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A Korean Institution's Global Outlook A Korean Institution's Global Outlook
(7 days later)
SEOUL — Byungtae Lee, dean of the Kaist College of Business in Seoul, knows plenty about the pains and gains of globalization.SEOUL — Byungtae Lee, dean of the Kaist College of Business in Seoul, knows plenty about the pains and gains of globalization.
His own children went to local U.S. schools when Dr. Lee was teaching at universities in Arizona and Illinois, and then international schools when they returned to South Korea. As they reached college age, it was clear that they had an advantage in a system that lauds bilingual students.His own children went to local U.S. schools when Dr. Lee was teaching at universities in Arizona and Illinois, and then international schools when they returned to South Korea. As they reached college age, it was clear that they had an advantage in a system that lauds bilingual students.
Dr. Lee and his fellow professors at South Korea’s largest business school carry the banner of globalization. Dr. Lee believes that the institution can benefit from emphasizing an international outlook, while leveraging the technological expertise of the larger Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.Dr. Lee and his fellow professors at South Korea’s largest business school carry the banner of globalization. Dr. Lee believes that the institution can benefit from emphasizing an international outlook, while leveraging the technological expertise of the larger Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
“In terms of globalization, we are a lot more aggressive than other schools in Asia,” he said. Most classes are conducted in English, and all students must have at least a year of foreign work experience before attending. Each student must also study at another business school with which Kaist has a relationship at some point during their studies. According to the school, 10 percent to 15 percent of their students come from overseas.“In terms of globalization, we are a lot more aggressive than other schools in Asia,” he said. Most classes are conducted in English, and all students must have at least a year of foreign work experience before attending. Each student must also study at another business school with which Kaist has a relationship at some point during their studies. According to the school, 10 percent to 15 percent of their students come from overseas.
Kaist’s classroom dynamics reflect both the school’s international spirit and technological focus.Kaist’s classroom dynamics reflect both the school’s international spirit and technological focus.
In Professor Ahn Jay’s class on digital media convergence, students discuss how traditional networks, content providers, devices, portals and Internet service firms come together to provide better customer service. In Professor Jae-Hyeon Ahn’s class on digital media convergence, students discuss how traditional networks, content providers, devices, portals and Internet service firms come together to provide better customer service.
“We have students from India, China, France and the U.S., a very international mix of people coming on board to discuss integration of digital media and how to manage it,” he said.“We have students from India, China, France and the U.S., a very international mix of people coming on board to discuss integration of digital media and how to manage it,” he said.
Because the students arrive with professional experience, they often come from the very companies that are vying for dominance in the marketplace. “People who worked in those industries are coming to the class to discuss what the new models should be,” Dr. Jay said. Because the students arrive with professional experience, they often come from the very companies that are vying for dominance in the marketplace. “People who worked in those industries are coming to the class to discuss what the new models should be,” Dr. Ahn said.
The Kaist College of Business, which opened in 1995 with the help of the electronics giant Samsung, was the first Korean institution to offer a full-time Master’s of Business Administration degree.The Kaist College of Business, which opened in 1995 with the help of the electronics giant Samsung, was the first Korean institution to offer a full-time Master’s of Business Administration degree.
For the first two years, Samsung supplied all of the school’s students, who then returned to Samsung as managers.For the first two years, Samsung supplied all of the school’s students, who then returned to Samsung as managers.
“At that time Samsung recognized that they needed managers who understood technology and management and also global business,” said Dr. Lee, the school’s dean.“At that time Samsung recognized that they needed managers who understood technology and management and also global business,” said Dr. Lee, the school’s dean.
“Many top managers believed that adding management training to those who majored in engineering was the best combination in education in terms of value creation,” Dr. Lee said. “It would be difficult to manage Samsung without the understanding of technology.”“Many top managers believed that adding management training to those who majored in engineering was the best combination in education in terms of value creation,” Dr. Lee said. “It would be difficult to manage Samsung without the understanding of technology.”
Eric Kim, a former chief marketing officer at Samsung, saw this change in thinking firsthand.Eric Kim, a former chief marketing officer at Samsung, saw this change in thinking firsthand.
An engineer by training and a Harvard Business School graduate, he was brought in to transform the Samsung brand during the Asian financial crisis of the late ’90s, when the company was in distress, and just after it had helped to open Kaist’s business school.An engineer by training and a Harvard Business School graduate, he was brought in to transform the Samsung brand during the Asian financial crisis of the late ’90s, when the company was in distress, and just after it had helped to open Kaist’s business school.
“It was very much a restructuring, rethinking and reorganizing time for Samsung,” said Mr. Kim, who is now chief executive of Soraa, a California-based LED lighting manufacturer. “But throughout that time, Samsung was aggressive in investing in education and human capital.”“It was very much a restructuring, rethinking and reorganizing time for Samsung,” said Mr. Kim, who is now chief executive of Soraa, a California-based LED lighting manufacturer. “But throughout that time, Samsung was aggressive in investing in education and human capital.”
When Mr. Kim joined Samsung in 1999, its focus was on technology and product development. He added an emphasis on marketing so that, “when the products comes out, they are designed to meet the market needs.” Mr. Kim said that his dual engineering and management backgrounds made his job easier.When Mr. Kim joined Samsung in 1999, its focus was on technology and product development. He added an emphasis on marketing so that, “when the products comes out, they are designed to meet the market needs.” Mr. Kim said that his dual engineering and management backgrounds made his job easier.
Today, almost 60 percent of the Kaist business school’s 700 students have engineering backgrounds.Today, almost 60 percent of the Kaist business school’s 700 students have engineering backgrounds.
Kaist is considered a leader among Asian schools and has alumni who are now the heads of major Korean companies, like Ko Jae-Ho, chief executive of Daewoo Shipping and Marine Engineering, and Chang-Ki Lee, chief executive of Tong Yang Cement and Energy.Kaist is considered a leader among Asian schools and has alumni who are now the heads of major Korean companies, like Ko Jae-Ho, chief executive of Daewoo Shipping and Marine Engineering, and Chang-Ki Lee, chief executive of Tong Yang Cement and Energy.
The school even holds a party every year to celebrate graduates promoted to board-level or “C-suite” (meaning C.E.O., C.F.O. and C.O.O.) positions. This year Kaist counted 50 such alumni.The school even holds a party every year to celebrate graduates promoted to board-level or “C-suite” (meaning C.E.O., C.F.O. and C.O.O.) positions. This year Kaist counted 50 such alumni.
Choi Soo-yong, a 29-year-old student, was drawn to Kaist’s M.B.A. program in part because of the network of graduates he can tap into for contacts. “I am looking for a job right now, as this is my last semester. And I already have alums in the business world if I wanted to meet someone in a specific department,” he said. “There is always a Kaist connection, even in companies overseas.”Choi Soo-yong, a 29-year-old student, was drawn to Kaist’s M.B.A. program in part because of the network of graduates he can tap into for contacts. “I am looking for a job right now, as this is my last semester. And I already have alums in the business world if I wanted to meet someone in a specific department,” he said. “There is always a Kaist connection, even in companies overseas.”
Today, top institutions like Seoul National University , Yonsei University and Korea University all offer M.B.A. degrees. Now, the country has more than a dozen advanced business degree programs, including part-time and weekend executive M.B.A. degrees.Today, top institutions like Seoul National University , Yonsei University and Korea University all offer M.B.A. degrees. Now, the country has more than a dozen advanced business degree programs, including part-time and weekend executive M.B.A. degrees.
Abraham Lee, a consultant with the Pacific Strategy Institute, which advises Western business schools entering the Korean market, said that areas of specialization were becoming more complex. “In a culture that places a high value on education and knowledge, Koreans are already conditioned to believe their personal success is tied to getting specialized training in their professions,” he said.Abraham Lee, a consultant with the Pacific Strategy Institute, which advises Western business schools entering the Korean market, said that areas of specialization were becoming more complex. “In a culture that places a high value on education and knowledge, Koreans are already conditioned to believe their personal success is tied to getting specialized training in their professions,” he said.