Minister of Education Choi Kyo-jin / Yonhap
Korea’s push to export its higher education model is gaining ground overseas, with a university-led partnership helping reshape Sri Lanka’s medical research and training landscape.
The Ministry of Education said Monday that a recent evaluation of its “Leading University for International Cooperation” program found tangible progress in strengthening higher education and public health systems in Sri Lanka.
At the center of the effort is Sungkyunkwan University, which has worked since 2020 with the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to establish the country’s first Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine.
The department, launched in July 2020, played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic as the only institution in Sri Lanka dedicated to nationwide infectious disease analysis, officials said.
Building on that foundation, the Sri Lankan government supported the creation of a national-level Allergy and Immunology Research Institute within the university, completed in January 2026. The institute is expected to serve as a central hub for infectious disease response and advanced immunology research.
The initiative is part of Korea’s broader official development assistance program in education, which supports curriculum development, faculty training and academic infrastructure in partner countries.
Since 2012, the program has operated in 18 countries, involving 53 project teams. It currently runs 38 projects across 16 countries, including collaborations in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The ministry said the program’s impact extends beyond academia, contributing to structural improvements in partner countries’ health care systems.
It said, “This program is meaningful in that it strengthens both educational systems and the foundation for sustainable talent development in partner countries.” It added, “We will continue expanding support to enhance higher education capacity globally.”
Source: Korea Times News
