KS's Global Insights into Higher Education

Faced with declining domestic enrollments, political tensions, and financial pressures, U.S. universities are increasingly reconsidering international branch campuses (IBCs) as strategic diversifications and safeguards against uncertainty at home. Examples like Georgetown University in Qatar and Illinois Institute of Technology in Mumbai highlight renewed interest in global expansion. However, South Korea’s Incheon Global Campus (IGC) exemplifies the complexity behind these ambitions. Initially expected to attract large student numbers from Asia, IGC has significantly underperformed enrollment expectations, especially among international students. Its struggles underscore that geographic proximity alone does not ensure student demand, challenging assumptions of automatic enrollment and highlighting the importance of understanding local markets deeply. The IGC experience demonstrates that English-medium instruction (EMI), although seemingly advantageous, can paradoxically restrict rathe...

During South Korea’s 2025 presidential election, a provocative question surfaced in public discourse: “Why not vote for the guy from Harvard?” This rhetorical pitch, delivered by a close ally of Lee Jun-seok, a leading opposition candidate, was intended to reinforce Lee’s legitimacy as a modern, tech-savvy leader ready for the AI-driven future and educated within what is widely regarded as the most prestigious higher education institution in the world. The framing appeared to resonate with a public that continues to place high value on elite academic credentials. At the same time, some observers questioned whether such messaging risked appearing overly elitist or detached from broader social concerns. This moment captured a deeper and more persistent undercurrent in Korean society: the enduring power of academic pedigree or what Koreans typically refer to as “ hakbeol .” In this context, Harvard functioned not merely as an alma mater but as a symbol of excellence, global access, and pr...