Strengthening Academic Ties with South Korea: Chonnam National University Delegation Visits Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija
From 6 to 10 July 2026, Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija (ŠVK) welcomed two representatives from the Department of Public Administration at Chonnam National University (CNU), South Korea.
Jungah Bae and Yung Chul Lee participated in an Erasmus+ Staff Training Mobility, aimed at strengthening international partnerships, exchanging academic expertise, and exploring new opportunities for cooperation in higher education, research, and public administration.
The five-day programme began at Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija, where the guests met with the College’s management, the International Relations Office, and academic staff. During the meetings, both institutions presented their educational and research activities, discussed opportunities for student and staff mobility, and explored future collaboration through joint research projects and international initiatives.
The CNU delegation introduced the university, the Department of Public Administration, and the Institute of Public Administration, highlighting the institution’s strong commitment to research, internationalisation, and community engagement. The discussions also focused on a long-term cooperation framework based on six core areas of collaboration and a four-phase roadmap designed to support sustainable partnership between the two institutions.
As part of the programme, the delegation met with Mr Justinas Švėgžda, Vice Mayor of Šiauliai City. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on local governance, public administration, and cooperation between higher education institutions and local authorities. The discussion emphasised the importance of linking academic research with evidence-based policymaking to address regional challenges and promote sustainable development.
The mobility programme also included a visit to the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania in Vilnius. During the meeting with representatives of the Public Administration and Local Government Policy Group, participants discussed recent public administration reforms, decentralisation processes, and innovation in the public sector. The exchange offered valuable insights into the administrative systems of Lithuania and South Korea while identifying potential areas for future comparative research.
The delegation also visited Klaipėda University, where discussions focused on scientific cooperation, comparative public administration research, and the development of future international research projects. On the final day of the programme, meetings at the Šiauliai Academy of Vilnius University explored opportunities for collaboration under Horizon Europe, particularly in the fields of democratic governance, youth civic participation, transparency, and public administration.
The Erasmus+ mobility has further strengthened the partnership between Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija and Chonnam National University. In addition to exchanging knowledge and good practices, both institutions confirmed their commitment to expanding staff and student mobility, developing joint research activities, and preparing international project proposals.
Looking ahead, both partners expressed a strong interest in preparing a Horizon Europe 2027 proposal focusing on youth civic participation, participatory budgeting, transparency literacy, and democratic resilience. The visit also created new opportunities for comparative research between Lithuania and South Korea in the fields of participatory governance and local democracy.
Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija sincerely thanks the representatives of Chonnam National University for their visit, inspiring discussions, and commitment to future cooperation. The Erasmus+ Staff Training Mobility has laid a strong foundation for a long-term partnership that will contribute to academic excellence, innovation, and stronger international cooperation between Lithuania and South Korea.
