IBSEN Network Strengthens International Ties in South Korea

Volume 29, Issue 09, 13 November 2026

The IBSEN network’s November meeting in South Korea brought together international partners to Hallym University in Chuncheon while also giving Xamk representatives an opportunity to strengthen university partnerships in Seoul and experience Korean culture, cuisine and everyday life.

The International Business Studies Exchange Network, IBSEN, continued its tradition of bringing partner universities together when representatives travelled to Hallym University in Chuncheon, South Korea. The meeting, hosted by the university’s School of Global Studies from 9 to 11 November 2026, focused on exchanging ideas in teaching, learning and research and on strengthening collaboration between the network’s international partners.

For South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) representatives, the journey also provided an opportunity to look beyond the established IBSEN network and strengthen wider connections in South Korea. Before travelling to Chuncheon, there was time in Seoul to visit partner universities Chung-Ang University and Kyung Hee University the purpose of which was to develop and strengthen opportunities for student and staff mobility, joint research, collaborative teaching and other forms of academic exchange. At Chung-Ang there was also the chance to catch up with a Xamk student, Lotte Määttä, who is spending here exchange there.

The main IBSEN programme was at Hallym University, located in Chuncheon, roughly 70 kilometres north-east from Seoul, where the university has been an important South Korean member of the IBSEN network. Its international activities include study-abroad opportunities, double degrees and joint research, making it a natural setting for discussions about the future of international higher education.

The meeting also demonstrated what makes IBSEN distinctive. Rather than simply maintaining a large collection of bilateral agreements, the network is based on closer and more sustained cooperation between a select group of universities. Regular meetings four times per year (virtual and face-to-face), allow members to turn personal relationships into concrete initiatives. Partner cooperation includes student and staff exchanges, double degrees, summer schools, BIPs (Blended Intensive Programmes) and IBSEN certificate activities.

But an IBSEN visit is about more than meeting rooms and presentations. South Korea provided a memorable cultural backdrop to the academic programme. Time in Seoul offered opportunities to explore the contrasts of one of Asia’s most dynamic cities, from modern shopping streets and high-rise cityscapes to traditional neighbourhoods, temples and historic areas. Myeongdong and Insadong were among the areas considered during preparations for the trip, combining lively city life with opportunities to experience a more traditional side of Seoul.

Food was inevitably part of that experience. Eating out offered another window into Korean culture, with shared meals providing an informal setting for conversation as part of the semi-official programme between different partners. Korean barbecue, colourful side dishes, warming soups and the seemingly endless variety of Seoul’s restaurants and street food added a culinary dimension to the journey.

From the busy pace of Seoul to the peaceful lakes and mountains surrounding Chuncheon, the visit combined professional networking with cultural discovery. More importantly, it reinforced a simple idea at the heart of IBSEN: international cooperation becomes stronger when people meet face to face, experience each other’s universities and cultures, and have time to build personal relationships beyond the formal agenda.