Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center, jointly with The School of International Studies and the International Development Cooperation Institute, will hold the 2026 first-half regular seminar "INDECODE," which shares practical experience from official development assistance (ODA) fieldwork and academic trends with the local community.

"INDECODE (International DEvelopment COoperation & DElights)" is an academic program designed as a regular knowledge-sharing platform in the field of international development cooperation, with the idea of "creating someone’s joy through development cooperation." Since its launch in 2022, it has hosted a total of 32 expert lectures across domains, establishing itself as a platform for strengthening local ODA capacity and agenda discussion.

The 2026 first-half seminar series comprises six expert lectures from March 11, 2026 to May 27, 2026. The program will revisit the evolving international development cooperation environment, covering the climate crisis, global health, agriculture, and technology ODA.

At the 33rd lecture, held on March 11, 2026, Hwang Won-gyu, Professor Emeritus at Kangwon National University and former president of the Association for International Development Cooperation, will analyze, from a macro perspective, the challenges for ODA arising from deepening global inequality and the reordering of the international system under the theme "Changes in the International Development Cooperation Environment in the 21st Century: Ideals and Realities of Development Cooperation." Following that, on March 26, 2026, Lee Hyun-shin, Director of External Cooperation at the Global Sharing Movement, will discuss directions for field-centered overseas volunteering based on concrete outcomes from youth governance volunteer activities.

In April, the series will focus on concrete ODA outcomes in agriculture and technology. On April 8, 2026, Lee Gyu-seong, Professor at Wonkwang University and former Deputy Administrator of the Rural Development Administration, will present a farmer partnership model based on the case of cultivating a rain-sheltered vegetable innovation pilot village in the Philippines. On April 29, 2026, Dr. Kim Young-chan of the Korea Food Research Institute will academically examine strengthening food processing technology capacities for developing countries and ways to link this to the overseas expansion of domestic companies.

In May, discussions will expand to cultural heritage and global health. On May 14, 2026, Park Ji-min, Section Chief at the National Heritage Promotion Agency, will review the latest trends in cultural heritage ODA spanning Asia and South America. Finally, on May 27, 2026, Han Hee-jung, Representative of International Health Advocacy, will propose approaches for international solidarity amid the changing global health landscape, concluding the first-half schedule.

Baek Sook-hee, Director of the Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center, said, "INDECODE aims not merely at theoretical learning but at conveying vivid experiences and knowledge from the field of international development cooperation to the local community. We hope it will serve as a valuable opportunity for young people aspiring to be global leaders and local residents to objectively understand global agendas and broaden their perspectives as global citizens."

The INDECODE seminars will be held as in-person lectures at the JBNU International Center, with simultaneous live streaming via the online video conferencing platform (Zoom). Current students and members of the public interested in international development cooperation may attend free of charge. Detailed schedules and registration information are available on the Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center's official blog and Instagram.