Mason Korea has earned two prestigious honors at the 2026 Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence, receiving a Gold Stevie Award in the Educational or Research Institution of the Year category and a Bronze Stevie Award in the Achievement in Global Collaboration category.
The awards were presented on October 28 in Paris, France, recognizing Mason Korea's achievements in advancing education, research, and international collaboration. This year's competition attracted approximately 700 entries from 37 countries, with more than 160 industry experts evaluating submissions over a two-month period.
Under the theme "One Mason. Two Nations. Infinite Innovation," Mason Korea was recognized for developing an innovation ecosystem that connects artificial intelligence (AI), serious games, cybersecurity, defense research, and entrepreneurship through academic and industry partnerships.
The judging panel highlighted Mason Korea's efforts to bridge academic research and real-world applications through key initiatives, including the C5I Center Korea, the Korea Serious Game Institute (KSGI), and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). Drawing on George Mason University's research expertise in the United States, these initiatives support international research partnerships, industry engagement, and entrepreneurial development.
Mason Korea has steadily expanded its research and innovation capabilities in recent years. In 2024, the university established KSGI to advance game-based research in education, rehabilitation, and social impact. In 2025, it launched CIE to strengthen connections between the entrepreneurial ecosystems of South Korea and the United States.
Building on these efforts, Mason Korea established the C5I Center Korea in 2026 and signed memoranda of understanding with the Association of the Republic of Korea Army and the Defense Information and Communications Association, laying the groundwork for international collaborative research in defense AI.
Mason Korea has also expanded opportunities for students to engage in creative and socially impactful initiatives. Its annual Progress@Play Digital Art Competition attracted 255 teams from across Asia in 2026, reflecting the program's growing international reach and its commitment to combining creativity, technology, and social innovation.
"Receiving the Gold Stevie Award is a meaningful recognition of our efforts to develop educational technology into an innovation platform that connects research, industry, and national priorities," said Joshua Park, Campus Dean of Mason Korea. "Building on our collaboration with the Fairfax campus, we will continue expanding an educational ecosystem that integrates AI, defense technology, serious games, and entrepreneurship."
Park also emphasized Mason Korea's commitment to preparing students for global opportunities by providing an educational environment where they can develop their skills in Korea and demonstrate their capabilities on the international stage.
The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence recognize outstanding achievements across a wide range of technological fields, including AI, educational technology, biotechnology, robotics, and information technology. This year's honorees included global organizations such as Allianz, DHL, AstraZeneca, Merck, MSD, Cisco, and Lenovo.
As George Mason University's international campus in Incheon, South Korea, Mason Korea offers the same academic curriculum and degrees as its U.S. campus. Students typically spend three years studying in Korea and one year at the Fairfax campus in Virginia, gaining an international educational experience that prepares them for careers around the world.
These latest honors underscore Mason Korea's growing contributions to international education, research innovation, and cross-border collaboration, reinforcing its commitment to connecting academic excellence with meaningful global impact.