KS's Global Insights into Higher Education

Syracuse University, based in the United States, has highlighted its interest in establishing an International Branch Campus (IBC) in South Korea. This is part of a broader initiative led by the university's president to strengthen ties with South Korea and is indicative of the global engagement trend that is increasingly being embraced by higher education institutions worldwide. South Korea's higher education system is faced with a challenge due to an impending decline in the number of potential college students - projected to drop from 450,000 in 2020 to a worrying 280,000 in 2040. This demographic shift might suggest that the timing is not right for such international expansion. However, the reality on the ground indicates that there has been steady enrolment growth in the three US and one Belgian branch campuses currently hosted in the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the value of IBCs in South Korea. With international travel restrictions in place, these