Korea Development Institute

The Korea Development Institute is an autonomous economic policy think tank that was set up by the Korean government. The Institute was founded in 1971, during a period of rapid growth, to provide academically rigorous research and analysis of economic policy decisions. One of its main goals is to produce accessible economic forecasts for government officials, private corporations, and the general public.

About KDI School of Public Policy and Management

The KDI School aspires to form the research end of an arc that extends from inquiry and discovery to translation into practice: a continuum that links the most abstruse research with practical improvements in real life. The research carried out by our faculty, covering an extensive array of policy topics, enriches the education we provide and guides our direct contributions to public service.

The diversity of our students is a key factor that contributes to the results that we reap; drawing from a wide array of fields, from government, the private and public sector, media, NGO, and general students, we boast a student composition difficult to find elsewhere.

Since its establishment in 1997, the KDI School has strived to live up to its mission of quality education..As we leave the past 10 years behind us, we are more than determined to continue to empower individuals, policy-makers, and whole governments with the knowledge and education needed to excel in a globalizing world.

The KDI School has many initiatives underway, and is preparing to advance toward key strategic goals.If you agree with our pledge to academic excellence and continued research, which will serve as the foundation for development in public policy and management, the KDI School may be just the place for you.

Mission and Purpose

As we enter the 21st century, we are witnessing a dramatic transformation in the world economy, characterized by increasing global interdependence, rapid advances in science and technology, and increasingly intense global competition.

In this period of dramatic transformation, higher educational institutions need to provide visionary thinking for people to effectively address various challenges and work to attain economic, political, ecological, cultural, and technological sustainability in a global context. The KDI School of Public Policy and Management was established in 1997 to educate and develop the next generation of leaders in today’s rapidly changing and globalizing economy.

The School offers an innovative educational program focusing on policy and international issues and aims to transform mid-career professionals into leaders of their respective fields by equipping them with new knowledge, vision and a global perspective.The KDI School also draws from a wealth of research and resources from the Korea Development Institute (KDI), the nation’s leading economic think tank, to share Korea’s unique development experience with the global community.

KDI School's Primary Goals

- Educating the future leaders in government, business and civic organizations who can effectively meet the challenges of the globalizing world;
- Conducting academic research and disseminating the results for the purpose of having a prosperous and peaceful world;
- Providing professional services to public and private sector organizations to facilitate democratic processes and market mechanisms.

Unique Educational Programs

To achieve its educational missions, the KDI School developed an innovative, policy-oriented educational program tailored specifically for future international leaders in government, business and civic organizations.

The KDI School offers a Master’s Degree program, Ph.D. program, and Non-Degree programs. For detailed information on degree and non-degree programs, please refer to the Academic Programs section.

Students can choose and tailor the program based on their individual, specific interests and professional development needs. The faculty consists of first-rate international experts with outstanding policy research and practical experience. Teaching emphasis is placed on analyzing real-world policy issues through in-depth case studies, interactive class discussions, and on-site field projects. In addition to the core faculty, prominent individuals from the government, business, and other research and academic institutions are invited as guest lecturers or visiting scholars.

The student body is drawn from a select pool of high-potential government officials, business managers and exceptional students from Korea and abroad.

The School strives to attract students who are actively seeking an international perspective during their course of study. All courses are conducted in English in a truly international environment.The School provides a forum for a rich cross-fertilization of ideas and a valuable international networking opportunity.

Academic Programs

The KDI School offers Master’s degree program, a Ph.D. program, and Non-Degree certificate programs. Each of our four Master’s programs - Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master’s in Asset Management (MAM), and Master’s in Foreign Direct Investment (MFDI) - offers a diverse range of concentrations to choose from.

MPP Program

The Master of Public Policy Program provides future public-sector leaders with a global perspective and high-level expertise regarding public policy-related issues. The curriculum emphasizes both theoretical and applied perspectives, supplementing rigorous analytical training in economics, political science, and legal studies with case studies and interactive class discussions. Students also learn from Korea’s experiences with economic and social development, exploring how they may assist Korea and other developing countries in meeting the challenges of the future.
MPP candidates may choose among the following areas of concentration:

Trade and Industrial Policy

This concentration focuses on two of the most important and closely-related areas of economic policy: Trade Policy and Industrial Policy. The Trade Policy curriculum provides students with the knowledge and analytical skills to cope with the rapidly changing world trading system. It covers a range of policies and disciplines, from trade-in goods to trade-in services and trade-related intellectual property protection. More broadly, this concentration provides the skills and insight that are necessary for effective international negotiation and cooperation.

The Industrial Policy curriculum provides students with an understanding of how markets work and what governments can do when markets do not function properly. Topics covered include oligopoly theory and practice, market entry and exit strategies, R&D, collusion, M&A, pricing and marketing, as well as government policies, antitrust legal cases, government promotion of particular industries, monopoly regulation, and state-owned enterprises. Special emphasis is placed on using empirical studies to understand the telecommunications, IT, gas, and electricity industries.

Public Finance and Local Administration

This concentration trains international experts in public economics to systematically plan and develop effective policies in the areas of government budgeting, taxation, and public administration. Emphasis is placed on achieving an appropriate balance between theory and practice. This concentration combines a primary focus on economics with rigorous training in related fields such as political science. Students are expected to master theories and acquire practical expertise through extensive analysis and in-class discussions.

Human Resources and Social Policy

This concentration tackles the critical issues faced by today’s human resource and social policy experts. Key areas of public policy – education, labor, welfare, and the environment – are examined through extensive analysis of domestic and international case studies. Particular emphasis is placed on the use of economic and empirical analysis in developing social policy that enhances the quality of life and overall social welfare. The fundamental principles and analytical tools for formulating social policy are also incorporated into the courses.

Transition and Development Studies

This concentration covers a wide spectrum of development issues, with an emphasis on policy experiences and analysis. The focus is on Korea’s economic development, including economic policies in its early stages of development, social changes that resulted from such rapid development, current economic and social policy issues, and the outlook for future development, including sustainable growth. This concentration also provides a comprehensive overview of the economic transition of the thirty-four former socialist countries that have recently joined the league of developing countries. Courses focusing on case studies of North Korea and China are offered as well.

International Relations and Political Economy

This concentration provides the skills and conceptual framework needed to understand domestic and international political and economic issues. Core topics include political economy, national identity, Korean reunification, democracy, economic cooperation, conflict and resolution, international organizations, and the international system, with a focus on Asia. This concentration also trains students to evaluate evidence and examine assumptions in arguments, emphasizing how to think rather than what to think. In-class discussions among students and faculty are an essential component of this task.

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KDI Business School

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MBA Program

The KDI School offers an innovative, first-class MBA program that develops future leaders in the world of business and finance. With two MBA concentrations to choose from, students can tailor their course of study to their particular career focus or interest.In addition to the regular, full-time MBA program, the School offers an evening MBA program, so professionals can study whiel working full-time. The curriculum and credit requirements for the day and evening programs are identical.

Strategy and Global Management

This concentration is intended for individuals who aspire to become CEOs, strategists, entrepreneurs, or general managers with significant international responsibilities. Emphasis is placed on developing a global perspective, strategic thinking skills and leadership abilities through in-depth study of the latest management concepts, analytic tools, and case studies in the areas of corporate strategy, management, marketing and international business.

Finance and Banking

This concentration helps students gain greater knowledge and expertise in the areas of finance and banking. In addition to basic finance and investment courses, students can choose from advanced courses that incorporate the newest theories and case studies in the areas of public policy, capital markets, investments, international finance, valuation and credit analysis, financial risk management, corporate governance and venture capital.

MFDI Program

The Master’s in Foreign Direct Investment program offers classes on foreign direct investment and overseas investment in order to train future world-class professionals in the foreign investment sector. By emphasizing practical training, the curriculum equips students with the valuation and negotiation skills needed to manage foreign investment projects.

MAM Program

The Master’s in Asset Management program provides future finance specialists with the skills they need to be influential leaders in the ever-growing Northeast financial hub. Training students both in theory and practical application, this program hones the competitive edge of the next generation of international asset management professionals.

External links

* [http://www.kdi.re.kr/kdi_eng/main.jsp Official website]
* [http://www.kdischool.ac.kr/ KDI School of Public Policy and Management]