Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin / Yonhap
Korea’s expansion of its higher education exports continued as Kyung Hee University and the World Health Organization (WHO) convened nursing leaders from across Central Asia, a move that reflects Seoul’s increasing involvement in global health education.
The seventh International Nursing Forum opened at the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy under the theme “Prospects for Nursing and Midwifery Beyond Borders.” The gathering brought together officials from Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovation, the Korean Embassy and nursing experts from five Central Asian nations: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The forum, jointly organized by Kyung Hee University’s international cooperation team and the WHO, is a component of Korea’s education-focused official development assistance. By sharing pedagogical frameworks and clinical standards, Seoul is establishing a role in medical training for a region historically influenced by Soviet-era educational structures.
According to the Ministry of Education, the discussions focused on policy cooperation and educational innovation. Keynote sessions and research presentations centered on regional priorities, including the strengthening of healthcare systems through the professionalization of medical staff and the modernization of midwifery.
Since April 2022, Kyung Hee University has been managing a project designed to update nursing curricula and bolster infectious disease response. The university noted that this initiative led to government approval for Kyrgyzstan’s first four-year bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in nursing — a shift toward international standards.
Beyond the classroom, the project has facilitated specialized training for medical workers and the modernization of Kyrgyzstan’s national health information system. As Central Asian nations seek to improve pandemic readiness, the integration of Korean digital health infrastructure and academic frameworks is serving as a model for regional reform.
Source: Korea Times News
