KOICA Builds 'Cyber Lecture' Platform at Guatemala National University

Establishment of Online Courses with San Carlos National University and Guatemala KOICA Trainee Alumni Association
Enhancing Existing E-Learning Training Effectiveness... Transferring Korean Education and Digital Technology

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) announced on the 23rd that it will promote the digitalization of university education in collaboration with the National University of Guatemala.

From June 22 to 26 (local time), KOICA Guatemala Office, together with the San Carlos National University (USAC), the only national university in Guatemala, will operate an online course titled "Special Lectures for Innovation in University Education."

In May, KOICA announced eight major tasks for comprehensive post-COVID-19 response and established a strategy for digital work transformation across its projects. Through initiatives such as promoting remote education at the National University of Guatemala, KOICA plans to materialize this strategy.

KOICA and San Carlos National University of Guatemala have opened free online courses targeting professors, students, staff, and interested general public, including: "The Future of University Education - Industry-Academia-Citizen Participation Linkage Plan (22nd)", "Digital Development and the Future of Research and Education - Sigmund Bauman Studies (23rd)", "Neuroscience - Memory and Learning (24th)", "Big Data and Blockchain - Utilization of Knowledge and Data for Innovation in University Education (25th)", and "Continuous Technological Advancement and Lifelong Education - Case Study of the Graduate School of Dentistry (26th)".

Notably, technical and administrative support for this online course was provided by members of the alumni association of Guatemalan trainees who attended KOICA’s e-learning capacity-building training before the COVID-19 outbreak. This is positively evaluated in terms of applying training projects to the field and spreading knowledge.

Hong Seok-hwa, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Guatemala, said in an online congratulatory message, "Providing universal education and expanding accessibility to education through digital means will be key elements in the post-COVID-19, 'new normal' era." He added, "KOICA will also introduce digital work transformation into its traditional human resource exchange-centered ODA programs to promote development cooperation in the post-COVID-19 era."

Mu Pi Pais, President of San Carlos National University of Guatemala, said in his congratulatory remarks, "Digitalization of university education has been difficult to implement due to Guatemala’s conservative academic culture, but due to the impact of COVID-19, it is now necessary to integrate university education with digital technology." He expressed gratitude, saying, "We thank the KOICA office for supporting the reflection of Korea’s advanced digital and educational fields in Guatemala, and the alumni association of trainees who directly learned and transferred Korean technology."

Meanwhile, about 600 professors, students, general public, and professors and students from other universities attended the first class on the 22nd (local time). The session was also broadcast live via Zoom and Facebook Live, and a Q&A session was held. Participants joined not only from Guatemala but also from neighboring Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Mexico, including the KOICA alumni association from Costa Rica.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.