal as they worked alongside local youth and communities.
Through field-based activities, students explored how global challenges intersect with the economic, cultural, and social realities of local communities. The experience encouraged them to approach complex issues not only from an academic perspective, but also through collaboration, empathy, and cross-cultural understanding.
The Nepal program builds on students’ participation in an FAO youth program in Laos last year. Following that experience, participating students developed content focused on climate-smart agriculture and later had the opportunity to present their work at FAO headquarters in Rome.
This progression, from Laos to Rome and now Nepal, reflects an approach to global learning in which individual experiences can develop into longer-term academic and professional opportunities.
For the Career Development Center, international programs such as these are also an important part of career preparation. Pre-departure preparation, field-based projects, post-program reflection, and career portfolio development help students connect what they experience abroad with their future academic and professional goals.
In his interview, Lee emphasized the importance of giving students opportunities to discover their potential through experience, particularly in environments that challenge them to work across cultures and address real-world issues.
Such experiences can also help students develop skills increasingly valued across international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, global companies, and other internationally focused careers—including cross-cultural communication, collaboration, adaptability, and problem-solving.
Looking ahead, the Career Development Center plans to continue developing opportunities with international organizations such as FAO and exploring partnerships in areas including international development and ESG initiatives.
By engaging directly with communities and global challenges, students are gaining more than international exposure. They are learning how their academic knowledge, perspectives, and skills can contribute to issues that extend far beyond the classroom.
