HUFS GTEP Project Group Wraps Up 16th Term by Sweeping Contest Awards

Multiple Awards at Competition Hosted by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA
Passion for Overseas Expansion Despite COVID-19 Impact

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The 16th cohort of the GTEP Project Group for Training Regional Specialized Young Trade Experts at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) is gaining recognition for their capabilities as trade talents by winning awards consecutively at major trade-related academic conferences and competitions.

The 16th cohort of HUFS GTEP Project Group won awards in three categories including the Excellence Award, two Special Selections, and one Honorable Mention at the ‘16th Regional Specialized Young Trade Experts Training Program (GTEP) E-commerce Competition’ hosted last month by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea International Trade Association. Held at the COEX Conference Room, this competition was organized to share the e-commerce practice achievements of GTEP project groups from 20 universities nationwide throughout 2022.

Lee Tae-yeon (Class of 2020, Serbian-Croatian) from HUFS GTEP Project Group, who received the Excellence Award, said, “Through the GTEP Project Group activities, I was introduced to operating an e-commerce shop for the first time,” adding, “With mentoring and education from the supervising professor and cooperation with diligent team members in a good educational environment, I have developed a bigger dream to grow into an outstanding trade professional in the future.”

The 16th class of the Regional Specialized Young Trade Experts Training Project Group (GTEP Project Group) at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. [Photo by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies]

Moreover, HUFS GTEP Project Group also won the Grand Prize with four teams and Excellence Awards with one team and two teams respectively at the ‘Global E-commerce School Competition’ jointly hosted by the Korea International Trade Association and the Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation. The ‘Global E-commerce School’ is a program designed to support export activation through e-commerce on global platforms in the untact era by strengthening operational skills through close mentoring on marketplace management, supporting university student startups, and nurturing global sellers.

Baek Jae-seung, head of the HUFS GTEP Project Group, said, “The 16th cohort of GTEP Project Group has revitalized the project activities more than ever by opening the sky routes closed due to COVID-19 and gaining more experience compared to the 15th cohort,” adding, “We support the future of students who will become trade talents and step into society through activities that broaden their knowledge not only theoretically but also in the field.”

In fact, the 16th cohort of HUFS GTEP Project Group, which started activities in February last year, demonstrated their passion for entering overseas stages despite the impact of COVID-19 by participating 13 times in exhibitions and fairs held worldwide in countries such as the United States, France, Spain, Monaco, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

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