Four Years of the “Global Future Talent Development Project” Led by YU with Support from Gyeongsan City—A Model of Government–University Collaboration

Seven-University Student Volunteer Corps Deployed Overseas—Building Global Citizenship through Education, Culture, and Environmental Service in Mongolia

Results Shared at August 6 Closing Ceremony—“We Will Continue to Put the Values of Sharing and Solidarity into Practice as Global Citizens”

[August 27, 2026]

<Seven-University Student Overseas Volunteer Corps from Gyeongsan, Including YU, Deployed to Mongolia>

 22 students from seven universities in Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do, successfully completed education, cultural, and environmental volunteer activities in Mongolia during their summer vacation and returned home having grown into more capable global talents.The project, through which the local government and universities joined forces to provide young people with opportunities to gain firsthand international experience and practice public diplomacy, is drawing attention as a model for cultivating global talent through government–university collaboration.

As part of the 2026 Global Future Talent Development Project jointly promoted by Yeungnam University (President CHOI Oe-chool) and Gyeongsan City (Mayor CHO Hyun-il), 22 university students selected from seven universities in Gyeongsan were dispatched to Ulaanbaatar and the Terelj National Park area in Mongolia for 10 nights and 11 days from July 14 to 24 to participate in overseas volunteer activities.

 Now in its fourth year, the Global Future Talent Development Project is a flagship youth global competency-building program in the region, supported by Gyeongsan City and led by YU. Before departure, the participating students broadened their understanding of local communities and public diplomacy through preparatory training. They then put the values of sharing, communication, and sustainability into practice in the field overseas, strengthening their capabilities as global citizens.

<Activities of the Seven-University Student Overseas Volunteer Corps from Gyeongsan, Including YU, in Mongolia>

 The volunteer corps worked with students from the National University of Mongolia to visit Secondary School No. 23 and Erdem Childcare Center in Ulaanbaatar, where they conducted educational and experiential programs introducing the Korean language and Korean culture. Rather than simply providing one-time cultural experiences, the volunteers designed programs that encouraged children to participate and communicate directly, thereby increasing their familiarity with and interest in Korean culture. During an exchange session with students from the Department of Korean Language at the National University of Mongolia, the volunteers provided Korean-language instruction and performed K-pop songs, broadening cultural understanding among young people from the two countries. Although their languages and cultures were different, the participants learned, laughed, and interacted together, gaining a deeper understanding of each other’s daily lives and cultures and building friendships that transcended national borders.

 A student representative of the overseas volunteer corps, Lee Jeong-chan, a sophomore in the Department of Robotics Engineering at YU, said, “At first, I was worried about the unfamiliar environment and language, but while spending time with the children, I deeply realized that sincerity can be conveyed beyond language. It was a truly meaningful experience because our small acts of sharing brought joy to our local friends, while we ourselves were able to better understand the wider world and grow through the process.”   He added, “This activity gave me an opportunity to think about what responsibilities and roles I should take on as a global citizen, and I will continue to put the values of sharing and solidarity that I learned into practice.”

 The volunteer corps also contributed to ecological restoration and carbon neutrality by planting trees and conducting environmental cleanup activities at Terelj National Park. The students collected litter and planted trees, experiencing firsthand the importance of environmental conservation while reflecting on the need to address the climate crisis through global solidarity and collective action.

 <Plogging Activity at Terelj National Park>

 In particular, the Mongolia volunteer program, which was held for the second consecutive year following last year’s program, is establishing itself as a sustainable model of international exchange encompassing education, culture, and the environment, with enthusiastic support from both local communities and participants. The students lived and worked alongside local residents, reflecting on the meaning of volunteer service. The program also demonstrated high participant satisfaction and strengthened their commitment to contributing to the international community in the future.

 Gyeongsan Mayor CHO Hyun-il said, “The warm-hearted spirit of the students who practiced the values of sharing and communication in Mongolia will have made a meaningful impact on the local community. I hope this experience will give them the courage to venture into the wider world and serve as a foundation for sharing the spirit of Gyeongsan’s young people around the world.” He added, “Gyeongsan City will continue to work closely with local universities and provide full support so that young people can experience diverse international settings and develop the capabilities to lead the future. We will also continue to pursue practical policies that expand opportunities for local university students to strengthen their global competencies and grow.” 

 YU President CHOI Oe-chool said, “This overseas volunteer program will have been a valuable opportunity for the students to experience different cultures and ways of life firsthand while cultivating a sense of community and responsibility as global citizens. I am deeply grateful to Gyeongsan City for providing this meaningful opportunity.” He added, “The experience of young people from the region participating together in addressing educational, cultural, and environmental issues in an international setting is closely aligned with YU’s vision of ‘cultivating talents who contribute to the prosperity of humanity.’ We will continue to support a wide range of international exchange and community service programs so that our students can grow into talents equipped with a broad global perspective and the capacity to put their ideas into practice.”

 Meanwhile, the overseas volunteer corps held a performance-sharing session and closing ceremony on August 6 at the Lee Si-won Global Convention Hall of YU’s Cheonma Art Center, looking back on their 10-night, 11-day activities. The event was attended by YU President CHOI Oe-chool, Gyeongsan Mayor CHO Hyun-il, officials from Gyeongsan City and the YU Community Service Corps, and student members of the overseas volunteer corps. At the closing ceremony, certificates of overseas volunteer service were presented to the participating students, outstanding volunteers were recognized, and the program’s significance was revisited through presentations by student representatives on their experiences and a sharing of the project’s achievements. Gyeongsan City and YU plan to further expand various collaborative projects that provide young people with opportunities to challenge themselves and grow on the global stage, based on solidarity among local universities.