KS's Global Insights into Higher Education

The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), a leading organization specializing in international education, officially opened its Seoul Center in Gwanghwamun this August, marking a new turning point in Korea. Founded in 1950, IES is the world’s most reputable study abroad organization with 75 years of history, and more than 10,000 students participate in its programs each year. The newly established IES Seoul Center has chosen Gwanghwamun as a strategic base. Director Kyuseok Kim explained,  “Gwanghwamun is surrounded by cultural and historical resources, such as the Seoul Museum of History and the Seoul Museum of Art, and it is close to Jeong-dong and Seochon. It is the optimal location for international students to experience Korean society in diverse ways, and this fits well with IES’s educational philosophy. IES is a learning platform that emphasizes supporting student growth and development by providing quality educational experiences, and ultimately nurtu...

A few weeks ago, I turned a corner off Whitehall and there he was, Robert Clive in bronze, surveying his dominion. The sight was a stark reminder of how empire lingers in subtler forms. Education has long been a medium of power, and my time in London sharpened an old question: if guns and tariffs once carried British influence, do degrees, curricula, and branch campuses now serve the same purpose in gentler guise?  Knowledge has never traveled neutrally. Empire conferred prestige on what was taught in its centers and relegated indigenous traditions to the margins. The legacy endures: English dominates academic publishing, global rankings reflect Western metrics, and UK degrees remain universal benchmarks. To many, the statue of “Founder of British India” is more than a relic. Expansion of UK Higher Education Abroad Transnational education has expanded rapidly, with British universities offering degrees through branch campuses, joint programs, and franchises across Asia and the Midd...