Continuing links between the University of Exeter and South Korea public sector celebrated during visit

Continuing links between the University of Exeter and South Korea public sector celebrated during visit

Academics and alumni have celebrated the strong links between the South Korean public sector and the University of Exeter with a series of events.

Exeter alumni – now Korean public servants - are developing innovative ways of delivering services through social and domestic policies. Professor Andrew Massey, from the University of Exeter, has visited them to learn about their success in discussions with South Korean politicians and officials.

Whilst in Seoul, Professor Massey was also able to witness the effect of historic diplomatic talks between North and South Korea. He also learned about the remarkable development of the new high tech administrative town of Sejong City in central South Korea, where many public-sector officials and their ministries will be based in future.

During his visit to Sejong City, Professor Massey gave a lecture to around 100 senior civil servants, the Minister of Personnel Management for the Public Sector, Professor Kim PanSuk, and his deputy minister, on how the British civil service has been restructured. He continued the discussion with the minister during a lunch meeting

Professor Massey, Associate Dean for Internationalisation and Development for the University of Exeter’s College of Social Sciences and International Studies, said: “Korea is a major UK trading partner and a highly innovative country that has leading edge technology and programmes for one-stop digitised service delivery. Korea is seeking to develop a range of sustainable governance policies. Exeter alumni are helping to lead these exciting programmes.

“In my meeting with the Minister and senior officials we discussed issues around public sector reform in the UK and the Republic of Korea. I then met senior officials who are Exeter alumni and spent some time with people about to start postgraduate study at the University of Exeter, discussing their courses and life in the University and the city.”

Professor Massey also gave two talks at Seoul Women's University about good governance, and a lecture on government and social innovation at the NHI in Seoul, the Korean Republic's main training school for senior public servants. He was questioned by the 70 senior civil servants in the audience and also met Exeter alumni and spoke to prospective students.

Date: 21 May 2018