JBNU's Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center, under President Yang Oh-bong, in cooperation with the School of International Studies and the International Development Cooperation Institute, concluded the first-half 2026 development cooperation seminar series 'INDECODE' with strong interest from university students and local residents.

This first-half series comprised six sessions, from the 33rd through the 38th, held from March 11 to May 27, 2026. The program focused on evolving key international development cooperation issues such as agriculture, food, cultural heritage, and global health, and received positive responses from participants.

'INDECODE' is a program whose name conveys the idea of 'creating someone's joy through development cooperation.' It operates as an academic platform for knowledge sharing in international development cooperation and for strengthening local ODA capacities.

The series included speakers such as Hwang Won-gyu, former president of the Korean Association for International Development Cooperation and Professor Emeritus at Kangwon National University; Lee Hyun-shin, Head of Talent Projects at the Global Sharing Movement; Lee Kyu-seong, former Deputy Administrator of the Rural Development Administration and Professor at Wonkwang University; Kim Young-chan, Senior Researcher at the Korea Food Research Institute; Park Ji-min, Team Leader at the National Heritage Promotion Institute; and Han Hee-jung, CEO of International Health Advocacy. They shared field experience and professional expertise.

In particular, during the 'ODA-TALK' sessions held alongside the lectures, speakers and moderators engaged in in-depth discussions, followed by Q&A with online and offline participants, creating an interactive communication forum.

To increase participation, the center conducted targeted promotion through the ODA integrated website, international development cooperation communities, and departments related to JBNU. It also implemented on-site participation events for preregistered attendees to improve accessibility.

As a result, a total of 213 participants took part across online and offline formats, with 147 attending online, accounting for approximately 69%. This figure demonstrates strong demand for remote international development cooperation education.

In addition, development cooperation practitioners based abroad, including staff from KOICA's Myanmar office and local project partners in Madagascar, also participated online, showing that this regionally based seminar is expanding into a platform that shares knowledge and experience beyond borders.

Baek Sook-hee, Director of the Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center, said, "Through online and offline platforms and targeted promotion, we secured active participation from university students and local residents. I hope INDECODE provided an opportunity for local youth and residents to broaden their perspectives as global citizens."

She added, "We will continue to expand forums for knowledge sharing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

Meanwhile, since its launch in 2022, 'INDECODE' has been held 38 times to date and has established itself as a region-based academic platform for international development cooperation. The Jeonbuk International Development Cooperation Center plans to continue offering a variety of training and programs in the second half of the year that reflect demand.